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Carys welcomed her first child in 2022 via an emergency C-section, an experience that left her with many lingering questions about her recovery process. As a content creator, she found herself overwhelmed and uncertain about how to manage postpartum healing. “I think I was thrown in at the deep end and I really didn’t know how to deal with it,” she reflected. It took nearly three weeks before she felt physically capable of leaving her home, and even then, her outings were limited to brief walks just up and down her street.
Having had two additional caesarean sections since, Carys described each recovery as unique. While she praised the care she received from hospital staff and her community midwife during her inpatient stays, she emphasized a lack of guidance once she returned home. “You’re thrown so into the deep end and there’s no sort of, ‘Oh, this is how your scar should look. This is quite normal for this sort of time’,” she pointed out. One particularly difficult moment came when she fainted while removing the dressing from her surgical wound. She questioned whether her recovery symptoms were typical but felt unsupported during this challenging phase. “There’s just no support around the fact that after it, you’re looking after a baby and recovering from major surgery, and everyone’s recovery looks totally different,” she said. Motivated by her experiences, Carys decided to share her journey online to support other women, noting that many expectant mothers reach out to her seeking advice. “I wish I’d had more stories that I could read to be a bit more informed before I gave birth that way,” she added.
Recent data from the Welsh government reveals that in 2025, 42% of births in Wales were by caesarean section—a record high—while in England the figure stands at approximately 45%. The NHS explains that caesareans can be planned or performed as emergency procedures when vaginal delivery poses risks, with some women opting for the surgery for non-medical reasons. Typically, women leave hospital one to two days post-operation, but recovery tends to be slower compared to vaginal births. A Welsh government report published in February highlighted a sharp rise in both caesarean sections and inductions, raising concerns about the impact on women, their families, and the healthcare system. It stressed that maternity services are under strain, with postnatal care particularly understaffed and insufficiently supported. Although the government has pledged a three-year improvement plan, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) noted that maternity care has not adequately adapted to these evolving needs. Julie Richards, director of the RCM in Wales, emphasized that postnatal support for C-section patients must include aid with pain management, wound care, and recovery, along with assistance for feeding and newborn care. She acknowledged that the surge in caesarean births has increased the demands on maternity services, stating, “What we may not have had is the developments in maternity care to respond to the change in landscape for maternity services.”
Nicola Rous-Morgan, a trained midwife and pregnancy and postnatal yoga instructor, works closely with women recovering from childbirth, including those who have undergone caesareans. She reported that many women feel abandoned in managing their recovery once discharged from hospital. “I think one of the biggest take-homes is they felt that once they had been discharged from hospital, upon coming home, that they were just left to get on with it,” Nicola explained. She noted that current healthcare provision tends to focus more on women recovering from vaginal births and lacks tailored support for those healing from major abdominal surgery. Nicola also voiced concerns about the reliance on private services or social media for essential recovery information, questioning the accessibility for women who cannot afford such options. The RCM recognized that staffing shortages play a significant role in limiting the care postnatal women receive. Julie Richards remarked, “Our midwives are stretched, and quite often that is often impacted into the postnatal care, into the community settings.” A survey conducted by the RCM among members in Wales during July found that 94% felt unable to provide the level of care they wished. Many midwives are working extra shifts or being redeployed to cover gaps elsewhere in maternity services. Richards called for increased investment and a comprehensive workforce plan to address these challenges
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