Written By: Betsy Aniol, Crescent Moon Advanced Clinical Intern
April is C-Section awareness month!
At Crescent Moon Therapy we work with many birthing people who’ve had c-sections. We wanted to share our knowledge – read ahead for facts and stats about C-sections, as well as some signs of postpartum post–traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to keep an eye out for in yourself or your loved ones.
Caesarean birth (C-Section for short) is often unplanned, especially if the birthing person does not have known risks and complications or if it is the person’s first birth. Last-minute decisions to have a C-section delivery are typically made due to the position of the baby, the baby’s vitals, a blockage, or slowed/stopped labor. Many of our clients that have a c-section report feelings of “failure” or “guilt”. While these feelings are valid, a c-section is NOT the “easy way out” when it comes to giving birth.
A lot of the work we do with clients who’ve had c-sections involves processing their experience. A common fear we hear from parents who want more children after their first c-section is “how am I going to prepare myself for potentially another c-section?” Rest assured, you most likely have options the second time around! We will work together to help you feel confident about your birth options. C-sections are sometimes recommended for subsequent births following a C-section or other surgeries involving the uterus, however, many people are often a good candidate for VBACs (Vaginal Birth after Caesarean).
Here are some “fast facts” about C-sections:
- C-sections have become fairly common in the United States, with 32.3% of live births in 2023 being cesarean deliveries
- Women with endometriosis are 2 times more likely to have a C-section delivery
- Emergency C-sections are associated with an increased risk for postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder
If you’ve had a C-section and are worried that you might be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result, here are symptoms to look for:
- Nightmares or intrusive thoughts avoidance of reminders of childbirth – the hospital, pregnant people, even the baby
- Feeling like something is going to happen to the baby
- Self-blame for the birth not going as planned
- Delaying/avoiding treatment for birth related pelvic organ prolapse or nerve damage
- Difficulty bonding with the baby and feeling guilty over this difficulty
- Suicidal thoughts
We encourage you to reach out to Crescent Moon Therapy in Park Ridge, IL today if you or a loved one are struggling to process a c-section experience.
References:
https://www.endofound.org/study-women-with-endometriosis-face-double-the-rate-of-c-sections
C-Section Support in Park Ridge
