To continue our spotlight on caesarean births for International Caesarean Awareness Month, I decided to work on an updated version of some caesarean birth affirmations I had made in the past. The first time I made some was for a mom blog that I am a founder of, Candied Chaos, and I made them after having made some birth affirmations for myself, and a reader requesting that we make some for caesarean birthing mamas too.

That request got me thinking. Of course caesarean birthing mamas should have affirmations too! Why not? Many women planning vaginal births go through a process of prenatal classes, reading every book they can, (hopefully) hiring a doula, and surrounding themselves with positivity like with birth affirmations. But what happens when plans change? What happens when before the birth process has even started, something happens that medically, the safest and best option is for a mama to deliver her baby via caesarean section? Does that positivity build up just end? 

Having spoken to many mamas who have had to either go with a planned caesarean, or through an emergency caesarean, there are a lot of mixed feelings that happen. While the mom's number focus is on the health of her baby, many feel sadness and disappointment for the loss of the birth they were hoping to have, which of course is more then understandable. 

It is important to remember that although plans may have changed and the birth didn't happen as originally hopes, babies born via caesarean section were still BIRTHED BY THEIR MOTHERS. 

I hope these caesarean birth affirmations help any caesarean birthing mamas as they prepare for the big day that they get to meet their baby!

As a doula, caesarean births often come up in conversation, particularly during prenatal visits with our clients. While I prefer discussing and normalizing physiological vaginal births, with 1 in 3 births now happening surgically, caesarean births are an important topic to talk about. There are tons of websites that discuss caesarean births, with many just showing images of scars, operations, and doctors clad in blue. I want to do a different article. I want to tell you the story of the caesarean birth.

Caesarean births have come a long way from when it first started, but it is important to remember that caesareans are still major surgeries on your abdominal cavity, no matter how routine they may have become. They are so common place that the 6” scar is now more known as a “bikini cut.” As my own doctor told me, “It’s so low and small that you will be wearing your little bikini on a beach in no time.” Fun.

It is important to point out that caesareans are not a new phenomenon. In fact, these operations are almost as old as civilization itself. There are references to c-sections in ancient Hindu, Roman, Egyptian, Greek and European folklore. Babies that survived the operation were thought to possess special powers and were believed to be messengers from the gods.

Caesarean sections got their name from Cesar who, was cut out from his mother’s womb. Historians are skeptical on this account, however, since the operation would have most likely killed Cesar’s mother, but we know that she has lived well into his adulthood. There are lots of successful accounts of caesarean sections in history; like the Nufer family in Sweden about 500 years ago; Jacob Nufer performed a c-section on his exhausted wife and successfully delivered a very large boy into the world. Both, mom and baby,survived and lived to a ripe old age. Or, Mrs. Bennet from Virginia who laboured for 13 days and, believing she would die, requested a c-section. Once again, it was the husband that stepped up and performed the operation, delivering a large baby girl. He then said, “This is the last one,” and removed Mrs. Bennet’s ovaries along with her uterus.

Caesarean sections were often the safest way to remove a stuck baby. Up until about the 1700s, babies that had difficulties being born vaginally were simply killed in utero by a variety of barbaric (and nightmarish ways… seriously horrible). Then, theology started to favour the life of a child over the mother’s since babies were not yet baptized. This is when c-sections (that were often lethal to the mother) became popularized. With time, however, caesarean sections became incredibly safe and have helped mom and baby survive labour and delivery.

There were many reasons to perform a c-section throughout history:

• Rickets were an epidemic since the industrial revolution and it left many women with distorted pelvises that would not allow for vaginal births.

• Certain types of breached babies (or any other that were not in the optimum head-down position) would often be killed inutero until c-sections have saved their lives.

• Multiple births where baby A was not in the head-down position.

• Prolonged labour was a big risk for both women and their babies.

• Medical conditions (e.g. placenta pervia, pre-eclamsia) that would not allow for a safe vaginal birth.

Since the technological advancements, caesarean section rates have grown significantly to the point of overuse. The World Health Organization suggests a percentage of 10-15% - a big different from the 30-40% that most of our local hospitals have. Despite this, while I am a big supporter of vaginal births, and I wish it for all of our clients, I have to say that I am really happy that this procedure is available. It has saved the lives of millions of moms and their babies - including that of my son and I. There is the ideal birth and the practical birth. As doulas we have to straddle both sides of this fence and support and help the family make the best decision possible. We, at The Maya's Nest, truly believe that knowledge is power, especially when it comes to birth. We will support all your choices, but work with you to make sure that your choices are INFORMED.

Here are some links to browse at your leisure:

Pulling back the curtain on Canada’s rising C-section rate — Very interesting article on the rising rates of caesarean sections in Canada.

Baby Centre Caesarean Section — What to expect with a c-section in Canada.

Womans Health Data — Caesarean Section Statistics.

AHA Parenting How to Avoid a Caesarian C Section Birth — Article on ways to avoid a caesarean birth

VBAC.com — Hey, VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) moms! There is a website dedicated just to you!!! How cool!

C-Section by Choice — for moms who are considering elective c-sections.

We are so lucky to live in a time where caesarean births can be performed so well that mom and baby can thrive post birth. The important thing to remember is to make sure you are making informed choices for your pregnancy and birth. And if you end up birthing via Caesarean section, don't forget to celebrate your birth!

As shown in these photos from Jozi Grant Photography, caesarean births are beautiful too. They are part of the story of a new family and of love growing.

- Olena

Recently, our nest has grown with doula and photographer Olena joining the team.

If you are in the middle of your doula research, you will notice that most doulas work solo and are perhaps wondering why we have chosen to work in a partnership.

These are the 5 best reasons to hire a doula partnership:

1. You will know your doula

Birth doesn't begin on anyone's schedule. It happens when it happens. That means that there is a small possibility that two clients end up birthing at the same time. For a solo doula, she would have to call in back up who you most likely will not know and not have any relationship built. In a partnership, if one doula is already at a birth, the other doula would come to you. You will already know both doulas and built that relationship. Both doulas will know your birth plan and know what's the most important things to you and your family.

2. Double the knowledge and experience

Although we both share the same philosophy and support moms in similar styles, we have our own life experiences and knowledge that we get to bring to the table and share with our clients.

3. A well rested doula

Life on call is not easy and many doulas can experience burn out. By choosing doulas in a partnership, we get to split our on call times. This makes us be able to live our lives, make plans with our kids, go on dates with our husbands and even have a glass or two of wine! It also let's is sleep with out having to be half awake in case our phone rings! This means, when we are on call, we are happy and well rested and that's a BIG advantage for a birthing mother!

4. For longer births, you will always have doula support

Sometimes birth takes awhile. Sometimes it takes days. By hiring our doula partnership, we can take shifts. This means your doula will always be rested, both physically and mentally, while still making sure you have that special connection with your doulas since you already know us.

5. We are BOTH birth photographers

Most birth photographer doulas work solo. So in the event that the doula is at another birth and needs to call back up, that back up doula may not be a photogrpaher , even though that is what you signed up for. By both of us being birth photographers as well, you know that whoever shows up to your birth, you will be able to have beautiful images that capture those special moments and tells your story.

What does the doula partnership look like?

When you contact The Maya's Nest, we will schedule our complimentary consultation with both doulas so that you get the opportunity to get to know and connect with BOTH of us.

We offer two prenatals in our birth packages. The prenatals are split up, with one doula handling one prenatal and then switch. This gives you the opportunity to get to know us even better on a one on one basis.

We are both on call from 38 weeks onwards with the week split up for our on call times.

Whoever is on call when you go into labour will be the doula who supports you.

After the birth of your baby, the doula who attended your birth will be the one at your postpartum visit. If you received doula support from both doulas, then both will visit together. We love any opportunity for a baby snuggle!

Do you have anymore questions about doula partnerships or about the benefits of doula support? Simply get in touch!

http://www.themayasnest.com/contact.html

- Samantha

The impossible happened - I became a cover model. I would have never imagined that this would happen, and definitely not in my underwear, being the largest I've ever been (when not pregnant), and with my two kids in my arms. But it happened, and I'm proud.

Body acceptance is a very important topic for me. I grew up in the Philippines with almost all of my friends being very petite and although I was mixed race, I was always compared to their size. I always felt big - no matter what size I actually was.

Then I got pregnant for the first time and all of a sudden, I felt beautiful. You know that glow that pregnant women apparently have? Well I felt like I was beaming! Never in my life had I felt more confident and comfortable in my body. After the birth, I was on such a high over what my body had done. Then as the months passed, with my son exclusively breast fed, I gained a new appreciation for my body that I never had. I was amazed that I grew, birthed and nourished my child solely with my body. That is powerful stuff!

My mind wasn't concentrated on loosing weight after my first. I was just so focused on my new role as mom and didn't want to be away from him a second longer then I needed to. After about a year, something just clicked and I wanted to put myself and my health back into focus. I started to work out and eat very clean once again. By the time I got pregnant with my second, I was in the best health I had been in years.

Now 10 months postpartum with my second, and my focus is starting to go back to my health. My goal is never going to be skinny. That's not important to me. My goal is to be healthy and happy. Most importantly, my goal is to be proud of my body, no matter the size.

When I began going to births, my love for a woman's body in particular grew even more. There is something just so powerful watching a woman birth her baby.

I wish that it could properly explain to all my clients just how marvellous they are and their bodies are. I wish they could have seen the power they possess. I wish one of the first thoughts post baby was not how squishy their bellies now are. I wish I could help mothers everywhere believe that those stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed of, but to be celebrated. I wish I could have some magic words to let every mother know that they are beautiful.

Instead, I decided how better to share my message of self acceptance and body love then by joining in on The 4th Trimester Body Project? If you are unfamiliar with it, please go check out the website and see all the gorgeous photos of mamas of all different shapes and sizes.

When I found out they were coming to Vancouver, I had to join in. It was such an inspiring experience! When I found out that Today's Parent wanted to feature my photo in the magazine, then found out I was going to be the cover, I have to admit I was petrified. It was one thing being on the 4th tri website, but to be the cover of Canada's largest parenting magazine?! That's still crazy to think about! But I decided to go ahead and do it. No not everyone is going to be a fan, but I know there will be moms out there who will see themselves in that photo and that's important. I am not the normal type of woman we see on the covers of magazines. I'm just a normal mom. But I'm also a loving mom, a supportive wife, a passionate doula and a good friend. I am like so many other moms out there. Perfectly imperfect. Let's have our moment in the spot light. Let's celebrate the power of our bodies. Let's celebrate the power of the woman!

Most of all, I hope one day when my kids start noticing their bodies, that they can see this photo and see a mom who is proud of who she is and of her body. I hope my kids grow up comfortable with themselves and knowing that we are all beautiful, in our own unique way.


How do you feel about your postpartum body? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on our Facebook page!

- Samantha