C-Section Birth Stories: Lauren Craft

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

I knew it would be a fifty-fifty chance, as she was a big baby and we scheduled her to come into this world two weeks early. I tried everything to have a vaginal birth. My body was so swollen but surprisingly, I did not have preeclampsia yet. My water never broke and when I had my epidural put in, I did not feel it at all. Afterward, I still felt pressure and pain from contractions and I spiked a fever. After the fever came down and broke, the nurses told me to push. I started pushing and only pushed about six times before her heart rate spiked through the roof. Her heartbeat went up to 217 beats per measure. They had me stop pushing and the doctor was on call so they called her in. She came in about 10 minutes later; as she was walking in they started putting oxygen on me and I knew what that meant. She said we are doing an emergency c-section due to my baby girl’s heart rate and our health conditions.

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

What surprised me the most about having the c-section was that I was so swollen with fluid that they were concerned about it. I lost about six or seven liters of blood and I was absolutely freezing and shaking uncontrollably that they had to give me seizure medications. I’ve never had seizures in my life. My beautiful daughter was healthy with just one complication of low blood sugar. I on the other hand was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia and put on three bags of magnesium sulfate. We stayed in the hospital for a few days but due to my health concerns, I actually had to stay a day longer than my daughter.

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

Due to the pandemic, I was only able to have my amazing husband by my side but I know close family members would've been there in a heartbeat if they could. I had so much support and prayer from afar! The nurses that helped me before and afterward were impeccable and amazing; I couldn’t have asked for a better team as I had at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida. Fun facts, my grandma and I were also born in that same hospital.

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

My one piece of advice for you new mama is that you can do it, you are stronger than you think, and this is best if it means that your child will come into the world healthy and happy!

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

I never planned on having a c-section but knew it was part of the plan if that makes sense. I mentally planned after I was getting oxygen put on. Having a cesarean birth ended up being the best for both my child and me. It has definitely made me stronger to know that I can conquer any fear, any pain, or anything that tries to get in my way.

Name: Lauren Craft

Country of Residence: United States

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