C-Section Birth Stories: Cecilia Patrizi

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

I had a very healthy, regular first pregnancy and was due on October 30th, 2020. I had been planning for an unmedicated birth all along while keeping an open mind that if I wanted to change my plan last minute and get an epidural that would be okay too. I read the books, prepared my affirmations for labor, and discussed with my husband the different ways he could support me to achieve my goal. I felt like I was ready to take on my personal “marathon”! At 41 weeks and 4 days, after two membrane sweeps, we decided with my midwife that it would be best to induce. What followed were 30 hours of every possible attempt to help my body move along in labor: foley balloon, Cytotec, Pitocin, and eventually even an epidural to hopefully allow my body to work while I attempted to get some rest from the strong contractions. Nothing worked, unfortunately, and by the end of it I was only at 2.5 centimeters and our baby was no longer responding well to the contractions. We found out later that he also had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice. We decided the only option left was a c-section, and our little Cooper was born at 11:33 pm on November 10th, 2020.

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

I think what surprised me the most was the fact that the emotional healing was at times even harder than the physical one. I never would’ve guessed that my body would have not been able to do what everyone told me it was meant to do. It simply was never on my radar as a young, healthy, and active person, and it felt like a huge disappointment and failure. I cried a lot the first few weeks, I felt a sort of grief, like I had been robbed of what my experience was supposed to be like, the way most women live through birth, what I had spent 10 months preparing for. It took me a long time to accept my birth story, but every day I embrace it a little more. I also was surprised that even when the incision pain went away, the scar tissue around it still hurts after 2 months. I found out that there centers that specialize in c-section recovery though and I am seeking help for that!

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

My husband has been my biggest supporter all along - during my extra-long labor, through the decision to proceed with a c-section, and during the recovery afterward. He allowed me to voice all the emotions I had, giving me the time and space I needed to process our son’s birth, and most of all he made me feel loved and validated in how I was feeling. He told me how proud he was of me and how strong I had been. It meant the world to know that someone knew and recognized just how hard I had worked. My midwife was an amazing support throughout those difficult 30 hours, and we trusted her entirely with every decision we made. I never doubted that she had my baby’s and my best interest at heart. During my labor, it felt like I was in a little bubble and I found myself bonding with and leaning heavily on the only people that were in it with me. Everyone in my healthcare team was phenomenal; every single nurse was so caring and compassionate! What helped me tremendously in recovering during those first difficult weeks was talking to my midwife to gain closure and share my hurt with someone who I knew would understand. I also reached out to a therapist who helped me further process and embrace my imperfectly perfect birth story!

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

If you are struggling to come to terms with an “imperfect” delivery story, I see you and I feel your pain. Take your time to process this major event in your life, talk about it with people you feel safe sharing with, write down and own your story, allow yourself to experience all the emotions that come with it. You worked so hard for your baby to be born, having a c-section wasn’t “the easy way out” and while you may not have experienced childbirth the way you had envisioned you have so much to be proud of!

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

Having an unplanned c-section was a humbling experience because I had to face the fact that I was less in control than I thought I was. I had to embrace my human imperfections and find a way to love them anyway. Most importantly, I have never given myself a lot of credit for things, but my birth story is something I am so proud of myself for and it made me appreciate how strong I truly am. When I look at my scar, instead of seeing it as a reminder of a traumatic experience, I want to see it as a reminder that this is the exact line that my baby crossed when he first came into the world, and where he took his first breath. I will carry that memory on my body forever, and I think there’s something so beautiful about that!

Name: Cecilia Patrizi

Your Profession: Digital Strategy Analyst

How to Connect With You on Social Media: @ceci_9010 on Instagram