9 Comments

Having had an emergency C section, I spend a lot of time reflecting on what happened and what I might hope for if I go on to have a second child, I love reading articles like this. It has really helped me to find peace with what happened and helped me to articulate feelings that I hadn’t fully recognised, so, thank you!

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I’m so glad you found comfort in this piece! 🫶🏻 Having an emergency c-section when you didn’t expect one is SO hard, especially with your first when everything is unknown and scary AND those postpartum hormones hit. Thank you for reading — sending you a big hug and if baby #2 is made, that everything hopefully goes more smoothly and with peace (as much as possible)! 🩵💌

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Thank you for writing this piece. I had a c-section with my second baby, while dealing with preeclampsia, and baby in a transverse (diagonal) position so his head wouldn’t come down. What you said about our bodies not being able to do natural birth sometimes— it’s so true. I found this very validating!

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I’m so glad it resonated with you and that yours also helped bring your little babe here safely! 🫶🏻 The stigma around c-sections is baffling to me, esp for women who need them. Cheers (with milk bottles) to our happy face scars 💌

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Seconding what Mandy said, I love reading pieces like this because I feel more a peace with how my son’s wild birth went. I really do believe he chose how to make his grand entrance into this world, and as much I planned and preferred, I let myself surrender when it became clear he had a different way he wanted to come into the world. It was chaotic and traumatic, but I don’t regret it and as time has gone on, I feel much more at peace with the choices I made to bring him here.

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These babies truly do whatever they want! Ha — it’s much easier to digest upon reflection and I think will help us march forward with more softness for everything and anything that comes after. The lessons of motherhood 🫶🏻

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Yes, yes and yes.

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It is silly to think that a mother plans to birth a certain way without wishing the very best outcome for her and her child.

Having been through both: an emergency C section with a breech baby and an unmedicated birth, I am convinced that babies choose the way to arrive into the world,and we are just there to accommodate this choice. It is easier for everyone if we accept the choice with compassion for ourselves.

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your bubba 🥳

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I thought this too while I was making my birth plan — it was hard for me to make a “preference.” I completely understand that those who have experienced traumatic births or lack of compassionate healthcare would do everything they could to prep for the opposite of what they experienced. I think most of us prioritize baby with a desire for the least “violent” birth. But I was truly shocked at those handful of people who were so adamant about one form of birth being superior. Because like you said, these babies decide for us! Thanks for your kind words — very happy for you and your two babes too despite all the chaos 🫶🏻🩵

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