C-Section Birth Stories: Casey Day

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

I was so excited to be pregnant and was looking forward to laboring to bring our baby girl, Scarlett, into the world. I had been researching unmedicated births and was excited about the prospect of going through labor with my husband. Well, Scarlett had other plans. We learned at 36 weeks she was frank breech and that we were headed towards a scheduled c-section if she didn't flip in the next few weeks. We also learned that the fluid levels were low and that it seemed unlikely that she may flip independently. After leaving the doctor's office, I started researching ways to "flip" our breech baby. We tried everything out there. I started seeing a chiropractor daily, laid upside down on an ironing board for at least an hour a day, took long walks, sat on a birthing ball for hours on end, crawled around the room forwards and backward, and even slept with pillows to help angle my stomach. At one point, I was sure that I felt her flip head down.

When I went back to the OBGYN, I learned that she was still frank breech and that my fluid levels were even lower. I cried when I heard the news, as I realized the birth that I had imagined was slipping through my hands. They scheduled an external cephalic version at the hospital for a few days later but warned us that we could end up with a c-section if my fluid levels were any lower when we arrived. My fluid levels continued to drop when they went to measure them at the hospital before the version. The doctor could see how eager I was to try the version and kept looking for fluid pockets on the ultrasound. The baby moved and she was able to find enough fluids to allow us to move forward with the version, but she also mentioned that she may have measured the same fluid pocket twice. Two doctors placed both hands on my belly and manually tried to flip Scarlett. They tried four times as a matter of fact. One time they turned her halfway before she wiggled loose and returned to her frank breech position. The version was deemed unsuccessful and we were sent home with a c-section date in hand. My fluid levels actually increased in the days after the version, likely because of the IV that I received at the hospital. We still held out hope and were assured that we could try a second version on the morning of the scheduled c-section.

When I arrived at the hospital, the doctor explained that Scarlett was too large and the likelihood of her flipping was too low to warrant another version. It wasn't worth the stress for the baby. At that point, we were exhausted from the emotional turmoil over the last few weeks and were ready to meet our daughter. Before I knew it, I was being wheeled into the operating room for the c-section to begin. Less than an hour later, Scarlett was in my arms and the stress of the last few weeks was a distant memory.

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

I was surprised by how surreal it felt to be wheeled into the operating room and knowing that you are about to undergo this major surgery, during which you will remain awake. Even during the c-section, it is a weird feeling to know that you are being operated on as you lay there waiting to meet your child. I was also surprised by how relatively easy the recovery was following the surgery. Given that it was a scheduled c-section, my recovery was surprisingly less painful than anticipated. I actually felt that breastfeeding was more painful than my c-section recovery.

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

In the weeks between learning that Scarlett was frank breech and the scheduled c-section, I struggled emotionally. I was coming to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to have the birth that I had imagined. I pictured my husband and me timing contractions, him helping me labor through the pain with breathing exercises, and rushing to the hospital to meet our baby girl. When I would talk with friends and family, they wanted to assure me that everything would be ok. Everyone kept saying things like, "You'll forget everything when you have your baby in your arms", "Whatever you need to do to get your baby here safely.", or "At least you get to avoid the pain of childbirth". While I appreciated the reassurances, I think I was just looking for someone to say, "I'm sorry that you are not going to have the birth that you imagined. That stinks." I wasn't looking for someone to fix the problem, I just wanted someone to tell me it was ok to not feel ok. It is like having rain on your wedding day. Yeah, at the end of the day you are married and the rest doesn't really matter, but having the wedding you always imagined taken away is a bummer. At the end of the day, of course, I was going to do whatever I needed to do to get Scarlett here safely, but I was emotionally struggling with the fact that it wasn't going to be how I had pictured.

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

For those that are in my same shoes, if you had pictured a vaginal birth and were told that wasn't possible, I want you to know that it is ok to grieve that loss. It doesn't make you a bad mom that you are bummed. Yes, you will have your child in your arms one way or the other before you know it. But if you are struggling with the fact that everything isn't going as planned, that’s ok too.

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

I felt like this was my first real test of being a parent. For me, I had to accept that I cannot control everything. That made me a stronger and more resilient person.

Name: Casey Day

Your Profession: Attorney

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