Can A Ceserean Birth Be Positive?

Cesarean Sections are becoming more and more popular and are considered a great option for many mothers who have fears of birth. While, they are amazing for preventing death of a mother or baby in complicated, high risk situations, they shouldn't just be opted for "just because". A cesarean section is still major surgery and can have many more complications of its own (more on this later)!

This is the story of my first Surgical Birth.

My first child was born September 5th, 2003 via elective cesarean. See, when I was about 36 weeks pregnant and planning a birth center birth, I felt I needed an ultrasound. Listening to my intuition, I had one and found out my baby girl was breech. This was after four midwives told me she was head down. I was devastated I did not know much about breech babies and how it would effect a natural vaginal birth. I started to research and found that she was in a "good" breech position, being frank breech. After calming down, I decided to try whatever I could (with the knowledge I had at the time) to get her to turn. I did handstands in the pool, rocked on hands and knees, massaged my belly in a rotating motion, and even lived with chiropractors in Phoenix (I lived in Tucson at the time) for a few weeks on their son’s race car bed. I stayed with them so that every other day Dr. Ramsey could give me an adjustment and do Webster’s Technique. In the meantime at 39 weeks pregnant my husband and I decided to move from Tucson to Phoenix due to other circumstances. I had to find a provider and find one fast. Being that I had a breech baby, my options were limited. Luckily I found Dr. Foley who delivered my chiropractor’s babies. I had to get past the office staff and talk to him directly about not just doing a c-section. He agreed to see me.

Finally, at 39 weeks, I chose to have an external cephalic version (ECV) to try to get our baby girl to turn. Another doctor in the practice performed the "procedure". I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this, because of possible complications, but I really did not want a cesarean section. I was desperate. After the doctor and intern tried to turn her clockwise, the doctor said he would try one more time and then he was calling it quits. He did not want to hurt her. They decided to try counterclockwise this time. With the doctor on her head and the intern on her bum they pulled and pushed until veins were bulging in their arms. This time I jumped and screamed it hurt so bad. She was stuck and was not going to move!

I had just joined the LDS church and when we moved, we attended our new ward. I had a blessing that day by a Priesthood holder with my husband and a few other men. During this blessing, the Lord answered me and calmed my mind and lifted my burden. I knew that for some reason my baby needed to be breech, wasn’t going to turn and vaginal birth was not an option. I kept this to myself. I was at peace.

My husband and I went in to see Dr. Foley a few days past 39 weeks. He was very understanding of everything we were trying to do to turn her. He was okay with me waiting to go into labor and giving her time to turn. He offered his opinion. He did not think, with everything I had already tried, that she was going to turn. Nowadays, this would upset me, but at the time I already knew it to be true in my heart. He was worried as well that if we waited, one of the other 16 doctors in his practice would attend our birth, instead of him. We went over our wonderful birth plans (vaginal birth, c-section birth, and care of baby) and he agreed to everything. He had us sign them and he signed them as well (and later made sure to give to the nursing staff. It think this was key for our experience). He suggested we go over to the hospital and have her that day! My husband turned white and his eyes bulged out of his head. He was not ready! LOL. To this day he says he wished he could have just gotten one more great night of sleep before having children. I told them both I already knew it was going to happen and had my bags packed in the trunk of the car. My husband, was like, "Huh?". Dr. Foley said great!

We went over to the hospital, called a few family members and friends, and were soon prepped for the surgery. I was nervous when receiving my spinal, but then Dr. Foley came in and helped me. I calmed down. Brandon was still prepping himself so he could be in the 'sterile' room with me. When I was put in the surgery room as I call it, they tried strapping down both my arms. Well, because of the drugs they had already begun to give me, I was throwing up. Being numb from the chest down and throwing up is a bad combination. I felt like I was going to choke to death. All I could do was turn my head and puke into a little bin. I pulled my arms out of the straps, because that just wasn’t going to work for me!

Just as I started to panic, Brandon came into the room. His presence made all the difference. We were about to have our first baby. He had run down to the gift shop and bought this cheesy disposable camera to take pictures.

Then they began the surgery. I could tell because I could smell the burning of my flesh as they cut me with their laser. It was interesting because the doctor had a hard time getting her out at first. He said she really was stuck in there! After a few minutes, Tatum Elaine was born. She came out wide-eyed looking around the room at all the bright lights and after a minute (seemed like 10) she let out a cry. He brought her to us first (like we asked). She was then handed over to the pediatric team. Our doctor made sure she was not given any eye gel or shots, etc. They did put a tube down her throat to get out any mucus since her lungs were not squeezed like in a vaginal birth. Poor baby. Finally, she was handed over to us.

We specifically put in our birth plan that she was never to leave our side, and she didn’t! The nursing staff didn’t know what to think, because never before had a baby stayed with a mom in the transition room after a c-section. HA! It was great. We stayed a few days while I healed and the staff was respectful of our wishes for the most part. It was tiring though, because they were constantly coming in and wanting to check everything. I know it’s their job, but come on, I need sleep! Tatum stayed in our room the whole stay and we began to bond right away.

Healing from this surgery was not as bad as it could have been. I had to get up and walk right away of course. I used a pillow over my abdomen because it felt like my incision would come open and my insides would fall out! It was painful. I did not want to be on drugs. By the time I got home, I was off the prescription pain pills and a few days later done with Tylenol. I was getting adjustments at the chiropractor and had positive thoughts. I knew that I could have a VBAC next time and I wasn’t going to beat myself down.

Overall, for a cesarean section, the experience was as good as it could have been. I’m thankful for prayer, the Lord, a great doctor and a detailed birth plan! I was enjoying motherhood and looked forward to a home birth for my next birth.

I do have to admit (and answer my own question that titles this post) that out of my three births, my planned c-section was my best experience. I would still do my VBA2C all over again though. I will have the stories of my 2nd surgical birth and my VBA2C posted here soon!