April~ C-Section Awareness Month

We talk honestly about cesarean birth from the stats to the emotions, and why C-section support deserves the same care and respect as any other birth. We share how doulas help before, during, and after a C-section, including what makes the OR experience feel calmer and more human. 
• C-section awareness month and why we talk about cesarean birth without being anti-C-section 
• US and Colorado C-section rates and how hospital variation affects outcomes 
• How a first birth can shape later choices and what VBAC really means 
• Why families feel “defeated” after an unplanned C-section and how we reframe that story 
• Doulas in the OR as emotional and mental support for parents during surgery 
• Myth versus fact on body failure, repeat C-sections, and the “easy way out” claim 
• Practical ways to influence outcomes through provider choice, movement, and early labor timing 
• How continuous doula support reduces anxiety, slows spirals, and creates space for informed consent 
Please comment on our podcast or share your experience about what it was like.

Hospitals in Colorado are not required to publicly report their C-section rates, though some do choose to share this information. One helpful resource is the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade website, where you can search for available data.

If your hospital isn’t listed, you have the right to request this information directly. It’s also important to keep in mind that C-section rates can fluctuate month to month, and individual provider rates may differ significantly within the same hospital. Asking your specific provider about their personal C-section rate can give you a clearer, more accurate picture as you prepare for your birth.

Thanks for listening!  Always feel free to message us for more information or, if you have information you feel we should see, please send that. We LOVE to hear and learn from you!

Transcript

Welcome And Quick Disclaimer

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I wish. Just two passionate birth workers with microphones, sharing personal experiences, trusted information, the best snacks for labor, and a whole lot of heart. What you hear on this podcast is meant to educate, encourage, and connect, but it's not medical advice.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

Please consult your trusted healthcare provider when making decisions about your health, your birth, or anything clinical. Basically, don't sue us. We're just here to talk birth, spill some tea, and share the love.

SPEAKER_01 0:41

Ring ring, doula's on call. Hi friends, and welcome back to doula's on call.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

Hey, what's up? We're back for a second after welcome back.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Yes, a second after the welcome back. Um well it is April. Oh gosh, how is it April? I know it's crazy

C-Section Awareness Month Overview

SPEAKER_01 1:05

to me. Um, but April is also C-section awareness month. Right. So today I thought um we could talk about um all things cesarean birth, like the statistics, the realities of it, and of course where doulas can come into that and how we can support those um having a c-section, whether that's a you know planned c-section, unplanned c-section, et cetera.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

I love it. Um I think yeah, doulas get overlooked. I think they immediately when they say c-section, they think that we're not involved. Um and don't get us wrong, definitely want to clarify um that we're not anti-C-section. Right. Um Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Well, C-section exists for a reason. For a reason. Exactly. We need it. It's those like medically necessary C-sections. And you know, we definitely support that.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

Um we've held hands in the OR Misty.

SPEAKER_01 2:05

Oh, yeah. Held hands, um, taken lots of photos caught dads. I've caught a couple of dads in the catching a lot of vomit in the vomit bags. That is so true. So much holding alcohol swab.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

So you know, there's a lot of different things that um have you ever gone to the uh hospital cafeteria after and just eaten some really not oh wonderful. I don't I think that goes for all births, not just these sections.

SPEAKER_01 2:36

We could have a whole episode. Episode on our birth diet.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

Yes, yes, nutrition during dueling. Actually, that's a great idea. I'm writing it down right now. Writing it down.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

I'll just have to start taking like random notes of things that I eat at births, and then I'll read them out. I'll set it to you guys, and you'll be like, that would be really funny.

SPEAKER_00 2:54

We'll do a we should do a reel about that as well. Yeah.

C-Section Rates And Hospital Variation

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Um, so let's let's start off talking about statistics. Misty, what are the statistics?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Well, nationally, about 30 to 33 percent of births um in the US are actually C-section, which is shameful. Right, right. How are we a first world coded? Okay, yeah. That's a whole other podcast. So that's technically about one in three babies that are going to be coming from the belly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:26

Um we have a lot of fun names for C-section, so we're gonna belly birth, uh, sunroof, moon roof, moon roof. Yeah. Um, that's really funny. Um yeah, here in Colorado, we're doing a little bit better. What's our Colorado statistic?

SPEAKER_01 3:44

It's about 27 to 28 percent. Yeah, still not burstful. C-section. And I, you know, definitely varies by hospital.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

Oh, that is true. Um according to where we get, yeah, who who's doing the numbers. Like, for example, Denver Health, right?

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Yeah, Denver Health has um historically had like the one of the lowest C-section rates. Um, I did read somewhere that that had increased recently. Their numbers had increased. Okay. Um, but maybe I know there's a place we you can go and look, you can research the hospital by name. So maybe we can try and tag that in that episode.

SPEAKER_00 4:24

Yeah, let's do that. We'll do that. Um so that way if you're interested, um where you're birthing, you can look that up specifically. That does exist. Yeah. Yeah. So maybe we can tag that for it just but it also is very uh subjective. Absolutely. So you have to be really careful. Um, I I I will, and I usually tell my clients that in Colorado we're it's like it's one in four. One in four, but that's still a big number. Yeah. Um I think that what really when we're talking to our clients, we do talk about this a lot. I'm um because I think it's different for first-time moms too. It really makes a difference how your first baby is born.

SPEAKER_01 5:04

Oh yeah. Your first birth can pave the way for your next birth. It doesn't mean, and I I want to clarify that it doesn't mean if you've had a C-section, you can never have a vague birth. Absolutely. Um that's very important to talk about, actually. It just will change how your next birth may go as far as like your care, your support, your choices, your choices, things like that. Right. So yeah, I just want to clarify on that. Doesn't mean that you couldn't.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

Yeah, no, it's so true. I think um Colorado statistically, they say like 20, 21, 20 percent first-time moms in Colorado have a c-section.

SPEAKER_01 5:48

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

Um, and even from our births, right? Would you statistically we we do keep note of the stats? Yeah, yeah. It's really hard as a doula too, because there are those births off screen, uh, where there's they

First Birth Impact And VBAC Hope

SPEAKER_00 6:05

are medically necessary. You definitely need a c-section. I like to tell my clients, I I'd like to think, especially if we are in the OR, we will sometimes get our why. Like there's a lot of times where you after the C-section, they're like, Hey, thank goodness that you're here that this is how I delivered. There's no way that baby was coming out vaginally. Right. Right. Um, and as a dual, we take it very personally. It's hard not to, right? You want to talk about that for a second?

SPEAKER_01 6:35

Well, yeah, like when you're working with somebody, you're you're doing all this preparation with them. Um, and then you go to the birth with them, and it could be a very long birth. Right. And then it turns to a C-section. It's kind of like I feel like at that point everybody kind of has like this feeling of defeat. Everybody, no matter what. It doesn't matter. It's your doula, yeah, yourself, your partner, your um, you know, even your provider. No, you know, there's we kind of have like that feeling of like, oh, we feel kind of defeated.

SPEAKER_00 7:05

Yeah, well, and I think people hire a doula, and their main reason for hiring your doula thinks that that will up that they'll absolutely avoid a c-section in hiring a doula.

SPEAKER_01 7:15

Yeah, right. I hear that a lot, like when I do the console calls, they're like, uh, I just don't want a c-section. Yes. That's like my number one goal is I don't want a c-section.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Yeah, it's the reason for hiring.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

Um and I, you know, I while I understand that um I I do want to say that doulas cannot be your savior. No. Right? They can't save you from how this is going to be.

SPEAKER_00 7:45

Um yeah, no, yeah, you're you're right. Right. They're they're not, and I think that's why it is so valid to have it if it's medically necessary. Um, do you talk about c-sections in your prenatals? Or yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Yeah, usually at the the second prenatal. So I have, you know, we have our birth plan templates that we go over. So I'll send them the examples of the birth birth plan templates. Yeah, we've got them. Um and one of them is for C-section. A planned C-section. Yeah. So we talk about that. Well, you know, C-section is not the goal, right? It is a possibility. Um, I just want to be prepared. So if we're in that moment, um we already know some of these things. So they feel a little bit more familiar.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

Yes. I I love to do that as well. We we work together a lot, and I think having that education, I just want to educate them. I but do you also have the clients that do not want you to even talk about it?

SPEAKER_01 8:48

I've had that happen a few times. I don't have it happen frequently, but when I do, they're like, we're not putting that out there. Yeah, yes, we hear that a lot. I do hear that out there. We don't want to put that out there. Um again, like while I can understand a lot of that, I think it just comes from, you know, fear. It comes from fear also. Um, and they mean very well, very well intent, you know, intention there to not put that out there. But your doula also means very well because you know, for the amount of births that we've seen and that we've attended, we've seen all the different variations there and variables, and we just know like it makes a difference to truly be informed beforehand. Right. Um, and I wouldn't say that I like spend a lot of time talking about it, like no, but I want them to know what the process looks like.

SPEAKER_00 9:41

And I also think it's really important to point out, obviously, because we just gave you the statistics. Yeah. If you're a first-time mom, it's probably beneficial for you to know what that looks like in that situation. Right. Um, I also we're Colorado. This makes a huge difference of why, yeah, of why it's so important to know a who where you're gonna birth, who's on your birth team, your provider, your doula, your partner, um, because that makes a huge difference. We're actually really blessed to be in Colorado. I I will say that I have been able to go on to the OR quite often.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

I'd say more often than not. Correct. Uh you know, there's occasionally the times

Why Doulas Matter In The OR

SPEAKER_01 10:30

that it's, you know, our policy. Right.

SPEAKER_00 10:33

And which is also so subjective. I know. This is this is we're gonna this is a hot, hot spot. We're disclaimer. Yes. This is a very if you work at a hospital or you are a nurse or anesthesiologist and you are listening to this, turn up the volume. Yes. This is frustrating.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

It's frustrating for doulas, it's frustrating for the client.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

It's infuriating actually.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

Like there have been multiple times that I've gone, you know, I've gone into a birth and they're like, no, sorry, our policy states we cannot let you go back. Right. When I literally had just talked to one of our other doulas in our practice who had just done a birth, C-section birth and gone back. Correct. So it's not that it's not their it's not that it's against their policy. Right. It's that person specifically who's there that day who is saying no. So it's subjective to who you get.

SPEAKER_00 11:33

I truly feel like it really boils down to who your anesthesiologist is. That's anesthesia. And and that I don't you agree, it's because we're in their space. Oh, yeah, you're right in our space. Which let me put this out there. Love, love our anesthesiologists. Oh, yeah. I'm not again like not anti-anesthesia whatsoever. No. Um, totally understand that this is life and death. Totally understand that, you know, we want the people who are doing the procedure and keeping them pain-free, like all of this and that, you know, yes, I'm at this end of the totem pole. But would you agree that if you have dualist support in the OR, it is a night and day experience than if you do not?

SPEAKER_01 12:17

Oh, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 12:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

100%. I've had clients that I wasn't able to be there. They come back, they tell me what happened back there, and I'm like, oh, yeah, I wish I was there. Because, and it's not saying like I I could have done something for your surgery. Like, it's the emotional, it's the emotional and mental support, um, you know, dads, you know, feeling weak in the knees or um whatever. Um, or just like I've had clients tell me before, like how helpful it was to them that I could just speak calmly next to them about what is going on. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

Yes. Uh if they want the correct also, the I feel like um the dads quite often, and when I've been in the OR and we um okay, so this is for the unplanned ones, if they allow me to go in. It typically this is after an in strenuous, like unbelievable labor, whether it was an induction or not, they've been at the hospital for hours, they're exhausted. Both of them are exhausted. Um, they're scared, yeah, you know, and they just really want to meet their baby. They know that, you know, they've never done this, especially first-time moms, right? Um, and after, you know, I've had a dad honestly hand me that baby and say, I'm sorry, like, but he he can. And he's supporting the mom or he's holding on to the mom, and they're exhausted. And yes, if I wasn't there, the baby would be absolutely safe in the warmer with the nurses. Right. Not like they couldn't have it, but how amazing that I could literally hold the baby right next to mom. Right next to mom while dad was holding her.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

And the nurses, like they're lovely, they're lovely and they're great, but they have a job that they have to perform. Their job is not to sit next to you during the surgery, hold your hand, hold the barf bag, nope, um, put a cool cloth on your head, talk to you about what's going on. Like peppermint oil. That's not yeah, that's not what their job is. They have other things that other great jobs that they're more than capable of doing. Yes. Um but it is nice to just have that extra support there.

SPEAKER_00 14:39

It's the mental emotional piece. Just like in birth, it's it's literally no different than in birth. Um, if you're listening to this and you have had support in the OR, or I know many of my clients will listen to this and can speak to this. I mean, please comment on our podcast or yeah, share your experience about what it was like. Yeah, please share it.

SPEAKER_01 14:58

Have your doula in and um or if you didn't have your doula in, like how could your doula have helped you?

SPEAKER_00 15:04

And um totally. Um, there's a lot of um, we're gonna do a quick kind

C-Section Myths Versus Facts

SPEAKER_00 15:10

of quick fire. I thought it'd be fun to do like myth versus fact about C section, uh, because let's just admit the internet is wild. Um we fight a lot of myth. We fight a lot of myth. So um I'm gonna I'm gonna state the myth and then and you're gonna get me facted up. Give me the facts. Are you ready? Are you ready? Sure. Buckle up. Okay. Okay. Um myth. If you have a C-section, Misty, your body has failed. Um, no, not at all.

SPEAKER_01 15:43

Your body is not ever going. Your body is not gonna fail you, right? Um, your body is doing exactly what it needs to do to get this baby here, however that needs to happen. Right. So there's many different variables in birth. It is not linear.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

No.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Um so it has nothing to do.

SPEAKER_00 16:07

Wait, say that last part again. It is not linear. Okay, you heard nothing else in this podcast. Get a Sharpie and write it down. Right. Birth is not linear.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

Okay, just want to make that. And if it doesn't go how your sisters went, how your friends went, how your cousins went, how the girl on Instagram went, it doesn't mean that your body is less capable as theirs. Every baby has a different journey and path into this world. Yeah. Um so but we do that a lot, right? We do the comparison game and it's really hard not to. Yeah, but your body did not fail you. This is just it's it's your story, your your baby's, your baby's story.

SPEAKER_00 16:52

And you can have multiple babies after that are not a C-section. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 16:59

So well, that brings me to then mine myth. Okay, okay. So is it a myth or a fact? Once you have a C-section, that you always have to have a C-section.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

Oh, that is absolutely a myth. Um, that is why the term V-BAC exists. So vaginal birth after cesarean. Are you always a candidate for it? No, maybe not. Like we have to look at why you had a C-section. Were you high risk? Was it medically necessary? I mean, again, correct. Again, are there what are the variables we're talking about here? But no, it is absolutely a myth that you always have to have one henceforth. Um, I love um having, I mean, we've had many VBAC success stories, and it really is magical when that happens, right? Like there's something special about very special, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:53

Um, you know, I love birth. I love going to, you know, first babies, um, second babies, but there is something magical because going back to like the myth of your body feeling, that's right, people lose trust in their body once that happens. And so when a woman, I got the chills, but when a woman has a successful V back, the amount of faith that is restored in her body is so wonderful, is incredible to witness. Like incredible. I had a um uh I had a V back recently with a client and uh shout out to her, because I know you're gonna listen to this. Um, she's so she's so awesome. But she sent me a message the next day and it was like lovely. Remember when I had a V back yesterday? I'm like, yes, I do, girl. I remember. So every time I see her, we get away. She's like, Yeah, do you uh remember that day I had a V back?

SPEAKER_00 18:54

Like Yeah, I I also think it's important to point out, I always tell my clients this, I say, you know, even in if you have the most magical, perfect vaginal birth, something coming out of your is traumatic. Yeah. So it's coming out of your body. Oh my word, birthing can be regardless of this wonderful enough road, you know. So that's also I want to point out, like um, myself and Misty have taken what a course called the V back link. And if you are um have pregnant and wanting to try for a VBAC, please look at the V back link. Please educate yourself. And what is the number one thing the V back link says to do if you want to try for a VBAC?

SPEAKER_01 19:39

Get a get a um VAC. Yeah. I was gonna say get a um VAC supportive provider.

SPEAKER_00 19:47

But yes, yes, no, the one when that is true. Number one is to find a provider that is supportive of that. But okay, we're number two on the list.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

Yes, yeah, yeah. And then get your dual, get your provider, and then get your dual. And then you've got like that perfect combo.

SPEAKER_00 20:02

Awesome. Okay. Um, so Misty, is the here's another one I hear all the time. Oh my gosh, well, C-sections are just the easy way out. Yeah, they took the easy way out. They scheduled a plan C section.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Yeah, it's just so easy. Um, there is nothing easy. That one actually makes me so angry. Yeah. I know. Yeah. There is nothing easy about a C-section. It is major surgery. It is major surgery.

SPEAKER_00 20:27

You don't know what you're talking about if you say that. You really don't.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

Right. No, so absolutely not.

SPEAKER_00 20:33

Um it's like birth plus bonus level recovery. I love that quote. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:40

Oh my gosh. It is definitely different. Um, you know, as far as like recovery, I always tell my clients like tack on about two weeks. Literally. You know, recovery. So it's there's a reason why the majority of your clients, if you ask them about their um maternity leave, most of them get two additional weeks for a C section. That's fine.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

There's a reason why. Because they don't know. It's unknown. Yeah. Yeah. It could end in a C section. Um okay. Here's another one. I'm gonna have you answer. I'm making you do double.

SPEAKER_01 21:11

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 21:11

Um and this is one we hear a lot. We we can talk about,

Lowering C-Section Odds With Choices

SPEAKER_00 21:15

we can both talk about the the myth that there's nothing you can do to lower your chances.

SPEAKER_01 21:20

Yeah. Right? While birth is something that we can't control, right? Totally. Um, one of my clients, I loved it when he was telling his wife, he's like, so basically, babe, we can influence, we have so much, like so many options and tools and everything. We can control to influence things, right? But we cannot directly control birth. Correct. So we can't. So while we can't directly control it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

There's a lot of things you can do to educate yourself. Yeah, there's a lot of those things that we can do to influence. Like what's the top one? If you if you have a if you have a client's like, okay, what's the number one thing I can do to avoid disease section? Yeah, yeah. Your doctor. Yeah, hundredth. Or midwife. That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 22:02

Um, so ask them what what are your what's your C-section rate? Um, you know, what is your induction rate? What's your induction rate? Yeah. Yeah. What you know, what's your induction rate? Um, you know, what's your protocol on me going post 41 weeks? Like those are all those questions. And you can message us if you want. Um we can give you like a handout for what to ask providers when you're doing your provider search. But yeah, definitely provider choice, absolutely. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:32

What I I think another one that uh affects that, we also train and do uh what's called spinning babies. Very informed, as well as Gilligan's guide. Yeah. And prenatal movement that absolutely helps your baby's positioning during like pregnancy, but also during labor. During labor. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:55

Pretty that that movement piece is key too because um the more balanced your body is before labor starts, it helps that baby get into a really good position and all those things.

SPEAKER_00 23:08

So don't you think culture? I talk to my moms about this a lot, especially since COVID. And so many moms are working from home and sitting on a yeah, sitting on a chair, leaning back.

SPEAKER_01 23:23

A lot of people, if you're working from home, all day you have a laptop in your lap and you're leaning back on your couch. All day. I know I always um pick on my clients like on like see what you're doing right now.

SPEAKER_00 23:32

Show me or show me. I always say, I always say, okay, I'm gonna leave and y'all are just gonna sit on the couch and watch a really comfy movie. I want you to get into position. This is what I do. And I go ready, set, go. And they're like looking at me and I go, no, for real. Like, this is a great space. It's really comfy. Show me what you do. And immediately they do that. And I'm like, oh, and just wait. So higher says you're doing why that's bad.

SPEAKER_01 23:55

I'm just kidding. We'll tell you why you need to sit up, sit up straight.

SPEAKER_00 24:00

Put a pillow between your legs and lay sideways. Um, another one is just you know, staying home longer when it's appropriate, right? Like when you want low or no intervention and you want to avoid the cascade of interventions, as they call it, um, laboring at home as long as physically, medically possible.

SPEAKER_01 24:20

And I will say, I do want to say, because I want to call out all the good too that I hear from providers and hospitals and all of that. Um, I have been seeing this a lot more lately where they want you to stay home longer. Me too. And they're encouraging you to stay home longer, which I love that. I love that we're doing more of that and not just saying, oh, just come on in. You've been having contractions that are five minutes apart for the last 45 minutes. Amazing. Come on in, we'll see you soon. Um, so yeah, staying home longer. Knowing when to not go knowing when to not go. And then of course, hire doula that will definitely lower lower your C section rate. Like, we know that's a statistic. We can give you the statistics. You know, yeah. So why, Tammy, can you tell me why having a doula would lower, you know, yeah, statistically, all of that.

How Doulas Reduce Anxiety And Interventions

SPEAKER_00 25:20

Well, I think uh you just said it. I think having a doula will lower that because we automatically will be c talking to you, nonstop, communicating you with you during that early labor process. Like, and I always tell my clients, please, you know, if I if I can't get to you right, FaceTime me. But quite often when I know those contractions are three minutes, six minutes, eight minutes, two minutes, right? Baby's really trying to figure out where to go. Am I gonna tell them to go to the hospital? No, like you know, especially med, you know, I'm not a doctor. I'll clarify. But if everything medically is fine, there are no high risks, no red flags, you know. Um, and quite often we will go to your house. We will labor with you. Um, I love that. I love doing that. I love especially when I'm like, okay, let's go to the bathroom and it's dark and they're having contractions on the toilet and they're getting more intense, right? And she is they hate you at first, by the way. Yeah, you will not love us at this point. And mom wipes and is like, oh, that's that's fun, right? And I'm like, ooh, and I kind of like, oh, good job. And I'm very calm, but then I look at the dad and I'm like, okay, go back the back, get the car ready. Now it's time, it's time. Yeah. So that just that um sets a a tone for avoiding all of the things, yeah, right. How many times do you hear a couples tell you, I could never have done this without you? Like, oh my gosh. I would say I would have been without a town. Yeah, I would have been at the hospital yesterday. I would have come way too soon. Yeah, right. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 26:53

Well, and I I think a huge piece is the mental piece. Oh, a hundred percent. Like the mental, like I feel. Um I I've had, and tell me if this is happening to you. Yeah, give me an example. Um, like I've had clients that are, you know, anxious. This one specific I'm thinking about in my mind. Um, she was very, very anxious. She was there for an induction, actually. Um, things weren't really kind of progressing in the way that you know she'd like it to. She was kind of starting to spiral a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 27:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

Um it was instant. As soon as I walked in, the it just changed. It shifted, her body took over, was like able, you know, able to do it. Yeah. And then she later told me, she goes, I could feel it when you walked in.

SPEAKER_00 27:43

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:44

I could feel like I literally felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 27:50

And because they trust you. And it and it brings back to remembrance that the spiral stops because our presence automatically. I had a dad tell me before you got here, I was Googling early labor. Yeah. It's like I totally forgot everything we talked about. The prenatals, and then the minute you walked in, you were he was like, Oh, I'm supposed to do this. I remember. And it's just like calm sets in. Yeah, I love that. Yeah, that makes a big, a big difference. Yeah. You I think we also communicate what's happening in real time. It takes away that anxiety. Yes. Right? Yeah. So you communicate, hey, this is where you're at, this is what's next. I think we're safe, you know. How many times do you say to your client, you're safe?

SPEAKER_01 28:34

Yeah, you're safe. Your baby is safe. This is exactly what we want to happen.

SPEAKER_00 28:39

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 28:40

Um, and so you can be that that support for mom and for baby for things like that.

SPEAKER_00 28:45

Yeah. And what what do you say to them as well? Like I I dead stare my clients right in the eye because they're they're I can't moments or the panic. And you're saying you are doing it. They say I can't do it.

SPEAKER_01 29:01

You say, first I tell them you are. First I say, okay, look at me. Come back to me. Yes, yes, come back to me. Absolutely. Look at me. Right. You're doing this. That's right. I want you to repeat after me. And I make them repeat. I do too. I'm not sure. Even if it's a whistle, I'm doing it.

SPEAKER_00 29:20

Or even if it's in tears.

SPEAKER_01 29:21

Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:23

Yeah. Yeah. Um, I think, I think um one of the biggest drivers of C-section isn't just what happens, but it's how labor is or can be managed. Correct. Yeah. Every single second. And where that's where you having that continuous dualist support makes a thousand percent of the difference. Right.

SPEAKER_01 29:46

Well, it it definitely lowers the use of intervention. So the use of medication to stimulate contractions. All of it. You know, we might have maybe different things that we think of first rather than going to the pharmaceutical method.

SPEAKER_00 30:02

It just creates a pause. I tell my clients it just

Final Reassurance And Listener Takeaways

SPEAKER_00 30:05

creates it just creates a pause because there's somebody else in the room, right? That just is like, okay, do we have a minute? Do we have time? Yeah. Is there time? Using the acronym BRINK. That's right. What does Brain stand for, Tammy? Benefits, risks, alternatives, intuition, and N is my favorite. This is the nothing. Do we have time? Can we wait? Can we do nothing for a minute? Yeah. Yeah, nothing or now. Or now. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so what would you tell somebody if they're listening and they're pregnant or you know somebody who is? Here's what you want to know. What would you tell them? Sum it up for us, Nancy.

SPEAKER_01 30:51

So if you're pregnant and listening to this and you're on the fence about hiring a doula, absolutely consider hiring a doula. Consider um interviewing multiple doulas. Yes. Find your person. Find your person for sure. Um, if you are listening to this and you have had a c-section, it's so important. I want you to know, number one, that a c-section is not a failure. You did not fail at birth.

SPEAKER_00 31:22

Say it to yourself while you're listening to this.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

Yes. You are not a failure, your body's not a failure, your baby's not a failure. That's right. Your body isn't broken, none of that. Right. And um, you deserve to have support. That's right. Um as much as you know, any other mom, no matter, no matter how your baby um your baby is born.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

That's right. Um, support matters. Your environment matters. Who's in that room matters. Yes, absolutely. Right? And yeah, I think it's really important.

SPEAKER_01 31:59

Yeah. And you know, and back to like what I was saying when I interview with um clients, and they say my number one goal is to avoid a c-section. I say it's it's not to avoid a c-section at all costs, right? Right. Baseline should always be healthy mom, healthy baby. We hear that term a lot. We hear it a lot. That's baseline. That is like But it gets so overused.

SPEAKER_00 32:20

We'll do a whole podcast on that, actually. Yeah. So that's a loaded, loaded statement. We will process.

SPEAKER_01 32:28

But but what is the goal, Tammy? Like, what should like the number one goal be?

SPEAKER_00 32:32

You should you should have the support that you need. The questions should be answered. People shouldn't talk over you. You should feel safe. You should feel loved and supported regardless. Right. You should have the team you want. Yes. Right? And you should absolutely get whatever you want to eat afterwards.

SPEAKER_01 32:52

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:53

And a baby.

unknown 32:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:55

So really quick, I have to share this. I have to share this really quick. Mine I didn't really, really fast before we um sign off today. It just made me laugh. Sure. Um, so I had one client of mine, she's like, I have a very short birth plan. And I was like, Okay. And she's like, I just actually kind of typed it out in my notes on my phone. Can I just send it to you? I was like, Yeah, sure. So she sends, sends it to me. It says, get to hospital, have healthy baby, margarita and sushi. Yeah, sushi. Sushi's like the number or Jimmy Johns. Subscena tooth. I just love how she had it written down. She was like, get to the hospital. That's right. Have a healthy baby. Have a margarita. Have sushi. Oh man, I love it.

SPEAKER_00 33:44

I was like, oh yeah. That was so great. That's fantastic. I love it. Well, it's been fun. We'll do more, but um, definitely pay attention to all the stats on c-section. Support your c-section mommies. If you are a c-section mommy, we love you. We're having so much love to you. So much love to you. We'll talk to you guys next time. Bye, Misty. Bye bye.