Her journey began almost a decade ago.  It was 2011; she and her then-husband decided that they were ready to start a family.  It was so thrilling!  I was going to be an auntie!  Although I was the older sibling, I had no desire to have children of my own at that time; but being able to take my niece or nephew any time I wanted and give them back – that sounded like a dream come true!  I remember my sister gifting me the sweetest onesie that read “If you think I’m cute, you should see my Aunt Brandí” They had begun the journey of trying to conceive a baby.

And a month passed.  Then a year passed.  And then two.  I watched my sister during a 28-day cycle of hope, anxiety, fear, and then bone-crushing sadness and disappoint for years.  Every single month, she died a little bit more on the inside.  It took an immense toll on my sister and her marriage.  Intimacy went out the window as she was driven harder to find out why her body was not doing the exact thing it was created to do. 

Each and every time one of our friends or family members announced their pregnancy or new babies’ arrival – I would watch the anger and sadness explode within her.  It was a battle within herself.  She wanted to be excited and happy for everyone while at the same time wondering WHY was it not happening for her?  It was one of the most painful experiences to observe the torment swirling around her and inside of her soul. 

2013.

The year that I became pregnant by pure unexpected surprise – unwed – and unsure WHY this path had chosen me.  The blaze of pain struck us both with intense force.  We coped in ways we had to in order to survive the 9 months of awkward growth. 

Abriel and her husband moved forward with IVF which was both an admittance of defeat and hope all in one fail swoop.  The shots, the medication, the hormone inducing fits of emotional chaos – again, a path of complete suffering with the goal of a baby at the end. 

And then Mackenzie Grace arrived on December 11, 2013. My sister was there as she made her grand entrance.  I watched my sister fall in love with this tiny person she just met.  There was an instant bond that would always be there.  I knew the pain and the sadness was still there inside her, but rising above it was a love that neither of us had ever known before.  

A Tragic Loss

A few weeks later, Abriel was pregnant.  I cannot express to you the amount of relief and gratitude that flowed through our family.  We were elated!  She was now a mama!!!!  

Two weeks later, in a new year with a new chapter emerging….she suffered a tragic loss.  There are no words to describe the pain that she experienced.  I won’t pretend to know it.  For those of you who have lost babies, you know there are no words, only sheer, raw emotion.  

A Cabbage Patch baby

In the midst of this, our cousin was pregnant with her second child.  She was a teenage mom who had given up her first baby to a distant relative due to not having the skills or experience necessary to raise a child. A baby girl was born on February 12, 2014 and by the grace of God and the blessing of a close-knit family, my sister became a mother by official adoption in November that same year. 

That baby girl was everything to my sister.  She was the light that replaced all the darkness that had taken over her in years past.  Vaya Rose was the happiest baby!  She looked exactly like a Cabbage Patch baby doll with a story to match!  My sister felt almost whole, even though her journey to motherhood had been quite different than it had originally meant to be.  

Due to so much pain and sadness that had occurred in the years spent trying desperately to become parents, my sister and brother-in-law parted ways in 2018.  They tried to mend the hurt, but often times, a child cannot be the resolution to something that is broken.  As much joy as they bring us, they cannot heal a broken marriage. 

A New Beginning

Shortly thereafter, my sister fell in love with a wonderful man who had two sons from a previous marriage.  My sister loved his boys and Lloyd loved her baby girl.  They decided to blend their families together and create a new family of sorts.  In this way, she became a mother again by inheriting two incredible boys as a co-parent and stepmom.   

While it may sound like all rainbows and butterflies – it wasn’t.  There was an immense learning curve for the entire family to combine as a united clan.  Bitter relationships with ex-partners, differing parenting styles, and co-existing as a new family were obstacles that took time and patience to overcome. 

When Lloyd and Brie were nearing their 1 year anniversary mark, they then decided that they wanted to try for a child of their very own.  Again, it didn’t happen the first month and I could see the tornadic cloud of the 28-day cycle of pain forming.

AND THEN THE SUNSHINE broke through.  

My sister called me in January of this year and announced that she was indeed pregnant.  Despite being pregnant during one of the most insane and unprecedented times of our lives with COVID19; I have seen her be reborn yet again as a mother.  This time experiencing all of the unique aspects of carrying a child; the hiccups, the kicks, the lack of bladder control, the beautiful changes that our bodies go through to grow a tiny human. 

We have two more weeks until her son, Archer, arrives to meet us.  I know that my sister has waited her entire life to hear his cry and hold him in her arms and share the joys of her new addition with the rest of her sweet family.  For even though this may be the first time she becomes a mother in this manner,  she is simply a mama reborn.

Update: Since this beautiful story was written, Baby Archer has arrived! Mom and baby are doing great. Be sure to follow brandnewday526 to see the cute little bundle of joy.

Interested in more articles on Motherhood and Wellness? Check out “What I Wished I had Known About Anxiety in Pregnancy.”

Below is a list of six things to consider when choosing your newborn photographer.

Safety

Just because someone has newborn photography listed on their website and social media, does not make them the safest and most qualified person to handle your new baby. While there is not a governing body that regulates the safety of newborn photography, ask your photographer to describe their newborn safety policies including, studio cleaning, newborn handling, safe posing, heating, circulation, and prop safety. Many of these posed photographs are actually 2 images merged together and a spotter is holding the newborn in that advanced position.

Experience

It is very important to figure in the level of experience of a new born photographer when searching for the right newborn photographer. We recommend asking a few questions:

• How many years have you been working as a newborn photographer?
• How many babies have you handled up to this point in your career?
• What training have you received in newborn photography?
• Have you received any specific newborn safety training?

Style

There are many styles of newborn photography. Look at images online and choose the style that best represent your family.

Posed newborn session: your baby is guided into adorable poses, wrapped, and/or placed in cute props.

Lifestyle sessions: the primary focus is on the connections of family members.

Baby led posing: simply creating a relaxing environment for your newborn capturing them naturally.

Referrals

Get referrals from your friends, do a Google search for local newborn photographers and check out the reviews, and of course, check out their portfolios on their website. My suggestion would be to find 2 or 3 photographers online who’s images you LOVE. Then get a feel for the photographer’s personality by checking out his/her blog posts, Facebook posts, and Instagram posts

Budget

The cost for newborn portraiture can vary greatly. Some things to take into consideration are your location, session duration, the photographer’s experience, their level of training, and equipment used by the potential photographer. It is important to remember that photographers put much more into a session than just the time spent with you. A new born photographer running a legal business with insurance, lots of training and other business expenses will almost always be more expensive. When booking your session, always remember, you get what you pay for.

Image Rights

The license, or agreement between you and your photographer, establishes the usage rights for the photos. New born photographers typically maintain the copyright of their creative
property, but you — as the paying client — are entitled to use the photos in the ways you intended. Some photographers provide all digital images others may require a fee for digital images or to purchase photographs through them directly

All photos were taken by Kasha Williams of Kasha Williams Photography.

Be sure to read a few of our other new born articles: It Takes Two to Tango and C-Section Awareness Month is an Acknowledgement I Appreciate.

Listed below are different ways a mom would benefit from a doula.

1. A mom that has an awesome support team would benefit from having a doula. 

She might not see any benefit from a doula because of her awesome husband, mother, and doctor. However, when you add a doula to the support team everyone learns how to be the moms personal doula. The mom becomes a queen for the day. She will be happy with whatever comes her way because she had a royal birth experience.

2. Pregnant moms and their partners benefit from having a doula. 

A doula will help the partner shine throughout her birth. A doula will show the partner helpful techniques to be used throughout labor. This mom would benefit because oxytocin hormones would  help her relax. When the mom becomes relaxed her water will eventually break. She would be that much closer to having her baby.

3. A mom that plans to have an unmedicated birth story would benefit from having a doula. 

A good doula would help her find her zone before labor begins. A great doula will show her how to manage her pain peacefully and quietly. When she wants to give up her doula would remind her of her birth wishes. If she decides she wants to deviate last minute a good doula will say okay and be there for her the whole time. Afterwards, she would be content with her birthing decisions.

4. A mom that has experienced a traumatic event would benefit from having a doula.

She would have someone to stand up for her without having to share her story over and over. Her doula would provide compassion and empathy. Her birth experience would bring healing. 

5. A mom that has had miscarriages, infertility, or health conditions would benefit from having a doula. 

She would have someone there for her all the time. A person too reassure her when she had fear or experienced anxiety about loosing her baby. She would be free to call or text her doula as often as she would for the duration of her pregnancy. She would have a listening ear and be supported. 

6. A mom that plans to breastfeed after having her baby would benefit from having a doula. 

She would have support and have access to resources in her community. Her doula would help her set up a breastfeeding station and work with her on making her and her baby comfortable. She would be prepared for the arrival of the new baby. If she changed her mind about breastfeeding, she would have support with the decision to formula feed. Either way she would be supported.

7. A mom that deals with severe depression would benefit from having a doula. 

A doula would be an extra hand to hold during those hours of depression. A doula would help the mom through her postpartum recovery. She could reassure her that everything she was experiencing was normal. Her doula would connect her with great counselors if she was to need extra professional support. 

8. A mom that has specific birth wishes would benefit from having a doula. 

Her doula would help her write down her wishes and present them in a way that was professional. She would know when to ask her care provider questions. She would feel empowered and heard. Her plan would be known ahead of time by the doctor and nurses because she used effective communication.

9. A pregnant mom that wants to have a successful VBAC would benefit from having a doula. 

She would know how to prepare her body for her baby’s birthday. She would experience a faster birth because she would know to change positions often to encourage the baby to become engaged. If she ends up having another cesarean she would experience satisfaction. She would know she did everything she could to the best of her ability. 

There are so many benefits to having a doula working along side you as a partner! 

The one benefit all these moms will have in common is they would have gained a lifelong friend. It doesn’t matter what life experiences the mom brings to the table. Her doula will not waver the support. The mom will have someone alongside her even after the arrival of the baby. She will have a trained professional making sure her birth story is one she will be pleased with. It is the responsibility of the doula to discover how a mom would benefit from her support.  

Be sure to check out the Facebook group for new moms called Improving Maternity Outcomes – Birth Without Fear.

We were actually trying to get pregnant with him (my first was a happy little accident), and it only took 3 months after I had my IUD removed to conceive him. When I was sure I was pregnant, I took 2 tests. One where you wait for the lines to show up and one electronic test where you get the results in about 30 seconds. When they both said “yes”, I was ecstatic.

But within a day, that excitement turned to fear. After I had told my husband, who was also thrilled, he managed to bring up how often he’d be travelling in the following months. It was his last year of medical school so he would be doing extensive traveling for job interviews, medical rotations, and tests.

I was sure I could handle it. The doctors’ appointments, nursery prep, working and toting around a 2 ½ year old soon became difficult without help. Around 7-8 weeks into the pregnancy, I started to have doubts about the baby surviving. I was eating healthy, making sure to go on walks, practicing prenatal yoga, and taking my vitamins, but I still felt like something was wrong. It turned out, nothing was wrong with the baby; it was all me. 

During this time, great stresses hit our family. My grandmother passed away a few weeks before I became pregnant. I was severely depressed. I couldn’t eat. I never really wanted to sleep. I didn’t want to take care of myself.

After I found out I was pregnant, I tried to fix things. I wanted to fix me, but a lot of that depression lingered. I just lived with the thought in my head that something bad was about to happen to me or to my family. I thought we couldn’t possibly take another hit.

My thoughts of miscarriage subsided once I reached the second trimester, but anxious thoughts still clouded my mind. My husband was reaching the point of the year where he needed to put together his resume’ to send off to hospitals for interviews. My son was starting preschool for the first time, and I was so worried how he would adjust. I had started a new work schedule built around my pregnancy. I think this is when my anxiety started to build. I knew what was about to come.

Once my husband received his interview requests (8 of them), his travels were about to take him all over the Southeastern United States. A test he was preparing to take in October would take him to Philadelphia. After Christmas, he would be gone for a month-long rotation to the Dominican Republic. His stresses became my stresses. Unfortunately, the stress became too much to bear.

When my doctors realized this, they offered me anxiety medications. I refused them because I was worried about the side effects it could have on the baby. I wish I had listened to my body and my doctors. That January, while my husband was out of the country for his Dominican rotation, my blood pressure spiked. I had a huge anxiety attack. I couldn’t catch my breath. I called the nurse on call at the hospital, who asked me to take my blood pressure and give them a call back. I called one of my husband’s best friends and fellow med students, who came right over to take my blood pressure and sit with me until I felt better.

A few days later, at my 34-week appointment, my blood pressure spiked again. Protein was found in my urine and my body was swelling up. Two hours later, I left my oldest at my friend’s house, and I was in a triage unit on the L&D floor at the hospital hooked up to a fetal heart monitor and having some tests run. Upon the lab’s findings, it was discovered that stress-induced preeclampsia was setting in, and it became pertinent that I be sent to the larger hospital with a NICU.

I was going to give birth to my second child 6 weeks early, with my husband out of the country, and my closest family members were 8+ hours away. I did wind up spending 3 days in the hospital. During that time the doctors were working to get my blood pressure down. I was given medication to prevent seizures. On the third day, while my husband was in the air, on his way back to the States, I gave birth to our second child via emergency C-section.

He was 4 lbs, 16 ½ inches long, 6 weeks early, and completely perfect.

But he was safe. My child, whose life I had feared for the entirety of his existence inside of me, was before me, so perfect and healthy. He didn’t even need oxygen. He just needed the IV and an NG tube. Many NICU babies aren’t that lucky, but mine was. 

Lessons Learned

There are Safe Medications

There are very safe anxiety medication options to take in pregnancy. If you are feeling any anxiety at all, and you’re worried for your health both mentally and physically, speak with your doctor and discuss treatment.

Invest in a Blood Pressure Cuff

A blood pressure cuff is a great tool to use with your pregnancy and a good investment. If you don’t know how to take your BP with a manual cuff, an electric cuff works well too. It’s very important to keep your BP in check, especially if you have a personal history with high blood pressure or someone in your immediate family has history.

Avoid Stressful Situations

It’s best to avoid stress-inducing situations. Large crowds, overexerting yourself physically and mentally in a work environment, and caffeine are some of the best ways to increase anxiety, and it may be better for your health if you left them behind until after the baby comes along (Coffee, especially!)

Listen to Your Body

You know your body better than any doctor, partner, or parent. If you feel something isn’t right, contact your doctor, midwife, or doula. It could be anxiety, or it could be something significantly wrong. There’s no shame in contacting someone for help, even if it is just a blood pressure dip, anxiety attack, or Braxton Hicks. 

Practice a Little Self Care

Meditation, yoga, walks, bubble baths/showers, massage, or even talking to a mental health professional are great ways to ease your anxieties. There’s no shame in getting some help or helping yourself. Having a baby is completely life changing, and it’s okay if you need to blow off some steam about your hopes and fears. 

Know When to Go

Beyond 20 weeks gestation, if you’re hands, face, and legs start to swell, you feel increasingly anxious, your blood pressure can’t stay down, or you start to feel physically sick and do get violently sick (excessive vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination more than usual), those are some of the signs of preeclampsia setting in. If this is something you are noticing, it is imperative you get to your doctor or the hospital. Early stages of preeclampsia can be treated with medication, and most babies can wait to be delivered until 37 weeks, if proper treatment is given and medication is working.

If it goes ignored for too long, that may be a sign that the preeclampsia is turning to total toxemia, which means your womb is no longer safe for your baby. Medication can be administered, but upon the shift to total toxemia, it is safer for the baby to be delivered. Once baby is delivered, and barring nothing goes wrong and medication is continually administered, all should be back to normal within 72 hours post-delivery. 

Not everyone will feel the same in these situations as I did in mine. But these are definitely some of the things I would recommend having gone through the trauma of preeclampsia brought on by anxiety. Most importantly, it is important that you and your baby are safe. Taking extra precautions with your precious cargo may seem somewhat inconvenient, but it’s only temporary. Knowing what you know now, I wish you a very safe, very calm pregnancy and delivery!

She and I were trying so hard to figure out this new relationship of ours. We had just met about two months before and although it was love at first sight, we were still getting to know one another.

Instagram Worthy Mom

Like most first time mothers nowadays, I had spent the months before her arrival dreaming of the Instagram worthy days that we would have. She – wrapped in your soft, white muslim blankets and me- with thick cascading waves of hair draped along cozy sherpa fleece pajamas – knowing expertly what to give her with each and every whimper.

Except, most times I had no idea of what the whimpers and cries meant. And forget the cozy sherpa fleece pj’s or the cascading hair. My mass of hair was on the top of my head in a bun covered in a permanent shroud of dry shampoo residue. I lived in stained nursing tanks from Target and leggings. Everything else was too hot and would eventually get puked on so why bother.

And I didn’t see anyone on Instagram that was looking like me as a new mom and I certainly didn’t see anyone saying “hey, here’s my beautiful baby and I have postpartum depression.”

Why was it so Hard

I was so tired I could barely function. The last few months of pregnancy all of our well-meaning loved ones kept saying phrases like “You better save up that sleep now!” or “Get all the rest you can now before that baby comes.” I remember how infuriated I would get at those comments because I didn’t care how tired I was going to be – I just wanted to have my baby!

Now, as I looked at her nestled closely to my chest and gumming her perfect squishy lips together in memory of nursing just moments ago, I realized that as much as I loved her and our time together – it was nothing like I thought it was going to be.

I Thought I was Prepared

I was prepared. I had done all the research and all the reading. I took all of my supplements. I abstained completely from alcohol and sushi and even cold deli meat – for months. I had the wipe warmer, the boxes of diapers of all sizes, the hundreds of laundered in hypoallergenic detergent onsies and sock booties. I knew I was going to breast feed for at least 6 months. I had the swing, the bassinet, the swaddles, the bath, the organic body wash and lotion, the diaper rash cream…..

And then she arrived and the one thing I hadn’t prepared for was how hard it was all going to be.

For some, it may not have been this difficult, but for us it was. And I say “us” because it wasn’t just me that was in this parenting gig – it was Bryan, too. He was my boyfriend at the time and wanted nothing more than to raise our daughter together as a family. Even though I was the one who got up to nurse our colicky newborn, Bryan heard her cries and was up along with us. Sometimes I would nurse her and hand her off to him to burb and rock to get a few minutes of rest, but there wasn’t much sleeping going on for any of us.

Overwhelming Exhaustion

I posted a selfie picture of me and my daughter together on Instagram and my sister texted me “Why do you look so exhuasted?” Haha….I was a mombie.

I really had no idea what the term “exhausted” actually meant until I was spending 24 hour days with an hour or two of “sleep”. My baby had her days and nights mixed up for a bit, too, so between that and the colic and figuring out how to take care of this tiny human I was up around the clock.

The old adage “sleep when the baby sleeps” is comical to me even now. I would lay down when Mackenzie took a nap and then would be awoken just moments later by the UPS man leaving a package or the dogs barking at a passerby out the window or a text message from my mom or Bryan checking on me. It wasn’t full restful sleep. It was bits and pieces of rest.

Something Wasn’t Right

But it wasn’t just the gnawing exhaustion. It was the fact that all I could think about while I bounced her and rocked her and nursed her was… why this wasn’t easier? Why did it look so natural for everyone else and it wasn’t for me? Was I a terrible mom? I literally wanted to get in the car all by myself and drive as far as I possibly could go.

I felt like I was dying inside and I thought my baby girl would probably be better without me around – even though I was her food source for the most part.

Letting Go

It was that cold, dark morning that I rocked her and looked out the window of the third story bedroom and thought “What if I just jumped?” It was a few minutes later when Bryan walked into the nursery, dressed for work. It was still dark outside.

“Are you o.k.?” he asked me, quietly.

I nodded slowly – fighting back burning tears.

“Do you want me to stay home today?” he asked.

I shook my head.

He paused, with hesitation.

“I feel like if I go to work today, we will be on the news.” he said. Sadly, I knew exactly what he meant. I had been battling postpartum depression for months and had not wanted to admit it. The thought of hurling myself out the third floor window was the first thought I had about actually hurting myself, but I realized I had been struggling for a long time. I didn’t want to be a failure at being a mom. I didn’t want to go on medicine for postpartum depression in fear it would ruin my nursing experience with my daughter. WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING WHEN I DID IT ALL RIGHT????

Seeking Help

Bryan stayed home that day and took me to my doctor where I shared how I was feeling. My doctor recommended I start an antidepressant that I could take while nursing. I pumped enough milk to fill a few bottles so that Bryan could take our baby for me so I could sleep for about three hours and take a real shower. And while that night things didn’t snap magically into place, I was still there for my family and we weren’t on the news.

You are Stronger than you Know

I share this story with you, not to frighten you about your experience as a new mom; but to strengthen you. To share with you what feelings you may have and that you are not alone in them. Please don’t wait four months like I did to seek help. I thank God every day that Bryan was intuitive enough to recognize that between the sleep deprivation and being a new mom, I was battling something else. He never judged me. He never told me I should “figure it out.” We did it together.

Even if you don’t have a partner, please trust a friend or family member enough to seek help. Don’t think that this is something you have to “suffer” through. It is NOT normal. You are NOT alone.

Other researches to help with postpartum depression are: Postpartumdepression.com, Postpartum Health Alliance, Highway to Hell and Back Again: The 6 Things You Need to Know About Postpartum Depression. Please be sure to reach out to your doctor immediately if you feel like something just isn’t right.

I only have the perspective of a mother that went through emergency C-sections. With both of my children, I had every intention of delivering them vaginally, with no pain medication. With my second child, I was even willing to go a natural route and considered using hypnobirthing sound effects to ease my labor.

My birth plan was scrapped, and it didn’t go the way I planned.

My first child was stubborn. When my water broke right at midnight, I expected contractions to start immediately. I expected to barely make it to the hospital, which was 30 minutes away from where we lived at the time. I wound up being in active labor for 16 hours. I only dilated 4 centimeters. My baby’s heart rate dipped gradually with each contraction. My doctor told me he had to get out, and it had to be a rush job. I was sobbing. My birth plan was scrapped, and it didn’t go the way I planned.

Umbilical Cord Issues

It felt like my body had failed me, but that didn’t matter because my little boy was absolutely perfect. He was a perfect size. He had some breathing trouble when he came out. He managed to get tangled in his umbilical cord, which was a contributing factor to him needing to be delivered via emergency section. He was on a CPAP machine for an hour, while I was in the recovery room, but afterward, he never had another respiratory complication.

Preeclampsia Sets In

With my second child, I kept my original birth plan and planned on having a VBAC, or, vaginal birth after cesarean section. At 33 weeks, I developed preeclampsia which is a pregnancy complication brought on by swelling in the face and hands, high blood pressure, and protein in the urine. This complication was identified at a regularly scheduled doctors appointment. Two hours later, I was in triage at the hospital, being hooked up to a fetal heart monitor and having tests run on my urine.

Once pre-eclampsia was determined, I was placed in an ambulance to the nearest hospital with a NICU. I was in the hospital 3 days before I delivered. I went into the hospital on a Tuesday, was scheduled to be induced on Friday, the day I would hit the 34-week mark, and also when my husband was scheduled to be back in the country (but that’s a story for another time). Unfortunately, it was discovered on Thursday that full eclampsia was setting in, even with all the medication I’d been on to slow it down.

So 2 hours later, I was again, getting prepped to have an emergency c-section. My youngest was only 4 pounds and 16 ½ inches long, but he was so perfect. He spent 3 weeks in the NICU, before he finally came home, and he’s been thriving ever since. Even though my births didn’t go the way I planned, I am so thankful for them, because they got my 2 greatest joys to me safely. 

C-section Mom Club

Having spoken with other C-section moms, they all seem to agree, this was the route their births were meant to go. There are many factors that can result in mothers having to deliver via c-section, other than fetal and maternal complications.

Moms like Mallory C., Katelyn A., and Bridget W., had planned c-sections. They had generally easy recoveries and were able to get back to work once their maternity leaves were up. Other moms like Ashley B., Madison W., and Meghan R., had their sections due to breech babies or small pelvis.

There are many factors that can result in mothers having to deliver via c-section.

Moms of multiples, like Rachel S. and Katelyn B., also had c-sections. About 40% of multiple births result in c-section. Hollie T. and Whitney D., had to have their c-sections due to very large babies.

Kasha W. was able to have her first 2 children vaginally, but her third child was already 42 weeks along and stubborn, so she had to come out via c-section. Finally, moms like Kelsey E. and Donna G. both had emergency c-sections with their first children, and then were able to have successful VBACs with their other children. 

Interesting Facts about C-sections

Disadvantage of C-Sections

Recovery Can be Difficult

Recovery and nursing are often hard for some mothers who have had pregnancy complications; though most c-section moms have a generally easy recovery and are able to nurse immediately. It is recommended to hold off on sexual intercourse for 6 weeks, until a full recovery can be made, as it is with vaginal delivery. 

Missing the “Golden Hour”

When seconds-old babies are able to be placed immediately on their mothers’ chests and can nurse, that is not the case for babies delivered by cesarean. Usually, after a c-section, the mother is able to see her baby, kiss them, and then the mother is closed up, while the baby is cleaned, weighed, and wheeled off to the nursery, though some hospitals are making efforts for c-section mothers to have a “golden time” with their babies, if there are no complications with mother or baby, while Mom is having her abdomen sewn up.

Spinal Block Can be A Scary Experience

Another downside is the side effects that no one tends to fill you in on for this surgery. The spinal block is slightly terrifying. You’re vulnerable, an anesthesiologist is staring at your backside and bare butt while they stick a needle in your spine. Usually a few minutes later, the shakes will start.

As a result of shakes, most moms are strapped down to the surgery table (I had heating pads wrapped around my hands and legs to help some, which was a nice touch). Once the spinal block hits your body, you won’t feel the scalpel, but you will feel the pressure. Your organs will be moved all around and a catheter will drain your bladder.

Organ Complication

After the surgery, you could have an organ complication, for instance, I had so much scar tissue on my bladder after my first c-section, that any future biological children I have will also have to be delivered this way. But the moment you get to see a sweet little baby face (your baby’s face!) peeking at you over the curtain, your life will forever and change, and you’ll know that it was worth it. 

One thing all of us c-section mamas can agree on, we’d do it all again if it meant that we got to have our babies in our arms safely. Our kids will all wind up in the same boat. They’ll be loved, they’ll be happy, they’ll learn, they’ll make friends, they’ll grow up fine. No matter how they were brought into the world. 

I hope this article provides you with some insight in the days to come, and your sweet baby is healthy, happy, and loved. Congratulations!