Considering Elective Cesarian

Birthing vaginally is scary. Pregnant people fear abdominal complications related to their age and many hold a fear of tearing. Underlying those concerns I have sensed a distrust in your body. Is that accurate? And if so, it’s okay and normal to feel that way.

I want to assure you a few things. Firstly if chosen as your doula I will support you and your medical choices. And part of my role is educational so that you're able to make an informed choice weighing a full robust picture.

With your consent I’d like to share some information about electing a cesarían.

If you consent to receiving more insights about elective c-sections please keep reading. Otherwise feel free to stop reading.

To start I want you to know that all of your concerns are valid and matter. Your birth matters and your experience throughout the entire process deeply matters. Your needs are not too much. And you are enough just as you are.

The concerns I identified above and all that arise on the journey I encourage you to further clarify, and express. And I believe there are preventative measures that can be made which I would support you to identify should you chose.

A friend and neighbor of mine who I supported as a friend had a homebirth last July at age 42 with no issues. All I mean to say by that is age alone isn’t very powerful a determinant of outcomes. Many factors play into maternal health and outcomes which many of which can be reinforced during pregnancy especially through nutrition & lifestyle shifts. Of course some cannot. If we work together I hope you’ll share more of your health journey with me so I can better understand you and your needs and how I may be a support.

I sincerely am convinced that a home birth with an experienced midwife you resonate with is the safest way to birth a baby for both mother and child. There are many reasons for this including the degree of relaxation the birthing person is able to access, which facilitates the release of all the supportive hormones, the continuity of care a midwife provides, less medicalized lense (meaning viewing birth as a normal part of life versus something that should receive interventions.) My understanding is that the more interventions, the greater the risks. I can provide data supporting this claim.

Part of my role as doula is to educate on and provide comfort measures. When a woman finds Relaxation, Rhythm, and Rest in childbirth the best outcomes are had. More preparation and comfort means less intensity and greater ease and confidence through the process.

I am curious if you’ve come across many Birth stories of women who have had cesareans? I ask this bc I was reading a book about VBACs and my jaw dropped at reading how adamantly these women longed for vaginal births after they often felt a sense of something being robbed from them through having their child via c-section. I can give you the book to borrow while you’re here visiting if you want to read a few of their experiences.

My main concern with cesarean is that the absence of the natural hormonal release process may negatively interfere with attachment between mother and newborn. This obstacle can impact a nursing relationship and contribute to post-partum depression. Yet should you chose to breastfeed after there are measures that can be taken to encourage success, and bonding. (I can share resources about the specific hormones and how they are released and the role they serve if you want. )

All of these challenges and others I didn’t name here are not to say don’t do it. Bc lots of women have c-sections. Should you chose to have one, or fall in the approx. 5% of true medical emergencies requiring one, as your doula I would provide the resources I could find to provide prevention measures against negative outcomes either way.

OBGYNs are the most medicalized of all Birth practitioners. Their training sets them up to expect and look for potential problems. At some hopsitals there is the option of working with their team, the family physicians, or midwives in the hospital. OBGYNs are most likely to utilize interventions and encourage c-sections as they are readily controlled environments, can be scheduled, etc.

This post stems from an awareness around the transformational power of child birth and my sincere desire for you to have the experience you most want.

Sit with it. Or don’t. You are the driver.