All articles tagged with #birth experience
Mothers with a history of sexual assault are more susceptible to postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dissociation during labor or birth increases the likelihood of developing PTSD postnatally. The violence experienced during birth can trigger memories of past trauma, leading to a struggle for self-definition. Recognizing and defining trauma can help mothers in their recovery and strengthen their resilience.
Maternal-assisted caesarean, a practice where a woman actively participates in her own c-section, is gaining attention as a way to make the birth experience more satisfying and meaningful for mothers. By removing the drape that separates the patient's head and chest from the lower half of her body, the woman can watch the surgery and reach down to lift her baby out of her abdomen. While not common, this procedure allows women to feel more involved and in control of their birth experience, although it requires careful preparation and consideration of safety risks.
Maternal-assisted cesarean sections (MACs) are gaining traction as an alternative to traditional C-sections, allowing mothers to lift their babies out of their own bodies. This procedure offers immediate skin-to-skin contact and a more intimate birthing experience. While MACs have benefits such as delayed cord clamping and exposure to the mother's microbiome, there are also risks of infection. Despite feeling surgical, one mother described her MAC as empowering and hopes that other mothers will have the option in the future.
Lyz Evans, a pelvic health physiotherapist in Sydney, Australia, delivered her third child via a maternal-assisted cesarean section (MAC), where the mother lifts the baby out of her womb herself. MACs offer benefits such as immediate skin-to-skin contact and a more intimate birthing experience. While there are risks of contamination, some mothers find it empowering to be actively involved in the birth process. Evans hopes that more mothers will have the option of a MAC in the future.