Understanding Caesarean Birth: Caeserean Awareness Month
Mother lying in bed with newborn
April marks Caesarean Awareness Month — a time to recognise, inform, and empower parents who birth their babies abdominally. At The Bubba & Me Club, we’re committed to inclusive education that supports every kind of birth journey, including Caesarean births, which account for roughly 1 in 4 births in the UK.
Whether planned or performed in an emergency, Caesarean birth is birth — and it deserves to be met with respect, knowledge, and care.
🔬 What is a Caesarean Birth?
A Caesarean birth is a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. It may be recommended for medical or personal reasons, including:
Placenta previa or placental abruption
Breech or transverse position
Slow or stalled labour
Previous Caesarean birth
Maternal health conditions (e.g. pre-eclampsia, infection)
Foetal distress
There are two main types of Caesarean:
Elective Caesarean – planned in advance
Emergency Caesarean – performed in response to an urgent situation during labour
🧠 The Physiology Behind Caesarean Birth
Although Caesarean birth bypasses the natural contractions of labour, the body still undergoes complex physiological and hormonal changes:
Cortisol, the body's primary stress and adaptation hormone, helps prepare the baby for life outside the womb.
Oxytocin — the hormone responsible for contractions, bonding, and milk release — may be lower initially, but can be supported through early skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and a calm, private recovery environment.
Babies born via Caesarean can still receive the benefits of colostrum and breast milk, which are rich in antibodies and bioactive compounds essential for immunity, gut health, and brain development.
🧬 Vaginal Seeding: An Emerging Practice
One area of growing interest is vaginal seeding — a practice where a gauze swab is placed in the birth parent’s vagina prior to surgery and then wiped over the baby’s mouth, face, and body after birth. The intention is to help expose the baby to beneficial vaginal bacteria that would typically be transferred during vaginal birth, supporting the early development of a healthy microbiome.
Although research is still ongoing, and the practice is not yet widely recommended by all medical authorities, some parents explore vaginal seeding under clinical guidance to potentially reduce the differences in gut flora seen in babies born via Caesarean. If you're interested in this option, it's important to discuss it in advance with your healthcare provider to ensure it's done safely and appropriately.
🩹 Recovery After a Caesarean Birth
A Caesarean is major abdominal surgery, and recovery requires time, support, and rest. While every body heals differently, here are common experiences:
Physical Symptoms:
Pain or tightness around the incision site
Abdominal bloating or wind pain
Limited mobility and fatigue in the early days
Bleeding (lochia) for several weeks
Postoperative Recovery Tips:
Take prescribed pain relief consistently
Keep the wound clean and dry
Avoid heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks
Gentle movement (such as walking) promotes circulation and healing
Focus on nutrient-dense foods and hydration for tissue repair
Always follow the guidance of your midwife, health visitor or GP, especially when returning to exercise or daily activities.
🧡 Emotional Healing After a Caesarean
It’s entirely normal to experience a range of emotions following a Caesarean birth. Whether you felt empowered or disappointed, grateful or grieving, your feelings are valid.
Some birthing people feel sadness that their birth didn’t go as planned. Others feel relief or pride. At The Bubba & Me Club, we recognise that emotional healing is just as important as physical recovery.
Support may include:
Postnatal counselling or debriefing
Talking openly with your birth partner or doula
Writing your birth story to process the experience
Connecting with others who’ve had similar journeys
👶 Bonding After Caesarean Birth
Ask your care provider about skin-to-skin contact in theatre or as soon as possible afterwards
Consider a gentle Caesarean approach, where the drape is lowered or the baby is lifted slowly into view
Breastfeeding can begin as soon as you are comfortable and supported — colostrum remains incredibly valuable
Your birth partner can play a key role in early bonding while you recover
🌿 Caesarean Birth is Still Birth
Let’s move away from the narrative that Caesarean birth is “the easy way out”. It isn’t. It is a brave, often life-saving, and physically intense method of birth that should be honoured, not diminished.
During Caesarean Awareness Month, we’re here to shift the narrative — advocating for better recovery resources, informed choice, and a space where parents feel respected, seen, and supported.
💛 How The Bubba & Me Club Supports You
We offer:
✨ Postnatal debriefs for emotional processing
🧘♀️ Gentle recovery support and nutrition guidance
🤱 Breastfeeding help after Caesarean birth
📚 Courses and coaching for all birth types
Whether your Caesarean was planned or unexpected — your birth story matters.
