Welcome to an incredible birth story - one that reminds us how powerful a supportive birth environment can be. This heartfelt account comes directly from a couple who have chosen to remain anonymous, but their journey is one of resilience, hope, and love. After facing years of infertility and the emotional rollercoaster of IVF, they found themselves blessed with a natural pregnancy - an experience they describe as nothing short of a miracle. Their story takes us through the decision to embrace a planned C-section, and the emotional highs of welcoming their second child into the world. It’s a beautiful example of how creating a calm and empowering birth atmosphere, no matter the circumstances, can make all the difference. Let their experience inspire you as we dive into the moments that made this birth truly unforgettable.
After years of struggling with infertility and welcoming our first baby through IVF, we were blessed with a natural pregnancy— something we had once only dreamed about. This pregnancy felt like such a miracle, and although it wasn’t the easiest pregnancy we embraced it.
At 32 weeks, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It was overwhelming to be told I had to completely stop eating carbohydrates and start administering insulin. But with the goal of keeping our baby safe, we did whatever was needed and lost 1 stone in the process!
As we approached the end of the pregnancy, I opted for a planned C-section at 37+7 rather than undergoing an induction. The day before the C-section, we spent a wonderful, quiet day with our little girl —just soaking up the last moments of it being just the three of us. She went for a sleepover at my parents’ house that evening, which made it feel even more real that the next day we would meet our new baby.
On the morning of the C-section, we woke up early and headed to the hospital. Because of the high-risk nature of my pregnancy, we were scheduled as the first C-section of the day. The staff were absolutely incredible — they prepped us gently, talked us through every step, and made sure we felt reassured the entire time. I was particularly nervous about the epidural, but the team were so kind and explained everything clearly, which helped to ease my fears.
One nurse suggested that we play music during the procedure to help keep the atmosphere calm. We chose Ed Sheeran — and without realising it, the first song that played was our wedding song. Cue the tears before the baby even arrived!
After what felt like both a lifetime and a few seconds, the doctors asked if we were ready to meet our baby — and then presented him to us over the screen. It was the most emotional, surreal moment. My husband was able to cut the cord and help weigh him before he was placed on my chest for skin-to-skin contact while the team finished the surgery. Those first cuddles were everything.
In recovery, we were able to spend some precious time together as a new family of four (in our hearts, even though our little girl wasn’t there yet). The hospital staff continued to be so supportive, and everything felt calm and reassuring.
Because we didn’t want our daughter to feel left out or overwhelmed, my husband left for a little while after we were transferred to the postnatal ward to pick her up from nursery. That part of the day was surprisingly the hardest. With my first baby, I had been in a private side room, but this time I was on a busy ward. It was very noisy: one mother sang to her baby through the night instead of feeding him, and another woman snored loudly. It was difficult to rest, and I found myself feeling quite stressed and emotional.
The highlight of the day was when visiting time finally arrived and our little girl came to meet her new baby brother. Seeing them together for the first time was pure magic.
The staff offered for me to stay another night to help establish breastfeeding, but I was so utterly exhausted that I decided I would do better at home. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Overall, this birth experience was incredible. I would recommend a planned C-section to anyone considering it — it took away so much of the uncertainty and stress, especially knowing we had another child to organise care for. It made everything feel more peaceful and allowed us to focus fully on welcoming our son into the world.
Although we aren’t planning any more children, if we ever did, I would absolutely choose a planned C-section again without hesitation.
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