CELEBRATING THE C-SECTION: EMBRACING YOUR BIRTH STORY

By Alice Ebert | Guest Editor

‘Best-laid plans’ is how I light-heartedly refer to my birthing experience that resulted in delivering my first baby by emergency c-section (caesarean). But some women may have deeper feelings, and even describe their c-section birth as traumatic.

With c-sections on the rise in Australia—in 2022, almost two-in-five mothers birthed by c-section (39% compared to 32% in 2010), it’s more timely than ever to talk about them, understand the importance of them, and move away from the negative terminology we (the medical community and our own self-talk) often use to associate with them—things like ‘failure to progress’ or ‘my body failed me’.

With Caesarean Awareness Month in April, we celebrate our c-section mamas and acknowledge the superhuman process we’ve been through to deliver our babies safely.

These scars should be something we wear with pride!

A BIRTH ‘GUIDE’, RATHER THAN A SET PLAN

Pregnant with my first baby in 2020, I never had any strong feelings against having a c-section, should I have needed it. Like most first-time mums, I wanted everything to go smoothly and hoped for a vaginal birth, even completing a Calmbirth course as a way of preparing mentally, physically and emotionally for our new arrival.

That said, our birth plan was kept simple and basically highlighted that we were open to any option that would keep me, and our baby, safe.

It’s normal for expecting mothers to have certain desires about how they want to welcome their baby into the world, but focusing more on a birth ‘guide’ than a strict plan can help if your birth experience doesn’t go as expected.

SETTLING ON A C-SECTION

After my waters broke spontaneously, an inconsistent labour with a posterior baby, three internal examinations (‘ouch!’) getting to 9cm dilated and more than 21 hours later, my son’s birth culminated in an emergency c-section and we welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Luca, into the world.

I recovered well and despite some initial side effects, including my baby having some fluid on the lungs (which is generally ‘squeezed’ out in vaginal births) and delay with my milk coming in, it was absolutely the right and safest outcome for our family.

CONTEMPLATING BIRTH OPTIONS FOR BABY NUMBER TWO

I was fortunate to fall pregnant with our second baby around the time our toddler turned two. While I contemplated a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) and knew I could have success birthing this way, the overwhelming feeling between my husband and I was that we would opt for a planned c-section. Neither of us was very keen on history repeating itself with a long, drawn-out, exhaustive labour with potentially another posterior baby followed by another emergency c-section.

So, as the months went on, and I talked to friends who’d been in the same position, my comfort with a planned c-section increased and it was again, the right decision for our family.

PREPARING YOUR TODDLER FOR A NEW BABY

As with any growing family, it was important to us to talk to our toddler about his new baby sibling and some of the changes to expect. As a mum, you’re thinking about how you’ll manage two, how your older child will react, how you’ll possibly love the second as much as your first.

And as I was having a planned c-section, we also talked to our son about a lot of the things I wouldn’t be able to do in the early days and weeks following our second baby’s birth. The little things toddlers expect—being picked up, carried, going swimming together, crouching down to play—would be difficult during my c-section recovery.

But we also spoke about still having lots of cuddles.

BRINGING LIVED EXPERIENCE TO A CHILDREN’S BOOK

While on maternity leave with my second baby boy, Ari, I had the idea to write a children’s book about the changes toddlers might experience when their mummy has a c-section with a second or subsequent baby. I had looked for children’s book like this while pregnant, to read to Luca, but my search came up fruitless. It was something so personal to me and something I could really see families benefitting from.

EXPLORING COMMON SCENARIOS IN AN AGE-APPROPRIATE WAY

Mummy has an Ouchie on her Tummy explores a number of common family scenarios where c-section mums might not be able to do the things they’re used to for a little while. It helps little ones understand that despite these temporary changes, their mummy still loves them very much and shows her love in other ways.

Beautifully illustrated with hand-painted water colour images by illustrator Cara Ord, an important feature of the book is the diverse families represented, with different cultural backgrounds and a same-sex couple. Demonstrating this diversity was incredibly important as anyone can have a c-section—it’s not limited by cultural differences or family make-up.

Let’s celebrate c-section mamas for the strong and amazing women we are!

MUSE PAPER
ISSUE 03

Follow Alice Ebert on Instagram and you can order a copy of Mummy has an Ouchie on her Tummy at aliceebertauthor.com.au