Why Do We Fear a Caesarean Birth?

In reality a caesarean is an extraordinary addition to the tools available to those who help us with our births and it should be respected for the advantages if can bring to those who need it.

Even in some emergency situations we can, assuming we know about it, ask for certain things:

• Our birth partner may be able to cuddle our baby skin-to-skin if we cannot.
• We can arrange for photos to be taken of the first moments of our baby’s life while we are unable to see her – such photos can be incredibly powerful for women who experience emotional difficulties after an unplanned caesarean.

And did you know you can write a caesarean plan too, for that just-in-case scenario?

Information is power.

My two caesarean births were wonderful and my first months after surgery were straightforward too (apart from the sleep deprivation and the cracked nipples of course) because I knew all the little tricks for before, during and after a caesarean birth.

So, don’t ignore the possibility, prepare for it with as much vigour as you do your vaginal birth. A caesarean doesn’t have to be impersonal and it doesn’t have to be scary.

This is the arrival of your baby, make your experience one you can remember positively even if it was not the way we thought your birth would pan out.

Information is power.

Leigh East has two girls, both born by caesarean and believes very firmly in a woman’s right to informed choice. She is the author of “Caesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery”. It is the culmination of years of research and has involved a wonderful network of specialists who helped ensure all the information is medically accurate. She has been a user representative on the UK Governments Working Party for Maternity Care and inputs into their National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines. When she is not writing or creating stuff with her teenagers she can be found at her sewing machine making even more stuff.Visit: www.csections.org.