I won't consider myself less of a woman

The best thing you have when you go through a hard time is understanding.  The worst, is well - the opposite.  Not misunderstanding per se, but people just not being able to relate and know what you are going through.  My first pregnancy ended with a vaginal delivery, so this time around was a whole new experience.  I wasn't prepared for what I would go through and since it was my second baby, I feel like people at the hospital treated me as if I was a pro at getting a baby ripped out of my stomach. 
The worst thing people told me was that they just didn't know how I was feeling because they didn't and no one they knew had been through a C-section.  They said it like I was the only one in the western states that had gone through this ground-breaking surgical procedure.  Really people?  It's not that uncommon and I shouldn't be letting you make me feel like less of a women because I didn't have her come through vagina land. 
Insert middle of the blog disclaimer here:  If you are family or may have made one of these comments to me, please don't take any of this personal.  Okay, back to the story...
The first day I looked through emails and facebook, I had one message that was actually someone saying "So sorry you had to have a C-section"!  Really?  What about - Congrats you had a baby?  Or even, Congrats you had a HEALTHY baby?!  I'm not sorry that they performed the surgery to protect me and my baby, so why are you?
The other comment that drilled at me was "We just don't understand how you are feeling because you are the only one that didn't deliver vaginally, no one else in the family has ever gone through this".  Although I know no one meant to intentionally hurt me, these kinds of comments are hard to deal with, especially when you are already emotional and sensitive.  The books aren't any better.  They almost make you feel like you should be depressed.  Sure, I went through I my uncontrollable periods of sobbing while locked in my bathroom with company downstairs, but jeez... your body is going through some crazy things!  Not to mention, sleep deprivation.
I read one place that baby blues and postpartum are more common in women who have C-sections because they feel like less of a women for not having the baby through vagina land.  As far as I'm concerned, I have fought both battles.  I have been through the treacherous and trying war of vagina land and I have had the surgery of all surgeries where the movie Alien is reenacted and you are the star, having the little being ripped from you.  Personally, I don't feel like any less off a women.  I give kudos to all women out there for however long you carry a little creature inside you and for however you bring it into this world.  For it's only the beginning of this life altering and changing experience and you are a hero no matter what to that little creature for bringing it into this world.