To mark Caesarean Awareness Month, I am excited to share with you a heart-warming belly birth story. Lucy, who attended a private Hypnobirthing Power Course last autumn, kindly shares her experience with us. While a c-section may not be the first choice for many expecting mamas, it can still be a positive and empowering experience when approached with preparation and control over the decision-making process. Lucy's story serves as a beautiful example of just that.
"At 41 weeks I was offered to be induced but wanted to wait until at least 42 weeks to let my body go into labour naturally. As I had previously mentioned potential reduced movement, the medical professionals were pushing for induction ASAP so I asked if I could have a scan to check the baby was healthy and buy me more time.
The scan showed all was well but they predicted the baby to weigh 11lb (but told me they could be up to 20% off) and suggested caesarean delivery as there is a risk of shoulder dystocia (where the baby gets stuck), or getting a 4th degree tear when giving birth to a large baby vaginally.
I didn’t know what to do as having a caesarean wasn’t something I had ever considered and I couldn’t believe the baby would be 11lb as I had quite a neat bump and didn’t feel overly uncomfortable. I decided to book an induction for 41+4 and try everything in my power to go into labour naturally.
The evening before my induction my waters broke and my contractions began in the night (power of the mind!!). Early in the morning we went into the hospital to be checked and a new doctor came and spoke to me about my situation. She had read through my notes and was concerned about my having a natural birth and again advised me to have a Caesarean. She said she wouldn’t use any induction methods to help labour progress as she didn’t think it was safe, but that she was happy to see how things go in the 24hr window from when my waters broke.
I went home and tried to relax but felt the pressure of the time ticking and had all the different medical professionals advice and warnings running through my head, so after eating half a bagel I called the hospital to book in for the c-section. As I had just eaten I had to wait 6 hrs before the surgery, so waited until 3pm to go back to the hospital where I was shown to a room and assessed by a midwife and spoken to by a surgeon.
At 4:30pm it was finally time for me to head to the theatre where I was greeted by the anaesthetist and his assistant. I was having strong contractions by this point and so ready to get the baby out. They made me feel completely at ease, asking about our lives and the pregnancy and explaining how the spinal block worked. Once they had administered the block they lay me down and waited for it to kick in before spraying icy spray from my toes to my nipples to check I couldn’t feel any sensations. The rest of the staff came in to the room and most of them introduced themselves with big smiles and made it seem like just another day at the office, whilst also acknowledging how big of a day it was for myself and my partner. One really smily Bristolian man popped his head over the curtain to say hello before the surgery began and for some reason it really made me laugh- He just seemed to appear out of nowhere and was super jolly.
The anaesthetist sat behind my head throughout the whole thing and kept talking to me and checking I felt okay, whilst my partner sat beside me and held my hands. I felt a little nauseous which the anaesthetist had warned I might, but he was able to raise my blood pressure very slightly which stopped this almost instantly. The other side effect was that I became quite shivery, but again this is normal and didn’t bother me as they were talking me through everything.
I couldn’t feel much during the actual procedure, just slight pressure, but at one point (which I now know is when they are dislodging the head from your pelvis) it felt like someone was putting pressure on my chest. I imagined the jolly man sitting on my chest which made me giggle.
Once they got the baby out they asked if we were ready before hoisting him over the curtain and I laughed again as he looked massive, and I couldn’t believe that body had been inside me. My partner burst into tears and it was all a relief. Once they’d checked the baby over they popped him on my chest and the happy tears came for me too! They sewed me up, put in a catheter and wheeled us both to the recovery ward where they gave us tea and toast and I tried to breastfeed.
The after care was incredible- The spinal takes a few hours to wear off and you can’t move your legs, so the midwives and my partner did everything for me. I stayed in hospital for 2 nights and they were always on call for anything we needed. They helped with breastfeeding, changing (both me and the baby) and were just the loveliest angels. I didn’t want to leave to be honest!
I was sent home with painkillers and spent the first two weeks absolutely chilling and soaking up the new born cuddles. I was able to slowly potter around but I spent most of the time horizontal and embraced the time to relax and bond with our new buba.
I’m now 7 weeks post-delivery and am able to do most things I did whilst pregnant- Drive, take walks, lift things etc. I feel slightly weaker than usual as I haven’t been doing much for the past 6 weeks but I’m getting stronger every day. My scar is small and fading already and I’m just grateful we are both happy and healthy."
In my courses, we delve into the intricacies of decision-making and equip you with a framework to confidently navigate the process. As each of us is unique, the outcome of our decision-making process may differ from one another. Ultimately, what matters most is how you feel and the sense of empowerment you experience upon making that decision. Remember, there are no right or wrong ways to give birth, but there is immense power in being able to make informed decisions and take control of your journey.
I'm always looking for more positive birth stories to host on my blog. Please share yours with me if you wish to support and inspire other parents as they prepare for their own transformative journey. You can send it to me at charlotte@poppyandjack.co.uk.