Part 1: Your Birth, Your Way – Preparing for an Elective (or Scheduled) C-Section
Monique’s Story + What Helped
A two part blog series, let’s start with Monique’s story.
"My eldest, who is nearly 9 now, was a sunroof baby."
Pregnancy was exciting for Monique—until she was diagnosed with placenta previa. "After waiting and watching for a few months hoping it would move, it didn’t, so we opted to have an elective C-section." But baby had other plans and Monique went into early labour two days before her scheduled date.
"4am wake-up bleeding definitely scares you," she shared. With the mad dash to hospital (after making sure someone was sorted to milk the cows!), Monique and her husband headed in. "Bubs wasn’t distressed, so that settled me a bit."
In theatre, she faced another delay: "As the epidural was about to go in, the doctors were told to stop—another lady might need to go before us. After a long 20 minutes in a cold surgery room, the OK was given."
"I made damn sure that baby was given straight to me."
Monique reflected on the surprising parts: "I wasn’t prepared for the amount of pushing high up under your ribs the doctor did to get bubs out—that was quickly forgotten, but it’s a thing! Nor did I have any full brief underwear to put on after as I was unaware of how big the bandage would be over the wound."
Her husband wasn’t allowed to stay overnight: "I highly recommend pushing to allow your partner to stay. Nurses get busy and it’s blinkin’ hard to move once your feeling is back—hence nearly wetting the bed!"
Support in those early days was essential. "I was lucky enough to have my sister stay for the first week home with her 3-month-old. She did all the cooking and cleaning so I could rest. She was a godsend."
What was one thing that helped you prepare for your C-section (physically or mentally)?
"I don’t think mentally you can prepare yourself fully. I thought I was prepared but my husband will tell you differently. The closer to the date the more anxious I got. And physically just being as healthy as you can."
What do you wish you had known beforehand?
"The abdominal pressure throughout the procedure (bubs is still pushed out) - I had no idea this would be the case."
What helped the most during recovery?
"Having my sister being able to stay for the first week with us at home as hubby still had to run the business."
Was there anything unexpected about your C-section experience that stood out to you?
"I was surprised by how much vaginal bleeding there still was after a C-section. I think a lot of people assume there won't be any because you haven’t had a vaginal birth—but that’s not the case. I’ve since learned it’s really common, especially with your first baby."
If you could give one piece of advice to someone preparing for a C-section, what would it be?
"Have good supportive underwear and pants, and have formula on hand just in case. A full baby is a happy baby and mum."
Tips from Monique’s story:
Pack full-brief underwear and soft, high-waisted pants – you'll want comfort over everything post-surgery.
Line up support ahead of time – whether it’s a partner, friend, or family member, having help at home can make a huge difference.
Speak up about your preferences – like wanting immediate skin-to-skin or having your partner stay with you overnight if possible.
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.