What's A Natural C Section? 6 Things You Should Know Before Having One
bySarah Bunton
Most pregnant women I’ve known, whether it’s their first baby or their fourth, have an almost primal urge to prepare for their child’s imminent arrival. For many, that means spending countless hours researching facts and stats online or fixing up the nursery. For some, though, pre-term labor or health complications prevent them from ever having the chance to indulge in the nesting phase. After having a child, I can tell you that all the training and reading in the world can’t really compare to the real deal. In fact, there’s really not much you can do besides remembering to breathe once the birthing process begins. That’s where natural c-sections come into play. What’s a natural c-section? Introduced by midwife Jenny Smith, a natural C attempts to recreate some of the aspects of a vaginal delivery like allowing the mother to be as involved as possible.
Though having a vaginal delivery is still the top birthing method in the U.S., c-sections are actually the most common surgical procedures performed in U.S, hospitals. So there’s about a one in three possibility your delivery will be a c-section. Due to preexisting health conditions, I knew well in advance that a vaginal birth was not going to be an option for me. One of the top concerns I had upon finding out I would need to have a planned caesarean section was that I’d be missing out on the organic experience of a vaginal delivery. I wanted to avoid the cold, clinical aspect of having an abdominal surgery and embrace a warm, nurturing alternative. Thankfully, I had the natural c-section option to turn to.
If you’re curious about what it’s like or are considering this procedure as well, here’s what you need to know: