My husband just directed me to this blog after seeing Jocelyn’s comment about my book on caesareans, which I wrote after the birth of my first child (who is now 26 years old!). So many of the comments here sound so very similar to those that I heard from women who had their babies by C-section over two decades ago. It doesn’t seem that much has changed in that time. I now own the rights to my book, which was called “Caesarean Birth: A reassuring guide for Australian parents”. It was originally published by Viking O’Neill but is now out of print. There may be a few copies in libraries but it seems that the information it contains may still be helpful. Maybe I should update it and reissue it as a web-based resource. Would that be helpful do you think? I included many personal accounts from women who had experienced C-sections. I received a large number of letters from so many wonderful women.

But, the way I was treated was incredibly dehumanizing – from having a catheter placed while people were chit chatting across my body, to the worse, after the baby was taken to the nursery and no one – absolutely no one talked to me again!

I have the contrast of many vaginal births – I got to see my babies take their first breath, I watched them open their eyes to the light for the first time, I watched them spread their limbs out for the first time. I saw none of that with my last baby – of course they are all minor things – of course I’m grateful for a healthy baby – but there were losses – things that I will never be able to experience w/ her again.

I don’t know if she was covered in vernix – a useless piece of information – but – important to me, I didn’t get to smell her before she was all sanitized w/ baby shampoo.

If I had it to do again – still a necessary c-section, I would have asked to not have her cleaned up / bathed before I had her with me in recovery, I would insist they either lower the drape so I could see her being removed from my uterus, or at least lifted over the curtain. If the apgars were ok, I’d insist they bring her to me and let me count fingers and toes and check gender – quickly understanding that it’s cold in the OR. I would have taken pictures. I would insist that once the baby left (and sometimes it’s not even necessary if the baby is ok) with daddy, that an additional support person come in to be with me.

I find it unacceptable to be not be treated as a human being – to not have questions answered. The anesthesiologist is usually in that role, but once the baby is out, they start chatting and often times forget about mom. In my case, the nurse anesthetist found my twisted uterus so interesting, that she stood and watched the whole closing. I was very short of breath and while I was told it might happen, I was also told I could check the pulse ox to assure myself that I did have enough oxygen. Well … I couldn’t see the panel once she stood up – and – she refused to answer my questions. I hated being treated like a non-person.

I would insist on no narcotics being administered after the baby was removed because it often makes moms groggy and unable to clearly recall holding their babies for the first time. Again, it was incredibly dehumanizing. But, I am convinced it doesn’t have to be like that.

I always knew if I had a third baby, I was going to have a home water birth. A third baby does not look like it will ever happen for me, but I am so thrilled for you, and your beautiful birth stories. I’ll check out your slide show.

I wrote in the original post, (The Reality of C-sections) that “Ignorance is NOT bliss- it just keeps you from having to face the reality of this surgical procedure until you are in the thick of it, with nothing left to do, but see it and its consequences through.” I think your story, and so many other women who have gone from C-sections to natural births, proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, that knowledge IS power, it eliminates fear, and it installs confidence, hope, and healing.