When expecting her second child, Jessica Moore had a detailed birth plan ready to go. After her first delivery was “not a horror story,” she was determined to make this experience even better. Armed with knowledge about her options, she felt ready to enjoy the journey with her partner. However, life had other ideas.
At 32 weeks, Jessica discovered her little one was breech. By the time she went into labor at 37 weeks, the baby still hadn’t flipped. “In California, midwives can’t deliver breech babies outside of a hospital, and there weren’t any doctors nearby willing to take that risk,” Jessica explained. Thus, she made the tough call to opt for a c-section.
“I was terrified of the surgery,” she shared in a now-viral Instagram post. “I feared the scar and its long-term impact on my body and mind. I worried I’d feel like I hadn’t really given birth.” But, in a twist of fate, despite her initial disappointment, Jessica found a way to make her birth experience extraordinary.
“The c-section was a hard decision, pushing me to educate myself and adjust my expectations,” she reflected. “In the end, I got everything I wanted. We had skin-to-skin contact in the OR, I saw my daughter being born (and even have a video), my partner cut the umbilical cord, they delayed cord clamping, and most importantly, my baby was safe and beautiful. Plus, my doctor honored all my choices.”
Jessica’s scar became a badge of honor. “I’m not a badass because I had a c-section instead of a vaginal delivery,” she clarified. “I’m a badass for overcoming my fears and making peace with my birth experience. I wanted a natural delivery, but I found acceptance and embraced my journey.”
I can relate. After my own c-section with my twins, which happened after three hours of pushing, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy. But I’ve decided to let go of the “what ifs” and celebrate my scar and the beautiful boys that resulted from that experience.
Jessica echoes this sentiment: “Women need to support each other in appreciating the beauty of every birth. No one type of birth is better than another; each is a unique experience worth celebrating.”
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In summary, Jessica’s journey is a powerful reminder that while we can plan for our births, life often has its own twists and turns. Embracing each unique experience is what makes motherhood so beautiful.