Three Months In: My C-Section & New Mom Journey (The Real Talk Version)

Hey everyone! Hamilton and I are officially three months into parenthood, and I'm writing this down before I forget everything. Fair warning: this is LONG, but I wanted to document the real, unfiltered experience.
First off, I want to say that my c-section experience was genuinely positive. I know there are horror stories out there, but that wasn't my reality, and I think it's important to share that too.

My C-Section Story(positive)

So, why did I end up with a c-section? It wasn't planned. I went into labor naturally and was fully dilated at the hospital—yay! But after two hours of pushing, baby was sunny side up, labor wasn't progressing, and there were some mild signs of fetal distress. My doctor recommended a c-section, and honestly? I was relieved. We'd taken the birth class, I was open to trying for a natural birth, but I was NOT about to let this turn into an emergency situation or deal with a vacuum delivery. So we made the call.

The Pain Scale (For Entertainment Only)

Everyone's pain tolerance is different, so take this with a grain of salt. But I saw someone do this breakdown and thought it was helpful:

Early contractions: 3/10 — Mild discomfort in waves. Couldn't sleep through them, but manageable.
Full contractions at 6cm: 8/10 — Here's the weird part: I barely felt anything in my stomach. All the pain was in my back and radiating down my spine. I was genuinely confused if these were even contractions.
Cervical check: 7/10 — Not fun.
IV: 1/10 — Barely felt it.
Epidural: 1/10 — Felt like a quick spasm in my spine.
Everything after the epidural: Pain-free!
The C-section itself: 1/10 — I felt some pain on my right side when they were pushing on my stomach after baby was out, plus about 3 seconds of intense pressure. But honestly? Painless. It's more emotionally overwhelming than anything. Pro tip: I was shivering like crazy (apparently a side effect of all the drugs), and asking the anesthesiologist to talk me through the procedure really helped keep my mind occupied.
Fundal massage: 9/10 — THIS. This was hands down the most painful part of everything. They massage your stomach to make sure there's no clots or leftover placenta.
First time standing (12 hours post-surgery): 6/10 — I was shocked they wanted me up so fast, but it actually helps with recovery.
Breastfeeding attempts: 8/10 — This is what led me to exclusively pump (more on that later).
Days 1-3 in the hospital: 5/10
Days 4-14 at home: 2/10, but watch out for gas pain—that randomly spiked to 8/10 some days.

What I Took Home from the Hospital (AKA Free Stuff!)

I searched for this info online and couldn't find much, so here's everything I packed up: 28 2oz bottles of formula, 40 bottle covers for direct feeding, 1 special blanket and 2 swaddle blankets, 3 syringes, 2 ice packs (total lifesavers), 2 milk bottle holders and 1 milk cooler, 5 more ice packs, 10 white newborn shirts, 2 belly bands, Toiletry kits, Diaper cream, Water bottle, 100 Pampers newborn diapers, Diaper bag with changing pad, 10 packs of Pampers wipes, Pump cleaner and brushes, 5 pairs of newborn socks and hats, 20 disposable postpartum underwear, 40 pads

Don't be shy—take it all!

C-Section Recovery: Must-Have Products

Frida underwear — Didn't irritate my incision at all
Heating pad and ice packs — Essential for pain management, especially at night
Ibuprofen — Don't be a hero. Stay ahead of the pain instead of waiting until you're already hurting.
Reformer Pilates — Game-changer for rebuilding my core
Have the responsibilities talk with your partner — They need to understand that your NUMBER ONE job is recovery. It's so easy to hurt yourself in those early weeks.
Solly wrap — Super soft, baby loved it, and I could carry her hands-free without any hardware digging into my incision
Drunk Elephant products — Specifically the Lala Whipped cream and the protini polypeptide cream
Sunscreen with niacinamide — Helps prevent scarring
Squatty Potty — Just trust me on this one

Exclusive Pumping: The Unexpected Journey

Why did I choose to exclusively pump instead of breastfeeding? Pain, feeding anxiety, genuinely having no idea what I was doing, and wanting Hamilton and my parents to be able to help with feedings. Honestly, this was tougher than anything birth-related.

Must-Have Products:

Lactation consultant (2 home visits, $80 each after insurance) — SO helpful. She showed us how to bottle feed, confirmed I was pumping correctly, measured me for flanges, and gave me a solid plan: every 3 hours during the day, every 4 hours at night. Yes, they'll push breastfeeding, but be firm about your plan. Mine was super supportive once I made my choice clear.
Philips Advent bottles, bottle sterilizer, bottle warmer
Spectra pump, flanges, milk storage containers
Nipple shields(SILVERETTE), Vaseline
Pumping bra(MomCozy)
Amazon nursing dresses(Ekouaer)
Frida postpartum gown
Lactation muffins (Make your own so you can ensure each muffin has enough oats and brewers yeast- store bought does not have enough to make a difference.)

Newborn Must-Haves and Reflections: The Real First Three Months

Okay, so - these have been the absolute best days of my life. But also - Physically more demanding than anything I could have imagined. Everyone tells you that the newborn phase is basically an endurance marathon where you're also sleep-deprived and your body is still healing from major surgery….they are right.

Sleep Schedule: How We Survived

Hamilton and I split the sleep schedule, and I'm not exaggerating when I say this saved our sanity and our relationship. We didn't try to "do it together" through the night—we each took shifts so the other person could actually get real, uninterrupted sleep. This meant one of us could be functional during the day(usually him). Figure out what works for you, but having a flexible plan and constant communication was crucial.

Claude AI: My Postpartum Lifeline

I straight-up banned myself from Googling anything baby-related. You know why? Because Google will tell you your baby has seventeen rare diseases when they just have hiccups. Instead, I started using Claude AI to ask my questions, and it gave me rational, calm answers without the doom-scrolling panic spiral. Honestly, it became my digital motherhood assistant, and I can't recommend this approach enough. Obviously be smart about trusting your pediatrician and going to help when you need a medical professional.

Postpartum Anxiety Is Real

Let's talk about postpartum anxiety for a second. I didn't expect it, but it hit me hard. The intrusive thoughts, the constant worry, the need to check that the baby was breathing every five minutes—it's a LOT. If you're feeling this way, please know you're not alone. For me - it got better at 4-5 weeks.

What Was Actually a Waste of Money:

Before I get into what I loved, let me save you some cash:

Doona — I know everyone raves about this, but we barely used it. It was expensive and didn't fit our lifestyle the way I thought it would.
Keekaroo changing pad — Seemed genius in theory, but honestly? Puppy pads on a regular changing pad worked just as well and cost way less. Plus the pad gets cold and my baby hated it.

The Products That Actually Changed Our Lives:

UPPAbaby stroller — Worth every single penny. Smooth, easy to maneuver, and baby actually sleeps in it.
Solly wrap — I mentioned this earlier, but seriously. Baby loved being snuggled up close, and I loved having my hands free. Plus, no buckles or hardware to irritate my incision.
Baby Björn bouncer — This thing is magic. Baby would chill in it while I showered, ate, or just needed a minute. The gentle bounce was soothing, and it folds up flat for storage.
Rolling bassinet — Being able to wheel baby from room to room without waking her up? Life-changing. I could keep her close while I moved around the house.
Burp cloths — You cannot have too many. I thought I bought enough. I was wrong. They're everywhere, always dirty, and you'll go through like six a day.
Muslin blankets — Lightweight, breathable, and so versatile. We use them for everything—swaddling, nursing covers, stroller shade, tummy time, you name it.
Fisher-Price baby play mat — Even at a few weeks old, baby loved looking at the hanging toys. Now at three months, it's where she spends a lot of her awake time.
Tumama Bassinet Play attachments — The ones that attach and baby can touch them and they make noises.
Baby Björn play toys — Simple, well-designed, and baby actually interacts with them.

The Essentials Breakdown:

Changing Station Setup:

Diaper pail — Get a good one. You'll thank me later.
Wipes — Buy in bulk. You'll go through them faster than you think.
Diapers — Size up before you think you need to. Blowouts are real.
Puppy pads — Yes, really. Put them under baby during changes. When there's a mess, just toss the pad.

Bath Time (Which Baby Actually Loves Now):

Frida Baby shower nozzle — Makes rinsing so much easier and less scary for baby.
Fridababy electric nail file — Baby nails are terrifying to cut. This thing is a game-changer and so much safer.
Hooded towels — Keeps baby warm and they're adorable. Win-win.
Muslin washcloths — Soft and gentle on baby's skin.
Honest Company products — Their baby face lotion, micellar water, baby wash, and lotion are all great.
Angelcare tub — Supports baby well and makes bath time less stressful for everyone.

The Bottom Line:

Three months in, and I'm still figuring it out every single day. Some days I feel like I've got this mom thing down, and other days I'm asking Claude "is it normal for baby to..." for the hundredth time.

But here's what I know for sure: trust your instincts, don't compare yourself to other moms, take the help when it's offered, and remember that everyone's journey is different. There's no "right" way to do this—there's only your way.

Would I change anything? Not a single thing. Even the hard parts have been worth it.

Newborn Recovery(C-section, Exclusive Pumping, & Reflection)