Part 2: Your Birth, Your Way – Preparing for an Elective (or Scheduled) C-Section
Stories from Chelsea and Kirsty + More Tips
A moment of connection—Kirsty with her newborn daughter following her elective C-section.
Following on from Monique’s story, Part 2 of our C-Section Awareness Month series on Preparing for an Elective (or Scheduled) C-Section dives into two more powerful experiences from the She Moves community, with extra tips to help you feel ready—your way.
Let’s begin with Chelsea.
"Essentially, my first birth ended up being an emergency C-section where both me and my daughter could have died due to complications during the C-section," Chelsea shared. The trauma stayed with her long after, with constant worry through her daughter’s first year. "I kept comparing her to friends’ babies and wondering if the milestones she wasn’t hitting were due to her having such a low heart rate prior to the C-section."
So with baby number two, she decided: "There was no way I wanted to go through the emotional or physical trauma again, so I elected for a C-section."
"My mind was so clear—it was just like having an appointment where the end result was a baby, as opposed to nice lashes!"
Her second birth was filled with intention. "We arranged for the midwife to take photos and my husband got to watch and play more of a part than the first time around."
She stayed a few nights in Birthcare. "It was amazing to enjoy the newborn bubble and not be in hospital. During recovery, I had my parents come up to stay—which was soooo incredibly helpful as my husband only got one week off and they recommend no heavy lifting. They were worth their weight in gold!"
"And one of the med students passed out, which was entertaining—it’s usually the partners!"
Chelsea’s advice:
"Don’t feel like a failure if you have a C-section. No one will know how your baby entered the world and it won’t make a difference to their future. Do what’s right for you and your family. As long as you and your baby are healthy and arrive safely—who cares?!"
Kirsty’s also had a tough first birth.
"I had an elective C-section 3.5 months ago after my son’s birth ended in an emergency C-section almost 3 years ago. I opted for an elective the second time around as the idea of a 30+ hour labour ending in another emergency C-section really didn’t appeal to me."
As it turned out, baby had flipped breech by the morning of the C-section: "So it was meant to be that we were booked in for an elective."
"I probably wasn’t expecting my elective C-section experience to be quite as calm as it was. I really didn’t know what to expect—it truly is the weirdest feeling arriving at the hospital and just waiting in a room until it’s time to walk into theatre and have a baby. I was chatting with my midwife about Christmas shopping as they were administering the spinal."
"It really was such a healing experience for me. My daughter had found her way to the breast before they’d finished stitching me back up, which was such an amazing experience as I didn’t get that with my first born."
She shared how she’s approached this recovery with more compassion: "I had unrealistic expectations of myself after my first born, so I’ve been much kinder to myself this time around. I have a lot more knowledge about what my body has gone through."
"My body has definitely changed since having my babies and my tummy will never be the same after 2 C-sections—I’ve never loved my body more. My goal now is to get fit to keep up with my 2 children ❤️"
Kirsty’s advice:
"Rest as much as possible postpartum. I know everyone says this, but it’s crucial."
"If visitors ask if they can do anything—take them up on the offer!"
"The cleaning can wait. Just bonding time with your baby and rest is all you need to focus on."
"I’ve spoken to a few people who were concerned they wouldn’t be able to breastfeed after a C-section. This was not the case for me at all—my milk came in within a few days and I’m having a wonderful breastfeeding journey with my daughter."
(Yes, breastfeeding after a C-section is possible. But if it doesn’t go to plan, that’s okay too ❤️ Be gentle with yourself).
Tips from Chelsea & Kirsty’s stories:
Organise your support crew early—even if it’s just for meals or toddler care.
Take the pressure off postpartum—there’s no rush to bounce back.
Plan for skin-to-skin and breastfeeding if that’s important to you—advocate for it.
Elective C-sections can be calm, empowering, and deeply personal. And if you're feeling nervous, uncertain, or overwhelmed—know that you're not alone.
With preparation, support, and plenty of grace, your experience can still be filled with strength, love, and meaning.
Your birth story is yours—and that makes it powerful. 🌸
April is C-Section Awareness Month—a time to honour and share the experiences of those who have birthed via Caesarean. Whether it's your first baby or your fourth, choosing an elective C-section can feel empowering, overwhelming, calm, and complex—all at once.
In this two-part blog series, we’re highlighting stories from our She Moves community alongside simple, supportive tips to help you feel more prepared—physically, emotionally, and mentally—for an elective C-section.