C-Section Birth Stories: Amber Fischer

1. Briefly, please share the circumstances that led to your c-section birth(s):

We found out at 37 weeks that my baby boy had flipped the wrong side up, which risked us out of birthing at the birth center I had planned on. We had a consultation with their backup doctor, who takes the high-risk cases at a local hospital. We tried an external cephalic version (ECV) to flip the baby, but he was stuck and wouldn't budge. The doctor is one of the few in the area who will try to deliver a breech baby vaginally, but since this was my first and I'm pretty tiny, he advised against it and recommended c-section. We went ahead and scheduled our c-section for the day before the baby's due date.

2. What surprised you the most about having a c-section?:

The fact that I needed one, honestly! The rest of the pregnancy was fairly healthy aside from baby measuring small the entire time. I didn't even have a plan for if we had to have a c-section because it was the furthest thing in my mind. The other thing that surprised me was how calm I was when it finally came down to having the surgery. I just knew it was what was safest for my baby.

3. What kind of support do you feel you received (from friends, family, healthcare team) after your c-section(s)?:

My husband was a huge support, talking me through it and making big decisions with me. My mom also - I am her oldest and I was born via c-section so she was able to help me from her own experience. She came in from out of town and stayed with us for almost six weeks.

4. What’s your #1 piece of advice/encouragement for a new c-section mom?:

Give yourself as much time as you need to heal. My recovery didn't follow any of the standard timelines. Some things were better quickly, others took months. If you can, have an extra person stay with you overnight for at least a couple weeks to help you with the night feedings. I had my husband and my mom there, which was a lifesaver because my baby wouldn't sleep unless he was rocked and I was too sore to hold and rock him to sleep the first couple of weeks. We were able to tag-team.

5. How do you believe having a c-section birth(s) made you stronger?:

I was able to overcome a lot of fear and anxiety I had around hospitals and surgeries (the main reason I wanted to be at the birthing center). Literally, everything that happened was opposite my birth plan, but we survived and came out on the other end safely. I feel that gave me a lot of confidence I would not have had otherwise.

Name: Amber Fischer

Your Profession: Self-employed

How to Connect With You on Social Media: @ambercolleenfischer on Instagram