What if I have to have a cesarean?
Cesarean sections, also called surgical or belly birth, is the procedure of delivering a baby through an abdominal incision.
Before we dive into this, lets be crystal clear on one fact: surgical birth is still a birth, and anyone who says otherwise is wrong and does not deserve your attention on the subject.
It is 100% possible to have a beautiful and empowering cesarean birth. I know this for a fact because I had two, and I support my clients through them routinely.
The reasonings for a planned Cesarean can be extensive, including but not limited to baby positioning (breech or transverse), placenta previa (when the placenta covers the cervix), or a repeat cesarean when the uterus has healed poorly from a previous surgical birth.
Unplanned cesareans can be called for if the baby is not tolerating labor, or some kind of emergency arises like a cord prolapse or uterine rupture.
The thing to remember about cesareans is that, since it is still birth, you are still in charge of the decision making. Your provider should be having a conversation with you about what is happening in your labor and giving you as much information as possible. In the event of an emergency, this conversation may be short, but should still take place. It’s amazing how much information can be conveyed in 30 seconds, and you and your birth team should absolutely insist on your right to informed consent in any situation, including deciding on a surgical birth.
The top three ways to lower your risk of a cesarean are to avoid elective induction (the risk of cesarean climbs to about 40% with inductions), to have a doula on your birth team (doulas are associated with 65% decrease in cesareans), and to make sure that your provider is not what I would call “cesarean-happy.” That means that if your doctor has a 70% cesarean rate, the odds that you will end up with a cesarean skyrocket. The national average for the United States hovers somewhere around 33% depending on the state, but the WHO states that the goal average is 10%. So we have a long way to go.
If you end up as on of those 33% and are struggling with disappointment about your birth outcome, it can be really helpful to talk with someone about it. Trauma sets in when we try to carry difficult experiences by ourselves, and validation of your struggle is a huge part of the healing process. (This goes for any kind of birth trauma, FYI).
Remember, while we always do want a healthy mom and a healthy baby, that’s not the ONLY goal. Moms who have retained their agency and autonomy, who have led the decision making about their own health care and that of their baby, and who are supported and confident in their choices walk away from their births feeling empowered, no matter the method of delivery.
Need help talking through a difficult birth experience? Or looking for more tips to set yourself up for success? Book a one-on-one coaching session and I’d love to support you. You can also grab my free Birth Plan Worksheet (which includes a section on Cesarean birth) or download my Advocacy Mini-Workbook to help you be confident in standing up for your desires.
Christine Rogers is a birth doula and childbirth educator. She is the owner/operator of Draw Near Doula Services and serves in-person in Anchorage, Eagle River and the Mat-Su Valley regions of Alaska, and offers virtual doula services and education all over the United States. A mom of four, she works hard to ensure every client she serves has a positive and empowering labor experience, because no one should have to be afraid of birth. When not doula-ing, she’s a writer, baker, aspiring potter (as in bowls and vases, thank you very much), and her love languages are mason jars, dangly earrings, and Dr. Pepper.
Need a doula? Looking for childbirth education? Find Christine’s services online at www.drawneardoula.com. You can also follower her online on Instagram & Facebook: @drawneardoula .
