The Beauty of Cesarean
January 18, 2013 18 Comments
If you’ve been around my blog for long, you probably know that I am a supporter of natural childbirth. It can be an amazing, stunning, bonding, and intense experience. It’s awesome to birth a child without any medical help; to have an unassisted delivery. How, then, can I be writing a post about cesarean sections without being negative?
Simple: I am in awe of the whole thing!
I don’t think there is anything wrong with delivering a baby through this impressive form of surgery. In fact, I think it is amazing that a woman and/or her baby(ies)’ lives can literally be saved within moments, because of it. ♥
So, why have I always been totally and utterly against having one?
Fear.
And the understanding that my recovery time would be considerably longer after the birth.
Oh - and more fear.
Have I mentioned it scares me to death? O_O I believe I’d have to be knocked out to have one. Just the idea of it!!! *shivers*
Does that mean I would say no if my child’s life was hanging in the balance? Of course not! But I will say that it would take a very stern doctor telling me, “We need to act NOW!” to get me to agree, not just the, “things aren’t progressing” kind of thing. 
Many people who support natural childbirth are negative about c-sections; they blame doctors and cause women, who have had one, to feel bad. This isn’t helping anyone! I have never thought of c-sections as unhealthy, unnecessary, or unnatural even. Mamas who have had one (or more) cesareans are holding their little one, and living themselves, largely in part to this wonderful form of childbirth!! We should be praising them, not bashing them or their doctor.
A downside to the c-section is what happens afterward. Unfortunately, for many women it is a hard thing to recover from. They not only have the physical pain to deal with, but they also often need to heal emotionally because the birth was a) stressful, b) scary, c) following a long, hard labor, and/or d) not “how it was supposed to be. And this is all while caring for their newborn(s)! They also may feel like they somehow failed.
Well, I can tell you one thing for sure: No woman, having had a baby, has failed. She has given another human being life! She is beautiful and strong.
If I am blessed with having another child one day, and I find myself in an operating room because my child needs to be born this way, I hope to gain strength from all the lovely women who have gone before me.
Well done, Mamas! ♥♥
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By the way, Did you know that there are message boards online where you can share experiences with other women who have also given birth by cesarean section? 
Here are a few:
Baby Whisperer (Once you sign up, you can view the pregnancy and childbirth boards)
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About Valerie
Nice post! Yes, I am so impressed with moms that have cesarean births. Moms will do anything for their babies!
Absolutely! Thanks
I went through Lamaze classes and had every intention of delivering naturally, but that wasn’t meant to be. Being flat on my back and numb to my armpits gave me panic attack, both times, but I had a healthy baby, which was the whole point. There’s so much judgment about C-sections now, and it shouldn’t be that way. When you look at any child, you can’t tell how they entered the world. Childbirth becomes a distant memory and all that matters is that you have a healthy child.
The pain during recovery, though…wow. It was intense, especially the first time around.
Yes, a healthy child is all that matters in the end!!
You said, “When you look at any child, you can’t tell how they entered the world. ” THIS!!!
Loved this! I’d love to see more breastfeeding support for c-section mamas. They deserve much love, respect and support.
Thanks. <3 I agree, they need support!
I’m grateful for the c-section I had. I’m pretty sure one or both of us wouldn’t have made it otherwise. I also don’t feel like I missed out, but I found early breastfeeding ever so difficult, with my poor drugged up baby, which was really hard. But we persevered and our difficulties have meant that I can better support my sisters breastfeed their babies, so perhaps it all happens for a reason.
All the same I’m hoping for my vbac next time!
I’m sorry b/f’ing was challenging for you guys, but how awesome that you have such a positive outlook on it, and how you can help your sisters!!
Love this. My sister had an emergency c-section that scared me considerably because she or my neice could have died if they hadn’t already been at the hosptial and the staff made the judgement call immediately. She did later tell me of encountering the “hierarchy of labor” from some other moms-natural labor w/no meds making you somehow a better, more commited mom and c-sections basically being a cop out. Epidurals fall somewhere inbetween. I’m just glad there ARE medical advances out there that allow so many more women to have healthy children and survive the labor process! Great post!
Oh, yes. :/ There are “Mommy Wars” about childbirth, feeding, diapers, weaning – and the list goes on!! WHY it’s gotten this way is beyond me. We need to support each other. <3
Love
As traumatic as my first c-section was, we had a planned c-section with my second and it was a BIG difference in experience. It also helped that I was more confident about making my wishes known to the doctors and nurses.
I’m sure a more-relaxed feeling about the process (instead of it being scary or a surprise) helped you immensely! <3 That was true for me, going into the laboring process, this last time too. Our mindset and stress level makes all the difference!!
Oh, how I hated that recovery period. And some things afterword were quite unexpected. It shouldn’t hurt to lift my leg over the tub to take a shower! But oh how it did.
Yes, I’ve heard it can be rough. :/ You are a tough mama!!
Hi Valerie, I had a emergency c-section. I was sad that I had to have one but it saved my daughter’s life, so I praise God for it. I had been in labor for 22 hours to that point and was starting get stressed. So I’m grateful for it. Then a week or so after I had her I had to go back to the hospital for another surgery because I had a abscess on my ovary. I’m grateful though because I couldn’t imagine life without my Ladybug!!!
Yes, this is what I’m saying!! It is truly a life saver. So incredible, really. <3
You know what’s kinda crazy? Having only experienced a cesarean (after a long “trial” of labor), I’m AFRAID to try again to have a natural birth! The recovery for me was hard, the hospital stay was scary, the surgery was traumatic… but at least the second time around, I’d know what to expect. I don’t know what it feels like to push out a baby, or to even get close to transition (I had an epidural placed after I was having 3-4 minute long contractions for 5-6 hours).
What if it’s unbearable? I know I couldn’t handle the pain of being a measly 5 centimeters dilated… what if I went natural to the point of pushing, and then the pain was just too great but there’s nothing that could alleviate it except giving birth? The pressure of that idea is incredible to me.
I struggle with my thoughts sometimes, with the idea of having another baby being thrown around. Do I try to do it natural and have a vbac this time? I’d be venturing into the unknown, and to me, that is scary. I’d hopefully end up with a healthier baby, a better birth experience, and maybe a closer bond with my newborn (here’s hoping). Or do I walk into the OR on a date of my choosing, hair and makeup done, well rested, and get surgery again? I risk complications and I seal my fate of having cesareans for every subsequent birth by doing that, but at least I know what to expect since I’ve done it before.
I dealt with months and months of very painful trauma because of my cesarean. I couldn’t even think about it without having massive panic attacks. I thought I’d never want another child because of it, and I couldn’t believe I made the decisions I did in the moment. I was very worried about having a c-section before I had one… and now, if I were to get pregnant again, the scary thought to me is that of doing it the natural way.
Thanks for this post, it was an awesome read!
I can totally see where you’re coming from. I actually had some interesting comments on another post from women who had repeat c-sections and were happy with their choice, and also so many women who were dissatisfied with inductions, which caused c-sections in the end: http://atlantamomofthree.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/what-do-you-think-labor-inductions/
I think you’re right – when we know what to expect, it’s far easier on us!!
I’m sure a doctor or midwife would support your decision for a repeat cesarean if that’s what you decide you want. How wonderful would it be to walk in, like you said, all rested, family in town, etc and have your baby calmly?! <3