April is National Cesarean Awareness Month.
It’s a time for pregnant mamas to prepare for the potential by getting educated and asking their provider important questions. It’s a time to raise awareness about benefits and risks as the number of c-sections in our country reach an all time high. It’s also a time to give a pat on the back to mamas who have endured a cesarean – a major abdominal surgery on top of caring for a newborn; mamas who have cesareans are super heroes in my book!
For me, this month reminds me to say a special thank you to my Mom, because 26 years ago she experienced 24 hours of labor followed by a provider recommended c-section (and therefore the related recovery) in order to bring little Gretchen into the world. So, thank you Mom! Thank you for sacrificing your body for me in a very special way!
If you plan to have a little one in the future, here is a list of worthwhile resources to peruse … education is power!
- Christina Haney | Birth Doula: Avoiding the first c-section: 5 essential questions
- Normal Mama: International Cesearean Awareness Month
- VBAC.com: How Aware Are Mothers About The Effects of A Cesarean?
- Spinning Babies: Easier Childbirth with Fetal Positioning
- Ina May Gaskin: The Undervalued Art of Vaginal Breech Birth
- WebMD: C-Section May Disrupt ‘Good” Bacteria in Babies
My Mom is trained as a birth and postpartum doula now and more than once I’ve heard her say, “If I had known about fetal positioning and other options for avoiding a c-section I wonder if things would have been different …” And that’s what this month is all about. Sharing information and research so parents arrive at birth with a bag full of resources to ensure they and their baby experience the best birth possible.