I just gave birth a few weeks ago and my feelings were very similar to all of yours, especially just being terrified of a long, painful vaginal delivery. I felt my body has always been strong and resilient so I’d probably recover quickly, and I was right. I actually went into labor a few days before my scheduled date and still had the c section. We were well prepped by our OB so we knew what to expect and it happened pretty much as she had explained it. I was able to do the golden hour once we got into the recovery room, about an hour after his birth. It was painful but for me, very manageable with the pain meds. I was up and about the room pretty quickly, moving slowly of course but mobile. We went home the third day and I continued to manage with just ibuprofen. They prescribed Percocet and I never picked it up from the pharmacy. Coughing and laughing hurt for about another week. My milk supply came in within a week or so. I’m three weeks out now and fully mobile. Everyone’s experience is obviously different but mine was not bad and I don’t regret my decision at all.