Meet Stephanie as she talks about her recent planned C-section:

Why did you plan a c-section for your second baby?

My first daughter ended in a c-section, so we planned for a c-section for our second daughter.

Please share a brief synopsis of your birth.

We chose the date based on the fact that it was after 39 weeks, but still before my due date. The surgery was scheduled for mid afternoon and we were supposed to arrive at the hospital by noon. My doctor told me that I could eat breakfast as long as it was eight hours before the surgery.When we got to the hospital everything went very smooth and quick.

How was the surgery?

The surgery went great. Since I could not see anything she let my husband film as my daughter was born.

The nurses wrapped her up and brought her over to me immediately, and my husband held her next to my face. Once the doctors were done I was able to do skin-to-skin, back to the recovery room where she latched and started breastfeeding. betboo

How was your birth experience different from what you imagined it to be?

The only thing I had to go on from previous experience was the emergency c-section where everything was tense and the peds team was in the room in addition to the regular OR staff. This time we were all laughing and joking and having a great time.

What would you recommend to future moms about to experience childbirth?

I would recommend that a woman plan for any kind of birth experience that she wants and if her plans don’t work out exactly the way she was expecting, to be open to making the best of the situation that she ends up with!