04/20/2026
C-Section Awareness Month ✨Laine’s Story: I had a stressful pregnancy from about 20 weeks on, but was able to be seen by the midwives the entire time which I was so thankful for! I wasn’t worried when my baby was breech at each growth scan until about 34 weeks when she was still breech! The talk came up about what would happen if she was still breech around 37 weeks and what my options would be. I really really wanted a natural birth with the midwives so I started doing all of the tips and tricks to get the baby to turn. Alas, she stayed breech! The midwives directed me to meet with one of the OBGYNs to discuss the possibility of doing an External Cephalic Version (ECV), the possibility of a breech delivery, or a C-section. Dr. Prusa was very helpful in giving me all of the information like the risks & benefits of each option and she helped me make an informed decision that would be safest for both baby and I based on my pregnancy and the way baby was measuring. Ultimately, I made the decision to schedule a C-section if baby girl didn’t flip. I continued having weekly ultrasounds and each week my baby was still breech and was measuring to be a big girl, still pointing to a C-section. So we went ahead and scheduled the surgery when I was 37 weeks. That’s when the nerves set in! I had all of the questions which the midwife at my appointment answered for me and she told me that one of the midwives would meet me at my surgery! I was so thankful for that as I had thought I was being passed on to a Dr for the rest of my pregnancy and postpartum period. I continued to meet with the midwives until 39 weeks when my C-section date came up and I went to the hospital. I was sooo nervous even though I was ready to meet my baby! As I was waiting to go back to the OR, Kelsy, one of the midwives came by and saw me. She was so sweet & just who I needed to see! She also went back to the OR and was there the whole time. Just having her there to talk to me and let me know how things were going helped me feel more calm. Dr. Prusa also stopped by before the surgery and helped calm by nerves by addressing all of my questions. She performed the surgery and also talked me through out, telling me what was happening. I went back for surgery at 7:00 AM and my baby Gianna was born at 7:20 AM weighing 9 lbs 9 oz! I was surprised at how fast the surgery was. The anesthesia provider was amazing and told me that everything I was feeling was normal and expected. While it was so weird being awake, I did not feel anything more than pressure, no pain! Amazing! I was back in recovery before 8:00 AM and held my baby soon after. My baby had a little bit of trouble breathing and keeping her temperature up, but everybody was so good at monitoring her and keeping her with me as much as they could. I did miss those instant skin to skin moments like I had during my vaginal births, so that was hard but I did get to do skin-to-skin in recovery. We were moved to the mother-baby floor where we continued skin-to-skin and were able to breastfeed, something I was worried about as I had heard having a C-Section can affect that. We stayed 2 nights at the hospital and received excellent care! My pain was well managed and all of the nurses took great care of me and my baby. Each morning a midwife would round as well as one of the OBGYNs. Everybody was great! I was able to resume my postpartum appts with the midwives. It was amazing how even though my birth didn’t go as “planned”, it was like the midwives never skipped a beat! They were there through it all and helped make my pregnancy the best it could be through all of my worries and stress. In the end me and my baby were safe and healthy and I have to credit the amazing care that I received from the Midwives and Dr. Prusa!
One thing I noticed is that I didn’t have the euphoric feeling of replaying my birth in my head like I had after my first two natural births. However, having a C-section was still a special experience and one where the support around me helped make it great! It’s definitely not the “easy way out” like I have heard people say, but it can be just as special and rewarding as a natural birth. I am forever thankful for all of the midwives and their support through out my pregnancy and birth! 🩷🤍
