Kelsey’s Amazing, Empowering Hypnobabies C-Section
“Hypnobabies helped me so much during pregnancy (really helped me sleep!) and our unique birthing experience. For that I’m forever grateful and I hope that by sharing my story I can encourage other women in similar situations. I never imagined that I would be ok with a C-Section but I’m so happy to say that I found it to be not only ok but an amazing, empowering experience!”
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One month ago, I gave birth to our son via scheduled C- Section due to frank breech position. It was such an amazing, empowering experience and Hypnobabies was a huge part of making it this way! The moment I found out I was pregnant, I felt like a badass. It took us 3 years to conceive (“unexplained infertility”). I looked forward to having an unmedicated vaginal birth and booked a doula as well as a birth center.
Then, at 35 weeks we found out he was breech. I was devastated, especially because at the beginning of my pregnancy I had nightmares about being forced to have a C-Section. After doing many things to try and turn him, I gave in to what my heart knew and what my son was telling me. I opted not to try an ECV because it felt so wrong. Walking in my Special Safe Place (a local park), I prayed and listened, accepting that a C-Section was the best way of birthing for us. On the drive home I called and scheduled the surgery, calm and content.
For the next two weeks I listened to the Hypnobabies C-Section tracks (special set of Hypnobabies tracks for those having scheduled C-Sections), especially the “Visualize Your C-Section” track. The first time I heard it I actually had an anxiety attack. But after that I took it slow, pausing whenever I started to get overwhelmed and took some deep calming breaths saying “Peace” (Hypnobabies cue for instant physical comfort) to myself. Eventually listening to the track became peaceful and even made me happy. The surgery was scheduled for 10/14 at 39 weeks.
Funny thing is, I started my birthing time on 10/13 and ended up going to the hospital that night instead of early on 10/14! He would have been born on 10/14 anyway. Smart boy. On the way to the hospital the car in front of us (literally the only other car on the road, at 1:30 am) had a license plate that said “IMMA MOM”. My husband and I laughed so hard!
The C-Section went well, and everyone was wonderful. I felt comfortable with the OB who performed the surgery, and the anesthetist was amazing. She was by me the whole time and I felt safe knowing she was a fellow mom and former lactation consultant. I didn’t get emotional until my husband walked into the OR, knowing how special this moment was and how much I loved him. When my son came out, we heard his strong voice right away and he was so ready to meet us! The OB held him up for me to see, then he was taken over to the warmer to be checked out after delayed cord clamping. After that my baby was placed on my chest and started breastfeeding right away while the surgery team finished up their work. It was a wonderful moment, surprisingly natural and intuitive.
Later that afternoon, I unfortunately developed a hematoma in the incision, so a second surgery was required to repair it. This was actually a very scary experience for me, as it was totally unexpected and unknown. My husband stayed with our son and we didn’t have a chance to embrace before I left the room. The team who worked on me was great and I’m glad they caught it early. But I cried throughout the surgery, overwhelmed with it all – the sounds and feeling all the tugging in my body as they worked. I wouldn’t call it a panic attack, but it was definitely a prolonged anxiety attack. The only thing that I concentrated on was to keep breathing. I also held the nurse’s hand which helped a lot.
This experience is something I’ll need to work through with my therapist once I gather enough courage to do so. Anyway, I’m happy to say that both my son and I are healthy and strong! I had minimal blood loss and recovery is going really well. Hypnobabies helped me so much during pregnancy (really helped me sleep!) and our unique birthing experience. For that I’m forever grateful and I hope that by sharing my story I can encourage other women in similar situations. I never imagined that I would be ok with a C-Section but I’m so happy to say that I found it to be not only ok but an amazing, empowering experience!
