C-Section Birth Stories: Jamie Koch

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

My doctor indicated around 36 weeks that my pelvis seemed to be fairly small and that it could be difficult for me to give birth vaginally. She told me she was willing to schedule a c-section, however, I was certain I wanted to have a vaginal delivery. She was supportive and told me sometimes women like me give birth vaginally without issue, so she was willing to try it but wanted me to be open to the idea of a c-section. I went into labor just shy of 40 weeks and my doctor was not on call. After pushing for an hour or so, the doctor told me he felt like with the size of the baby and my narrow pelvis, that it was making it hard for me to progress. At this point, my husband asked “If this was your wife, what would you do?”. We didn’t want to use a vacuum and we were afraid our baby could have a broken collar bone or worse. The doctor said “c-section” without hesitation, so that’s what we did.

Once in the operating room, everything seemed to go well. Amelia came into the world and was crying and had her eyes open by the time my husband brought her to me. We had time for a couple of pictures and then the doctor asked them to leave. Next thing I knew, the doctor was calling for another doctor to come to assist and before I knew it they were both stitching me up. I began to feel so tired and tried to go to sleep, but the nurse anesthetist kept getting close to my face and telling me to stay awake. I was so confused and just exhausted. Then the doctor who was assisting said I needed to be put under. That was it. I woke up almost 3 hours after the birth of my daughter to learn that when he removed my daughter, it had torn my cervix severely. I lost a lot of blood, which required me to have two blood transfusions. When I got back to the room, I learned my husband was terrified. For a long time, he didn’t get updates. He was alone with our daughter and said he was worried I was dying. Nurses were running up and down the halls toward my operating room and it looked like panic. It was so overwhelming to learn about what had happened to me, but also about what my husband had gone through.

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

The pain wasn’t as bad for me as I thought it would be. Walking for the first time was probably the most pain I’ve ever experienced in my life, but once I got used to that it was much easier. I thought I’d be at home struggling to care for my child, but luckily I seemed to bounce back faster than I expected. I know this isn’t always the case, so I was grateful.

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

The healthcare team was phenomenal. The nurses pushed me to walk and get moving. The doctors were so supportive and compassionate when I struggled with breastfeeding the first few weeks, which most of them attributed to the blood loss/transfusion. My husband was very supportive in the fact that none of what we planned happened. The birth was hard. Breastfeeding was hard. So when I would cry during those first few weeks, he would listen. My best friend listened as I would randomly begin to remember details from the c-section and operating room. It came in little pieces, but she listened as eventually, I was able to put them together to make sense of the hardest thing I’ve ever been through.

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

Grace. Give yourself grace. Whether it’s because it’s not what you wanted or planned, or because you are healing or processing emotions...give yourself a whole lot of grace and just know that the baby(ies) you are holding are all that matter at that moment. Take care of yourself.

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

Yes. I think it made me mentally stronger. I know what hard is now. I know how tough I was, and I know I can be that tough again. My body grew a tiny human and then experienced trauma to get her out, yet here I am. You’d never know it by looking at me because our bodies are incredible.

Name: Jamie Koch

Your Profession: Special Education Teacher

How to Connect With You on Social Media: @JNKoch22 on Instagram