Feeling supported, safe, and taken care of is key to having a positive birth experience. The biggest enemies of birth are fear and anxiety, which decrease mom’s ability to cope with the pain or discomfort of contractions, and can actually slow or halt the birth process altogether. You can . . . → Read More: Men and Birth: a Vancouver Doula’s Perspective]]>

A guest post byJessica Austin – Vancouver Doula

Feeling supported, safe, and taken care of is key to having a positive birth experience. The biggest enemies of birth are fear and anxiety, which decrease mom’s ability to cope with the pain or discomfort of contractions, and can actually slow or halt the birth process altogether. You can read more about why birth support is important in my article, How Good Birth Support Leads To Better Births.

As a birth doula here in Vancouver, I find it fascinating to watch the interaction between couples during childbirth. It is more intuitive for some men than others to fall smoothly into a supportive role during the intensity of birth. Birth is challenging, and it can be difficult for men to watch the mother of their unborn child working hard, sometimes feeling helpless to contribute. Furthermore, no one really teaches them how they can help.

Thankfully, in Vancouver at least,  gone are the days when the father was not allowed into the hospital birth room at all. It is great that we are birthing in a time when men are being allowed and expected to participate in birth. (Note: This isn’t true everywhere in Canada. A recent study was released showing some hospitals in Canada had been decreasing their encouragement of men and other labour support people in hospitals).

The problem is, providing nurturing support during birth is a new role for men, and it can be difficult for them to know how to best fill this role. On top of that, our culture barely talks to women about birth, never mind men! In the more recent past, men were only involved in birth as medical authority figures. Now that men are able and often expected to be mom’s primary support during birth, it’s important to help them figure out how.

Dr. Michel Odent, a popular obstetrician who has done a lot of research on birth, is well known for his position on the presence of men at birth. His position is that men do not belong at birth at all. He believes that having men at birth increases mom’s anxiety and contributes to longer, more  difficult labours. His article, A Top Obstetrician on Why Men Should Never Be At The Birth Of Their Child, stirred up a lot of controversy on the matter.

I do believe women are more intuitively able to provide positive, calming birth support to other women during labour than men are (this is why so many women, even if they have supportive partners, choose to have a professional doula support them during birth). And I also believe Dr. Odent makes some good points in his article about men sometimes contributing to higher stress levels and therefore more difficult births.

However, I think the problem lies in a lack of resources targeted to men about birth. A woman who has a solid, communicative and supportive relationship with her partner will often find great comfort in having him at her birth, especially if he has a basic understanding of what a woman’s needs are during birth and he wants to participate. In fact, a Canadian study was released recently which showed that the presence of partners (men) in the birth room resulted in better birth outcomes and more positive  experiences for moms.

For men to participate in birth in a positive way, they need to understand and embrace two key points:

1. Birth is for women. Really, fellas, birth is the one area where only the woman matters. It’s simply a fact! When it comes to men and birth, you are important in the sense that you have the potential of being an amazing birth support person for mom and helping her have a more comfortable and positive birth experience. You are important in the sense that the journey into parenthood is one you are making together, and you will be important in your role as father once your child is born. But during the birth process, the choices, needs and desires belong to mom. If you embrace that and remember you are there to support her and her needs at all times, rather than wanting to contribute with your own well-intentioned desires and visions, mom will feel much more powerful. And she needs that power to birth your child with strength and confidence.

2. A calm birth is a good birth.As I mentioned above, stress is the enemy of labour. Mom needs to feel safe and calm at all times for birth to progress with its natural flow. The people in her birth space also need to exude calmness and confidence in her and the birth process. Men need to be able to really trust in birth, trust birth is normal and natural, and truly believe mom is capable of birthing your baby (she is!). Mom will feel it if you don’t, and it will contribute to increased stress and anxiety for her. Fears and anxiety about birth are normal, especially for men. It’s okay to ask for support, or bring on a doula to help make sure everyone feels calm and supported throughout the birth.

Our birth culture is shifting more to accepting the presence of men at birth as support people. As a result, men are needing explore ways to contribute to birth in a positive way, avoiding the potential negative impact attributed to them by Michel Odent.

There are limited resources available for men and birth. I think it is important to make resources and information available to men who plan to participate in birth. This means more than just having men tag along to prenatal classes and try to read a pregnancy book or two. This means providing access to information that speaks to men about birth in a way they can relate to, in a way that allows them to draw on their masculine traits to provide nurturing and trusting support to women during birth.

Birth Takes a Village offers a Prenatal Workshop for Dads once monthly in Vancouver, BC. The workshop focuses on how men can contribute to birth in practical and helpful ways. Men seem to like tasks, clear guidelines for “what to do”, “how to solve x problem”. Having a clear and concrete set of techniques to use during birth helps men stay confident and calm, and allows mom to feel supported and comforted during birth.

…

Jessica Austin – Vancouver Doula. Promoting gentle and informed birth culture.

For more information on the Prenatal Workshop, contact Birth Takes a Village  at 604-700-4115.

When Susan* first saw the double pink lines on her pregnancy test, the last thing she thought about was a cesarean section. In fact, she barely paid attention to the information about Cesarean Sections offered during her childbirth class. A friend . . . → Read More: Is there a link between C-Sections and Postpartum Mood Disorders?]]>

A Guest Post by Lauren Hale, a mother of three and survivor of Postpartum Mood Disorders

When Susan* first saw the double pink lines on her pregnancy test, the last thing she thought about was a cesarean section. In fact, she barely paid attention to the information about Cesarean Sections offered during her childbirth class. A friend even assured her a Cesarean Section was easy: 15-20 minutes on the table and then it was over. But delivery for Susan cumilated with an emergency cesarean due to a fever she developed during labor. Her son also stopped progressing as he kept turning his head instead of moving further down the birth canal.

Suddenly, Susan found herself given a chance at two more pushes. Nurses prepped her for surgery after those last two pushes did not produce her son. Scared, confused, and nearly delirious, she was strapped to the surgical table as her arms trembled and shook so much she no longer controlled them. Her son was born within a few minutes, shown to her, then whisked away to be cleaned and checked over. She remained on the surgical table as her uterus then stomach was repaired and closed with sutures. It would be three agonizing hours before she would really meet her son. Even then, the initial glow was overshadowed by the traumatizing birth she just experienced.

As the cesarean rate skyrockets in the United States (USAToday), so do Postpartum Mood Disorder rates. 1 in 8 new mothers experiences a Postpartum Mood Disorder. After asking on Twitter for Moms to share with me if they had experienced a PMD after a cesearean, my direct message box and email inbox flooded with message after message. So many mothers had indeed faced an emergency (in the midst of labor) or last minute planned (prior to any labor attempts) Cesearean. So many other mothers I have supported over the past few years have also had a Cesarean Section. All of this would lead one to think there must be a connection between a cesearean birth and a PMD, right?

Wrong.

As I searched and searched through study after study, they all contradicted each other. One found a correlation but another dismissed it. Another study which reviewed several studies (http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/content/abstract/68/2/321), concluded that “A link between Cesarean Section and Postpartum Depression has not been established.”

Yet here we are.

 Rocketing cesarean rates with rising Postpartum Mood Disorder rates. Is there really a lack of correlation? Or perhaps more mothers are bravely raising their voices about their experiences with both Cesarean Sections and Postpartum Mood Disorders, making it appear there is indeed a correlation, even if only anectdoctally at the moment.

There are of course, aspects of a Cesarean birth which would, in my opinion, raise the risk for developing a Postpartum Mood Disorder:

 A surgical birth requires a longer & more difficult recovery period: According to Childbirth.org, many mothers average 6 weeks or more to recover from a cesarean. A vaginal delivery can take as little as a few days for mom to be up and about.

1. Limited bonding opportunities after birth: Unlike a vaginal birth where baby is placed on mom’s chest immediately after birth, most Cesareans do not provide access/bonding between mother and child during the “Golden Hour” (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/710137) which interferes with bonding and initial breastfeeding.
2. Increased risk of trauma: Post-Traumatic & Physical: Mom may have planned her Cesarean. Or Mom may have gone in expecting to give birth vaginally and faced an emergency Cesarean during the course of labor for a number of reasons. Either way, there is an increased risk of both physical and mental trauma with a Cesarean and an emergency Cesarean.
3. Increased possibility of high risk future pregnancies including Placenta Previa and Accreta. Cesarean deliveries increase the risk of developing Placenta Previa and Accreta with subsequent pregnancies. As the number of Cesarean births rise so do the number of these life-threatening complications which may result in premature delivery, hemorrhaging or another Cesarean birth (planned or emergency). In rare cases Placenta Accreta can be fatal for either mother or baby and/or both. Read here for one mother’s story. (http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Fhealth&id=7727458)

There are several things mothers can do to help improve their chances of a positive outcome after a planned or emergency Cesarean:

1. Educate yourself about the risks of a surgical birth. Cesareans, bottom line, are surgical births. While they are absolutely necessary in a small percentage of cases, they are used more and more with no justifiable root cause. Advocate for a vaginal birth if at all possible. A good place to start educating yourself is at Childbirth.org (http://www.childbirth.org) While you may not be planning on a Cesarean, you may find yourself facing one during labor. A knowledgeable, educated woman will know her rights, know the risks, and be prepared to discuss them intelligently with her doctor. Involve your partner is this education as well so he/she is ready and able to go to bat for your rights as well.
2. Check your doctor or midwife’s Cesarean section rate as well as the Cesarean section rate of the hospital at which you will deliver. If you are dedicated to having a vaginal birth, it’s best to choose a hospital or caregiver with a low rate of Cesarean deliveries. A low-rate of Cesarean section can also be indicticative of stronger materntal involvement in your care.
3. Develop a support team for after-care if you have a cesarean. Clearly this team will be on stand-by if you have a vaginal birth planned. Cesareans limit your ability to: care for other children, do houswork, drive, and may require several doctor’s visits after birth if your incision were to become infected and or separate. You will need a team to pitch in to help with meal preparation, childcare, housework, and possibly even transportation to the doctor as many doctors do not allow Cesarean patients to drive for up to six weeks after surgery.
4. Discuss your feelings about your childbirth choice with your doctor BEFORE birth. Make sure you are on the same page as your caregiver. You are a team, not a dictatorship. (This goes both ways)
5. Discuss any history of mental health after birth or in general with your doctor BEFORE birth. Again, this ensures you are both aware of the risks and are ready to deal with them should they crop up in the last trimester or after delivery.
6. Consider hiring a postpartum doula in addition to a birth doula. A birth doula will support both you and your husband during labor. She does not replace your husband but rather acts as a third (very knowledgeable) party during a important part of your life. Additionally, hiring a birth doula may help avoid many emergency Cesareans (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595013/). A postpartum doula will help at home with light housework, infant care education and care of the mother. You may even be able to hire a doula for little to no cost if she is still in training for her certification. DONA: Doulas of North America or CAPPA: Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association are two excellent organizations at which you can start your search.
7. Rest after birth. Follow orders and do not overdo yourself. Now is not the time to re-organize the entire house from top to bottom. You will heal faster if you take the time to rest and let your body heal itself.

Research does not conclusively show a connection between Cesarean sections and Postpartum Mood Disorders but anectdoctal evidence is mounting. A mother who has had a negative experience at birth due to a Cesarean Section may be more likely to develop Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result. Many mothers who have vaginal births may develop this as well given that trauma is in the eye of the beholder, meaning that just because medical professionals or someone else does not view the event as having been traumatic but the mother does, then it was clearly traumatic for her. Perception is everything in life.

In an article about Cesarean Feelings, a recent survey by Danielle Elwood and Theresa Shebib (see The Post Cesarean Feelings Survey) was examined. In their survey, 288 mother described their Cesarean experience as wonderful or empowering. In contrast, 976 mothers described their Cesarean experience as either frustrating, traumatic, or disappointing with the highest number of mothers, 384, opting to answer that their experience was traumatic. 861 mothers were surveyed but for this question, they were allowed to choose more than one answer.

Yet no official conclusive link exists between Cesarean Sections and Postpartum Mood Disorders.

Educate yourself about your childbirth choices, make them wisely, and ensure that your mental health stays intact above all else. Self-care is not indulgent when it comes to motherhood, regardless of your childbirth choice, it is an absolute necessity. Self-care starts in pregnancy, continues through childbirth, and beyond. Be sure you are comfortable with the choices you are making and they are made in with the best information available to you. It is your body, your baby, your choice. You deserve nothing but the absolute best.

*name has been changed to protect privacy

…

Lauren Hale, a mother of three and survivor of Postpartum Mood Disorders, sleeps in until 605 am every day. Lauren survives her days on nothing more than Starbucks and sheer grit. She’s sassy, outspoken, and hardly ever takes no for an answer. Unfortunately, her kiddos are just like her and choose to exercise these qualities as she blogs about Postpartum Mood Disorders (http://www.mypostpartumvoice.com). She’s found a cure though – headphones and Pandora. Lauren also hosts #PPDChat at Twitter every Monday at 1pm EST and 830pm EST.

Some days I loved my growing belly and enjoyed all the kicks and hiccups that made it jump and shake. Other days it was more of a struggle to appreciate the bump that . . . → Read More: Maternity and Newborn Photos: A Must for Moms-to-Be]]>

Your pregnant and you feel like a gorgeous, glowing superwoman embracing her new body. Or like many women, you feel bloated, fat and exhausted or somewhere in between. 

Some days I loved my growing belly and enjoyed all the kicks and hiccups that made it jump and shake. Other days it was more of a struggle to appreciate the bump that made it so I couldn’t put on my own shoes or let me roll over comfortably in bed.

When I look back, I wish I had cherished that belly more. It’s really amazing that a little person is sharing your body and it’s equally amazing that your body will stretch and grow making the perfect home for your new baby.

I often view portfolios of photographers specializing in pregnancy and newborns. Pregnancy may seem like an eternity when you are pregnant but once baby arrives it’s just a blur and quicly fading memory. The newborn stage is so brief and filled with innocence and awe — a time that should be cherished but might not be if mom is recovering, sleep deprived and trying to manage a new world of breastfeeding.

I wish I had better photos – much better than a photo taken in my living room while proudly lifting my shirt to show my belly. Great photographers are able to somehow capture the love and fondness a pregnant woman has for her unborn baby and the pride in which she carries her new body.

Women are so lucky to be able to experience pregnancy and all of the amazing changes that go along with it. You may look back with much more fondness about being pregnant once you are into the toddler years and wish you had professional photos of that special time in your lives –  before you met but were forever bonded.  If you can afford it, hire a professional photographer specializing in maternity and newborn photos to capture you during the last 4-6 weeks of your pregnancy. You’ll never want to forget how beautiful and radiant you were when you are pregnant – even if you don’t feel that way now.

For new and expectant moms, a twitter party can allow you to connect with professionals and get answers to your burning questions — directly . . . → Read More: Twitter Parties and Chats for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding]]>

Twitter parties are a great opportunity to connect with followers and friends. Usually an information exchange and place to find support, twitter parties and chats may also include giveaways and prizes for participation.

For new and expectant moms, a twitter party can allow you to connect with professionals and get answers to your burning questions — directly from an expert.  It’s a chance to share ideas, advice, support and friendship during a one or two-hour topic-specific “party”.

Some are regular weekly parties and others are monthly or created around a special occasion. Businesses often support or sponsor a party by offering giveaways and the host usually posts questions for participants to answer in order to win. It can be a ton of fun but a little hard to keep up with. Sign up for Hootsuite or TweetGrid to help you keep up.

Here are the top twitter parties and chats we recommend for expectant new moms:

BFCafe (#BFCafe) – All about breastfeeding. Thursdays at 10pm EST Hosted by @zealandsmom. Giveaways, fast paced, great participation. 

BFChat (#BFChat) – Covers breastfeeding topics with great info and features some giveaways. Weekly chat from 3pm- 4pm EST every Wednesday. Hosted by @GinaAtLansinoh.

Cloth Diapering (#ClothDiaper) - Cloth diapers how-to, tips and advice.  Mondays at 9pm. No official host but it looks like there is great participation and a lot of giveaways and sponsors. Regular twitter chat that’s been around almost one year!

Childbirth Educator Party (#CBEParty) Every Tuesday night at 10pm EST for Childbirth Educators. Hosted by @preparing4birth. Although this is for Childbirth Educators, anyone is welcome to follow and ask questions etc.  

Doulas (#DoulaParty) Every Friday at 10pm EST Hosted by @BirthBabiesBlog and @preparing4birth. Highly recommend this for women considering having a doula for labor and delivery.

EcoWed (#EcoWed) – Discusses ways to improve our lives through environmental choices and avoiding synthetic chemicals. 10p-11p EST every Wednesday. Hosted by @3greenangels If you want to win a eco-friendly prize for attending the party you have to RSVP. Each week RSVP for the party and then participate. You do have to attend the party!

HealthyChild (#healthychild) – Discussion about everything from vaccinations to healthier products for family. Thursdays at 9pm EST. RSVP is requested. Hosted by @Healthy_Child

Pregnancy Awareness Month  (#PAM) – Special chats organized by @PregAwareness throughout May for pregnancy awareness month. Four twitter parties Thursdays at 9-10 pm in May – one to mark each week, attendees to include green, mom and celebrity bloggers. Some giveaways but mostly info about pregnancy nutrition, fitness etc.

Postpartum Depression (#PPDChat) - Postpartum Depression, Mood Disorders and general new mom support . Two chat times 1p EST &  8:30pm EST every Monday. Hosted by @unxpctdblessing and @AtlantaMom

I am sure there are many more. If you host a twitter party that would be of interest to expecting or new moms, please comment below and I will add it to the list. Also, if any host wants to provide a more detailed description, send it along and I will add it too. Have fun!

We have consulted with many nurses, doulas and mothers to create the most practical . . . → Read More: What is a LaborKit?]]>

Having a baby is a time of great excitement and anticipation.  A LaborKit is a pre-packed canvas bag with all the necessary items to help you prepare for birth and practical items to help make baby’s delivery and your recovery as stress-free as possible. 

We have consulted with many nurses, doulas and mothers to create the most practical and affordable range of LaborKits for expectant moms (four LaborKits to choose from).

“I wish we’d had the LaborKit with my first child. Instead of gathering my stuff together for me to take to the hospital (while I was doubled over with contractions), my husband was in the kitchen making sandwiches for our “guests”!  I would highly recommend the LaborKit to any expectant parents.” –Kerry

Each LaborKit™ contains must-have items – Birth Plan, Hospital Checklist, mesh underwear, an ice pack,  nursing pads, lanolin, sanitary pads, peri bottle, Preggie Pop Drops, non-slip socks and much more. All items were carefully selected to ensure quality with trusted names like Tena, Pampers, Gerber, Burt’s Bees and EcoRite. The lip balms and moisturizers are organic or natural.

The company that produces the canvas bag (EcoRite) donates a portion of sales to charity and we donate $2 from each LaborKit purchased to Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Calgary Health Region Best Beginning Program.

 The Deluxe LaborKit™ includes the DVD Bringing Baby Home to help answer questions on over 140 baby topics. Any mom-to-be would be thrilled to have such a unique and practical gift.

“I was happy to see that my shower gift was a complete hit! One woman, a retired pediatric nurse, after hearing of the kits’ flexibility, noted that every new mom should have a LaborKit …I’d say my gift was a complete success!” – Linda

“When I received my LaborKit at my baby shower, I was so excited! It was such a unique gift. I was stressed out about what to bring to the hospital, so this answered a lot of my questions. The LaborKit is definitely a great gift for a shower – something I’ve never heard of or seen. All the nurses had never seen one either and were going gaga. I would recommend this to anyone.”  – Erika

Visit www.laborkit.comto purchase your LaborKit — it’s everything you need for the big day! 

In a recent survey, hundreds of mothers shared positive and negative feelings about their cesarean birth. While traumatic and disappointing described the majority of experiences, many also expressed gratitude.

Hartford, Connecticut. March 22, 2010 – Eight hundred and sixty one women . . . → Read More: Press Release: Post-Cesarean Feelings Survey]]>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     

Survey Reveals Overwhelming Support for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and Desire for Better Care     

In a recent survey, hundreds of mothers shared positive and negative feelings about their cesarean birth. While traumatic and disappointing described the majority of experiences, many also expressed gratitude.

Hartford, Connecticut. March 22, 2010 – Eight hundred and sixty one women recently participated in a survey about their experiences and feelings following a cesarean birth.

The Post Cesarean Feelings Survey was created by Danielle Elwood, doula, birth advocate and blogger at Momotics.com, and Theresa Shebib co-founder of HealthyBabyNetwork.com, with the goal of raising awareness about the emotional impact of cesarean birth.

“With the recent controversy over bans on Vaginal Birth after Cesarean, also known as VBAC, as well as warnings in the news about cesarean births and repeat cesarean sections, we thought it would be important to release these results nationally,” said Elwood.

Of the women who were surveyed, almost half (46.8%) described their experience as traumatic, while 7.4% described it as empowering. Participants were also given an opportunity to expand on their answers and rate their emotional recovery. On a scale of 1 through 10, one being no emotional issues, and 10 being described as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the majority of the women surveyed rated their emotional recovery between 5 and 10.

“This is not surprising since many women do not go into labor expecting a cesarean,” said Shebib. “Women want to talk about their experience but fear being judged or appearing ungrateful. These experiences matter and women need support from family, friends and health care professionals following an unplanned cesarean birth.”

The birth experience impacts future birthing decisions. While many women expressed a desire to have subsequent cesareans, the majority (77.5%) would consider a VBAC for future pregnancies. Unfortunately, many women also feel that their birthing options are severely restricted, even illegal in some cases, showcasing the lack of information and support available to many women regarding VBAC deliveries.

To better understand the birthing experience, the survey included questions about labor support, physical and emotional recovery, whether women felt adequately informed and respected during labor, whether they understood the risks of a cesarean, and plans for future births.

The survey results will be used to write a series of informational articles and blogs exploring the emotional impact of cesarean birth.

About Momotics:
Momotics.com is a personally run blog entailing current events, birth education, postpartum support, and the politics of parenting maintained by Danielle Elwood, birth advocate, doula, and aspiring childbirth educator.

About HealthyBabyNetwork.com:
HealthyBabyNetwork.com is a network of websites providing services and products related to pre-conception, pregnancy and birth. HealthyBabyNetwork.com is owned and managed by Exanics.

The initial survey results are available upon request. Subsequent articles based on the response to each question of the survey will be available in coming weeks. For additional information and inquiries, please contact Danielle Elwood or Theresa Shebib.

Contacts:

Danielle Elwood
203-513-2116
http://www.momotics.com

 Theresa Shebib
1-877-755-0702
http://www.healthybabynetwork.com

###

When Theresa Shebib and I embarked on a small survery about cesarean section mothers, we never imagined it would skyrocket so nearly 861 mothers worldwide.  Starting as a simple project of two cesarean mothers, . . . → Read More: Post Cesarean Feelings Survey Initial Results]]>

This is the first of a series of blogs written by Danielle Elwood summarizing the results of the Post Cesarean Feelings Survey.

When Theresa Shebib and I embarked on a small survery about cesarean section mothers, we never imagined it would skyrocket so nearly 861 mothers worldwide.  Starting as a simple project of two cesarean mothers, and a passion for internet blogging we threw together a survey with 16 questions that peaked our own interests about other mothers experiences.

Over night the project grew a mind of its own multiplying in size a number of times. The information, numbers, and comments.  Much to our surprise many women were more open and honest than we expected. It was amazing to see the impact of social media today on this project.

What became even more shocking to us were the replies, numbers and information we were able to obtain with this project.  I will go question by question reviewing and sharing some of the results through various posts, but first before getting into each individual question, and the comments and experiences listed, I would like to give a general overview and release of the actual poll results.

Starting with question #1 : How many Cesarean Births have you had?
1 Cesarean – 67.4%   580 mothers
2 Cesareans – 23.5%   202 mothers
3 Cesareans – 6.5%    56 mothers
4 Cesareans – 2.6%   22 mothers
1 mother skipped this question

Question #2 – Your Cesarean Birth was :
Elective or Planned : 14.8%   118 mothers
Unplanned : 39.5%  316 mothers
Emergency : 21.0%   168 mothers
Repeat Cesareans :  15.1%   121 mothers
(First was unplanned cesarean, scheduled subsequent cesareans)
First Birth was Cesarean, VBAC attempt or other births : 5.6%   45 mothers
Always attempted vaginal birth, always ended in cesarean : 3.9%   31 mothers
62 mothers skipped this question

Question #3 – If Elective or Planned, What was the reason?
Previous Birth was Cesarean, Doctor Recommended :  33.9%   112 mothers
Knew what to expect, was the birth I wanted: 10.3%  34 mothers
Fear of labor & Natural childbirth : 2.4%  8 mothers
Previous Traumatic Birth, Cesarean was Less risky : 6.4%  21 mothers
No VBAC Support or availability : 5.5%  18 mothers
Other : 56.1 %  185 mothers
531 mothers skipped this question

Question #4 – What Support did you have During Labor?
Midwife : 18.2%  152 mothers
Doula : 9.3%   78 mothers
Spouce/Partner : 90.7%   758 mothers
Family/Friend : 37.0% 309 mothers
Hospital Staff : 49.2%  411 mothers
25 mothers skipped this question
*Note, mothers were allowed to choose more than one option

Question #5 – Would you describe your experience as :
Wonderful : 27.7%   227 mothers
Empowering : 7.4%  61 mothers
Frusterating : 26.7%  219 mothers
Traumatic : 46.8% 384 mothers
Disappointing : 45.5%  373 mothers
41 mothers skipped this question
*Note, mothers were allowed to choose more than one option

Question #6 – Do You feeling like you were in control and respected through the process?
Yes : 37.4%   318 mothers
Somewhat : 35.3%  300 mothers
No : 31.4%  267 mothers
10 mothers skipped this question

Question #7 – Were you happy with your birth support team?
Yes: 71.1%  601 mothers
No : 28.9% 244 mothers
16 mothers skipped this question

Question #8 – Do you feel adequately informed about interventions, medications, and complications during labor?
Yes : 41.1%   350 mothers
No : 28.3%  241 mothers
Somewhat : 21.6%  184 mothers
Does not apply : 8.9%  76 mothers
10 mothers skipped this question

Question #9 – Do you feel you were adequetely informed about the risks of a Cesarean section?
Yes : 51.5%   434 mothers
No : 48.5% 408 mothers
19 mothers skipped this question

Question #10 – How do you feel now about your cesarean section?
It was necessary, greatful we are all ok : 48.2%   406 mothers
It could have been avoided : 25.4%   214 mothers
I wish I had made difference choices that may have not resulted in a Cesarean : 30.6%  258 mothers
Neautral/No strong feelings : 6.0%   51 mothers
It was a traumatic experience : 31.8%   268 mothers
I am angry : 22.8%   192 mothers
18 mothers skipped this question

Question #11 – Did you discuss your experience with family and friends?
Yes : 90.8%  768 mothers
No  : 9.2%  78 mothers
15 mothers skipped this question

Question #12 – Please rate your physical recovery in 1 – 10 scale.  1 being easy, 10 being difficult, painful, with compications.

1 – 16.0 % 136 mothers
2 – 12.9%  110 mothers
3 – 12.2%  104 mothers
4 – 7.0%   60 mothers
5 – 8.7%  74 mothers
6 – 8.1%  69 mothers
7 – 9.9%  84 mothers
8 – 11.5%  98 mothers
9 – 7.0%   60 mothers
10 – 6.7 %   57 mothers
9 mothers skipped this question

Question #13 – Please rate you emotional recovery in 1 – 10 scale. 1 being no issues, 10 being difficult, or PTSD.

1 – 17.9%  152 mothers
2 – 10.2%  87 mothers
3 – 7.5%   64 mothers
4 – 5.5%  47 mothers
5 – 8.7%  74 mothers
6 – 7.1%  60 mothers
7 – 11.8%   100 mothers
8 – 13.5%  115 mothers
9 – 7.7%  65 mothers
10 – 13.3%   113 mothers
12 mothers skipped this question

Question #14 – Did you seek counseling or other support?  (Support group)
Yes : 27.8%  234 mothers
No : 66.7%  561 mothers
N/A : 5.5% 46 mothers
20 skipped this question

Question # 15 – How do you plan on birthing your future children?
Elective/Repeat Cesarean : 23.3%  196 mothers
VBAC : 49.3%  416 mothers
Home Birth : 22.8%  192 mothers
Water Birth : 12.1%  102 mothers
No more children : 26.6%  224 mothers
18 mothers skipped this question

Question # 16 – Would you consider having a VBAC?
Yes : 77.5%  628 mothers
No : 22.5%  182 mothers
51 mothers skipped this question

On top of all the questions we included a box to add any additional comments, in which 302 women used to comment about their experiences and even made comments about the survey itself.
In the following posts, we will start to break this information down question by question providing quotes and comments from the real mothers who took the survey, and opinions on the numbers, and what they say for birth, especially cesarean birth today.

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The Cesarean Feelings Survey was created by two cesarean moms; Danielle Elwood, Doula, Momotics.com and Theresa Shebib co-founder of www.HealthyBabyNetwork.com

We live in a culture obsessed with appearance and instant gratification. Terms like “mommy tuck” and “getting your body back” are common and set new moms up with unrealistic expectations.  “Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?” The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby helps a mom-to-be recognize the pressures that exist . . . → Read More: Book Review: Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?]]>

We live in a culture obsessed with appearance and instant gratification. Terms like “mommy tuck” and “getting your body back” are common and set new moms up with unrealistic expectations.  “Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?” The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby helps a mom-to-be recognize the pressures that exist today and how to look realistically at pregnancy and birth – especially the physical changes.

This is not a book about how to lose the baby weight – it’s a thoughtful look at women’s body image concerns during and after pregnancy as well as a guide to help moms navigate through what is realistic and how media and celebrity fuel the pressures to be “supermoms”. It doesn’t paint a rosy picture of life with a newborn and quashes the perception that celebrities give birth and can have a gorgeous baby photo shoot the next day. It also tackles a seldom discussed topic – eating disorders and pregnancy.

It’s a book that almost any expecting or new mom can relate to. Even the most grounded woman can feel insecure or pressure after having a baby. From stretch marks and intimacy concerns to hair loss, these are valid concerns that should be addressed with honesty and acceptance. “Does this Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?” focuses on acceptance of a new body, a new style and a new love in your life – a sweet little baby.  It takes the power away from media and provides a supportive and empathetic perspective to free moms of the pressure they may feel.

What I also appreciate about this book is that it also goes beyond body image and talks about the many issues women face during pregnancy — Breast feeding struggles, how to deal with inconsiderate comments, trusting your intuition, mama mojo, and even what to pack in your hospital bag. 

I think “Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?” by Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei is a book for every expectant woman’s library. Any book that gives moms the ability to define perfection by their best effort as opposed to something that’s dictated to you,  focus on acceptance and balance, and provide advice to help teach healthy habits to their children is a book I can easily recommend.

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To learn more about the authors, Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei, visit www.DoesThisPregnancy.com and take the The Healthy Beauty Pledge for Mothers and Mothers-to-Be. To purchase a copy, visit Amazon.com