C-Section Birth Stories: Bethany Laughlin

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

I was induced 5 days before my due date (with no prior health or pregnancy complications). I still have no reasoning as to why they induced me but I was uneducated and didn’t know what to do. My body wasn’t ready for birth and after 27 hours of labor, a balloon, peanut ball, etc. I wasn’t dilating past 6 centimeters and my daughter’s heart wasn’t keeping up well. Thus, a failed induction, and we went to have a cesarean birth. My epidural and spinal block both were not enough medicine so when they went to pull my daughter out I felt them pulling me apart and was forced to go under anesthesia. I had a healthy baby girl afterward and I’m a healthy mama bringing another into the world but overall, it was a very traumatic experience for me.

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

The recovery was so difficult. I had never heard anyone talk about c-section birth recovery or how to handle postpartum AND a major surgery. I really wish more physicians would go over both avenues of birth because I would have felt way more comfortable and the reality is, we all have a chance that our birth will end up in a cesarean birth.

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

My family was very supportive but my friends and church family didn’t really know what I was going through or how much help I really needed. I feel everyone was uneducated about how to handle it all.

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

YOU CAN DO THIS!! It’s hard, the toll on your body is major but you will get through and slowly things will start to get better/easier. Take all the help you can get and for the love of all things good, take it slow. You’re healing, learning how to add a baby into your life, dealing with hormones, and the last thing you should be doing is trying to “bounce back”. Take your time and let your body heal mama.

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

It’s made me realize that I, as a mom, am WAY more capable and stronger than I ever could have imagined. Raising a newborn after my cesarean and having my husband gone after a month (we’re a military family), I HAD to step up and learn how to juggle all the balls at once. It’s made me realize that I can get through just about anything because that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and I was able to rise to the challenge and overcome it.

Name: Bethany Laughlin, Stay-at-home Mama

Country of Residence: United States

Instagram Username: @beth_m_laughlin