C-Section Birth Stories: Esty Friedman

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

My baby was breech. As my due date approached, it was clear that she was not going to turn on her own. We tried everything to turn her: from exercises to lifting my bed twelve inches in the air (so high that I vomited every night from sleeping in such an awkward and uncomfortable position). We even put music between my feet so the baby would hopefully turn towards that, but nothing worked. I was admitted to the hospital for an ECV (external cephalic version) that was not successful. I was finally wheeled into the operating room, where they gave me an epidural and tried turning her one last time, but I ended up having a c-section.

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

First, that the epidural didn’t work for me. They kept putting the scalpel on my stomach and I could feel the pain, so they had to put me under general anesthesia. I didn't get to see my baby until four hours after she was born! Second, I was surprised that they even wanted me to have a c-section for a breech baby. In all the pregnancy books I had read, vaginal delivery was usually attempted first, but the doctors refused to give me that option. I was disappointed.

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

I didn't receive a lot of support. Everyone told me about their mother, sister, or a friend who had also had a c-section. I didn't want to hear everyone's stories, I simply wanted people to sympathize with me and my own story.

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

Don't be embarrassed to ask for help if you need it! The night after my c-section, they had already pulled out the urinary catheter but I didn't feel ready to walk to the bathroom myself, so I asked the nurse to bring me a bedpan. Yes, it was humbling but better than crawling to the bathroom when I really needed to pee!

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

I think it taught me that birth isn't always peaches and cream, smiles and roses, like the way it sometimes appears on TV. It can be very difficult and draining but the end result is all worth it!

Name: Esty Friedman

Your Profession: Sales Representative

How to Connect With You on Social Media: @marjorette8