Two Births, Three Babies via Scheduled C-Sections.
I was diagnosed with IBD in 2012 at the age of 16. My disease was very severe, and it was by miracles that I got to keep my colon.
At the age of 22 I developed an anal fissure. We tried two treatment options and they both failed, so we went with the final resort, which was a surgery called a "lateral internal anal sphincterotomy". It has a very long name, but it was a minor surgery. The surgeon cut my anal sphincter. The purpose of this was to relax it to allow the fissure to heal. Thankfully, the surgery was a success. However, this surgery permanently weakened my already weakened and scarred anus.
When I considered pregnancy, I saw a GI who specialized in pregnancy. I met her along with an MFM. After thoroughly reviewing my medical history, and lots of discussion, the conclusion was that it would be too risky for me to give birth vaginally. Giving birth vaginally comes with the very possible risk of tearing, and if the tear goes far enough, it can damage the anal sphincter. Since mine was already so weak, we couldn't take any risks.
Thankfully, I went into my first pregnancy knowing this, and I spent my entire pregnancy preparing for it. I watched YouTube vlogs and listened to podcasts on the topic.
Four weeks before my scheduled c-section, COVID-19 broke out. While it induced a lot of anxiety within me, my scheduled C-section was a huge blessing in disguise. It gave me a sense of control knowing when I'll be giving birth.
The pregnancy was a disaster health-wise, and by the time I got to my scheduled c-section, I felt very ready and excited. I had the most positive and calm experience. I still remember every detail now, 5 years later. My recovery was smooth and as painless as possible, thanks to the amazing pain management my doctor figured out for me.
20 months after my first c-section, I got pregnant again. This time it was twins.
I was very excited that there were two babies in there, because my doctors had discussed that there is a limit to how many c-sections I'll be able to have, and we won't know the number beforehand. I felt that the second baby was a "bonus baby" and a big gift.
Once again, we scheduled my c-section. However, I went into preterm labor at 36 weeks.
My experience this time was vastly different than my first c-section. I vomited on the operating table. I was extremely tired and exhausted and kept conking out, and I felt some pain during the surgery.
My recovery was also a bit bumpy. My incision did not heal well, and I needed intervention to get it to heal fully.
I am extremely grateful for the option of having a c-section, which provides me a safe way of bringing delicious babies into this world. I am grateful that I had the time to build a positive mindset around it, and I encourage all pregnant moms to prepare for it, whether they are scheduling one or preparing for a vaginal delivery. Mindset is everything.
Birth Story by Hindy
