The C-Section Experience: Empowering C-Section Education and Support

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide

Jen and Bethany dive deeper into "What I Wish I Knew Before My C-Section" with more honest, real-life stories from listeners. From the unexpected "spinal zinger" during anesthesia to dealing with pre-surgery exhaustion, no food, and the effects of medications, this episode covers what so many C-section moms wish they'd known ahead of time.

The hosts also discuss how to advocate for your preferences during a Cesarean birth like asking for skin-to-skin contact in the OR, requesting clear drapes, and saying no to unnecessary sedation. Plus, hear the story of a mom welcoming her baby to Elton John's Tiny Dancer and reflections on celebrity C-sections, including Serena Williams, Kate Winslet, and Beyoncé.

Finally, Jen and Bethany share plans for a new, simple, and empowering resource to help moms facing an unexpected C-section feel more prepared and confident.

Whether your C-section is planned or comes as a surprise, this episode is packed with insights, validation, and tips to help you feel more in control of your birth experience.

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide Jen and Bethany break down what expectant parents need to know when choosing a hospital for childbirth. They explain the different levels of maternal care (Level I–IV) and why it matters for your delivery. Topics include the availability of obstetric anesthesiologists, Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists, blood banks, and NICU levels, all key factors that can impact both routine and high-risk births. They also offer practical tips for navigating hospital policies, such as how to ask about private rooms, nursery options, and what to do if your chosen hospital doesn't have higher-level care on-site. Whether you're planning a vaginal birth or a c-section, this episode will help you ask the right questions, advocate for yourself, and feel confident about where you deliver. Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide

Jen and Bethany dive into what moms really wish they knew before their C-sections. Drawing from personal stories and listener responses on Instagram, they share honest insights about C-section preparation, recovery, and the emotional impact of birth.

Topics include:

• What C-sections feel like during surgery

• Common surprises like shivering, swelling, and constipation

• Recovery tips (like how a Squatty Potty can help!)

• Managing pain and anesthesia side effects

• The importance of skin-to-skin contact after a C-section

• Setting realistic expectations for your C-section birth plan

• The role of emotional support and feeling seen in recovery

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide Jen and Bethany explore how breath work and breathing techniques can support women before, during, and after a C-section. They break down how methods like Lamaze and hypnobirthing, often associated with vaginal birth, can be adapted to the c-section experience to reduce anxiety, promote calm, and enhance a sense of control.

They discuss:

• How breath work can reduce preoperative anxiety and help during c-section recovery

• The basics of Lamaze breathing and how to use it in the OR

• How hypnobirthing techniques like deep breathing and positive affirmations can be calming even during surgical birth

• The role of partners in supporting breathing and emotional regulation

• Why breathing can feel strange or difficult during a c-section due to spinal anesthesia, and how to manage that sensation

• Practical tips for integrating breath work into both the surgical birth itself and postpartum healing

Whether you're planning a scheduled C-section, preparing for the possibility of one, or recovering from a prior experience, this episode offers simple, non-pharmacologic tools to help you breathe easier.

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide Jen and Bethany dive into the rarely discussed but important topic of general anesthesia for sesarean births. They break down the reasons general anesthesia might be used during a c-section, whether it's an emergency, a medical necessity, or a personal choice, and explain how it differs from spinal or epidural anesthesia. You'll learn about:

• The pros and cons of general anesthesia for C-sections
• What to expect during and after surgery under general anesthesia
• The impact on baby and bonding after birth
• How to advocate for your preferences with your OB and anesthesiologis
• Questions to ask during a prenatal aneshesia consultation
• Emotional support and practical tips for feeling prepared and informed

Jen shares insights from her work as an obstetric anesthesiologist, and listeners share stories from their own experiences to highlight the real-world situations where general anesthesia becomes part of the birth plan. Whether you're planning your C-section or want to better understand your past experience, this episode empowers you with the knowledge to feel einformed and supported.

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide Jen and Bethany dive into the critical but often overlooked practice of birth debriefing: the intentional reflection on your birth story, whether it was joyful, traumatic, or somewhere in between. They explore how birth debriefs can help new parents process their experience, improve postpartum mental health, and build stronger connections with their partners and care teams. You'll also hear actionable tips for postpartum self-care, including:

• How to initiate a birth debrief before leaving the hospital or at your postpartum visit

• The value of talking through your birth story with trusted friends or professionals

• Using affirmations, goal-setting, and nature as tools for healing

• Why partners need space to process the birth, too

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide Rachel Somerstein is an associate professor of journalism at SUNY New Paltz. She has written for the Washington Post, Guernica, and Wired, among many other publications. Invisible Labor is her first book. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family. Jen and Bethany continue their conversation with Rachel Somerstein, author of Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section. Rachel opens up about her emotional journey toward having another baby after a traumatic unplanned c-section. She shares how therapy, community support, and a trusting relationship with a midwife helped her overcome fear and ultimately have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). They discuss the emotional and psychological toll of a traumatic c-section, and how trauma-informed care played a critical role in Rachel's healing and preparation for her second birth. She reflects on what it meant to build a supportive care team and to find psychological safety in birth. The conversation also explores Rachel's research into the history of cesarean sections, revealing how past practices and cultural narratives continue to shape modern perceptions of childbirth today. Rachel Somerstein rachelsomerstein.com Invisible Labor harpercollins.com Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide Rachel Somerstein is an associate professor of journalism at SUNY New Paltz. She has written for the Washington Post, Guernica, and Wired, among many other publications. Invisible Labor is her first book. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.

Rachel Somerstein rachelsomerstein.com Invisible Labor harpercollins.com

Journalist and author Rachel Somerstein joins Jen and Bethany to share her first-hand account of birth trauma during her unplanned cesarean section. Rachel's story begins with a delayed epidural request during a painful labor, where she felt dismissed, unsupported, and labeled as "crazy" by her care team. When her labor ended in a c-section, her experience became even more traumatic. She repeatedly told her OB she could feel the surgery, but was not believed. She was placed under general anesthesia only after her baby was born, but not before enduring the emotional and physical toll of inadequate neuraxial anesthesia. Rachel's story powerfully illustrates the importance of listening to laboring women, providing timely pain relief, and honoring patients' voices in the OR.

Topics Discussed

• The lack of C-section education in standard prenatal and birth classes

• Delayed pain relief and being dismissed when requesting an epidural

• Inadequate neuraxial anesthesia during C-section

• Being conscious during surgery and feeling the procedure

• Having no memory of the birth despite being awake due to trauma and medication

• How trauma affects both the birthing person and their partner

• The importance of early recognition of birth trauma and early access to therapy

• Shame and isolation after a traumatic birth

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide

Jen and Bethany unpack the stigma surrounding C-sections: where it comes from, why it persists, and how we can start to dismantle it. Drawing from their own personal birth stories and professional backgrounds, they explore the cultural myths, language, and assumptions that contribute to C-section shame. The hosts discuss why many women feel judged for having a Cesarean birth and highlight the urgent need for more inclusive, honest conversations about all birth experiences. If you've ever felt like your C-section was misunderstood, minimized, or seen as "less than," this episode is for you.

Topics covered include:

• Why C-sections are often stigmatized in birth culture

• The emotional impact of feeling judged after a Cesarean

• How media and education shape public perception of C-sections

• Personal reflections on shifting beliefs around Cesarean births

• Why all birth stories deserve respect, support, and validation

Whether you're preparing for a planned C-section, processing a past one, or just want to better understand this often-overlooked part of birth culture, you'll walk away feeling seen, supported, and empowered.

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected]. Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.

Download our FREE C-Section guide here: CSX Guide

Jen and Bethany break down the causes of postpartum skin reactions after c-section: from surgical prep and adhesives to glue and Steri-Strips. Learn how to spot allergic reactions, when to seek help, and what can actually soothe the itch. Plus, why physical discomfort can impact emotional recovery—and how to advocate for yourself postpartum.

Topics include:

• Common causes of postpartum itching and rashes after C-section

• Chlorhexidine (ChloraPrep) vs. Betadine reactions

• Adhesive allergies: Steri-Strips vs. surgical glue

• When to seek medical evaluation

• Holistic remedies to soothe irritated skin

• The emotional toll of lingering postpartum discomfort

• Tips for self-advocacy in recovery

Website: csxpodcast.com Email us: [email protected] Follow us on instagram: @thecsxpodcast Birth Services + postpartum support: lemontreebabies.com. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content in this podcast should not be considered medical advice.