April is C-Section Awareness Month. Here at FIT4MOM UA+Hilliard, we believe every birth is beautiful, and we want to celebrate ALL birth stories. Our Body Well/Body Boost instructor, Sam, had a c-section with each of her 3 beautiful babies - and each was a totally different experience! We’ll let Sam tell you about it, in her own words:

”All my c sections were different.

My first one came after pushing, then drugged for a c section, then tried pushing again, and then drugged for a c section. Then during my c section I threw up and was having pain so they gave me morphine (I think). I was so out of it from all the drugs I don’t remember holding Bryce (my husband said he kept slipping out of my arms). I couldn’t even walk standing straight up a week later. Recovery took a while, but I felt blessed to have this little baby to comfort me.

Since I ended up having a surgery with my first, and based on my doctor’s recommendation, we decided to go the same route with baby number 2. Sadie’s birth was awesome. I was present for it all. Recovery was 10 thousand times better. We got some awesome pictures of her coming into the world. Recovery still hurt, but nothing like Bryce’s.

For my last c section, they went to take Lincoln out of me and all of a sudden I felt a lot of pain. It was somewhat intense, but I had also been resistant to pain meds in the past. I don’t remember any of this, but my husband tells me that I said “f$!k my life” and I kept saying “Sadie (my then 2.5 year old) get off me!” I was in so much pain that night.

But what I loved about all my births is that my kids arrived healthy and safe...and that was always the goal. If I could go back in time and repeat Sadie’s birth for the other two that would be great, but that’s life. I love explaining to the kids they got cut out of my belly and they love seeing the pictures. Every time we play doctor Sadie wants the baby cut out of her belly. No matter how your baby gets here (vaginal, c section, adoption, etc.) what matters is they are here and ready to be loved. ”

Thank you, Sam, for sharing your stories with us!