Healing & Peaceful Second C-Section After a Traumatic First - Positive Birth Story
Kimberley's second C-Section birth became a hugely healing and empowering experience, after a traumatic emergency C-Section with her first-born. Here she shares how with the support of the c-sectionuk Courses, she felt calm, prepared and confident, leading to a peaceful birth experience and smooth recovery.
I am so grateful for the c-sectionuk team for preparing me for my second C-Section birth. I had a traumatic birth with my first-born, ending in an emergency C-Section under general anaesthetic. We were both in critical condition after he had wrapped himself around the cord twice and was causing a placental abruption. Everything happened so quickly that I truly don’t remember much from his birth and didn’t know anyone who’d had an experience even remotely similar, so I felt very alone.
When I got pregnant with my daughter, I had to make the choice of whether to try a vaginal delivery or have an elective C-Section. It was a very tough decision given my first experience and I felt strongly that I didn’t know what “birth” was like. I didn’t have a vaginal delivery, and I also felt I didn’t know what a C-Section procedure was like either, given I was under general anesthesia during my son’s birth.
I had an overwhelming fear of the unknown. I tried my best to talk with family members about their C-Section experiences, and they were supportive and positive, but I still felt very uneasy. I knew when I found the c-sectionuk Courses that it was something I needed to do to prepare myself for whatever decision I was going to make.
During my 20 week ultrasound, we found out that I had a velamentous cord insertion, which added an extra complication to our birth planning that my husband and I needed to take into consideration.
I knew I was leaning towards a repeat C-Section birth, but after going through the Course Bundle, I felt much more confident in my decision to schedule a C-Section. I found so much comfort in knowing what was going to happen on the day, since I didn’t get that experience the first time. I felt peace in knowing what sounds I would hear, what sensations I was going to feel, and what things I could advocate for during the operation.
I felt so calm and powerful on the day of the procedure. I practiced C-breathing at every moment I could and my nurse practitioner was so impressed at how relaxed I was. Everything from the IV cannula, to the spinal tap, to hearing my baby cry for the first time and holding her on my chest just moments after birth, was the most healing experience I could ever ask for. My husband and I were in shock because it was such a wonderfully calm and enjoyable experience.
I truly couldn’t have asked for anything better and I know taking the c-sectionuk Courses were the reason why. I am truly so grateful to have had the knowledge and the ability to prepare this time. I even loaded my hospital bag with peppermint tea, and that was a game-changer!
Overall, the preparation, birth and recovery were all truly beautiful. My physical recovery was so much easier and the hospital staff even let us leave earlier than we had anticipated. I think back to my second baby’s birth and all I can feel is an overwhelming sense of gratitude and peace. I look at my scar with appreciation and I am in awe of what our bodies can do for our babies!
Thank you c-sectionuk.