22/04/2026
âI never imagined my first birth would end in an emergency C-section. It wasnât the birth I had dreamed about, and it became one of the most traumatic experiences of my life.
My son was born on the 3rd of December 2024. My due date wasnât until the 16th, so that morning felt like any normal clinic day. The day before, I had told my partner Iâd been having contractions that came and went. He kept telling me to go to the hospital, but since I already had my clinic appointment the next day, I decided to wait.
At the clinic, the doctor asked if Iâd had any pain. I said yes, but it wasnât constant. She checked my cervix, left the room, and came back moments later with a completely different energy.
âYouâre three centimetres dilated.â
I remember the shock. The panic. The feeling that everything suddenly became real.
They decided to keep me at the hospital to monitor my baby because his heartbeat was going faster than normal. I was moved to the labour ward. I wasnât even in real pain yet, but they told me they wanted me to give birth that day.
My waters hadnât broken, so they induced me and manually broke them. And that was the moment everything changed.
The pain came like waves crashing over me â one after another, faster and stronger. I was gripping the sides of the bed, crying. The midwives were kind and kept telling me to save my energy, but I was a first-time mum and I was terrified.
To make it harder, the woman beside me went through a traumatic birth. She went into shock and had to be sedated. I was in labour, in pain, crying⊠and witnessing trauma right next to me. It was overwhelming.
I hadnât eaten all day. I was exhausted and drained, but I kept pushing.
They moved me to the delivery room and said I was about seven or eight centimetres. A midwife checked and said I wasnât quite there yet, but she was so encouraging. The room filled with doctors, nurses and interns cheering me on.
At one point they said they could see my babyâs head.
And then⊠he moved back up.
Time started running out. The doctor said if I didnât deliver by 11pm, they would have to use forceps or do an emergency C-section. I was terrified. I tried to push with everything I had left⊠but I was completely exhausted.
I couldnât do it anymore.
They handed me the consent form for surgery. I remember trying to sign while crying and shaking.
As they wheeled me to the operating theatre, I was praying the whole way. I remember saying, âGod, if you can only save one of us⊠please save my son.â
In the operating room, they gave me the spinal anesthesia. But when they started, I could still feel pain. I could feel the pressure. I remember screaming. I remember hearing the doctor ask, âWhy is she screaming? Can she still feel this?â
They quickly gave me gas to put me to sleep.
But just before I drifted away⊠I heard my baby cry.
That sound is something I will never forget.
When I woke up, I was shaking uncontrollably under heated blankets. I felt lost, overwhelmed, and disconnected. I couldnât breastfeed. I couldnât process what had just happened.
In the days after, I was in denial about postpartum depression. I kept telling myself I was fine, but deep down I knew something had changed.
People sometimes say C-sections are the easy way out. But for many of us, they are not a choice. They are emergencies. They are fear. They are trauma.
I did everything I could to prepare for a natural birth. I exercised. I followed the advice. I did everything right.
But birth doesnât always go the way we plan.
Now, when people ask if I want another baby, I donât know how to answer. The experience changed me. Even talking about it brings back so many emotions.
But through all the fear, the pain, and the trauma⊠my son arrived safely.â
-Asilika, Fijian mama of oneđș
C-sections are not âthe easy way out.â Any type of birth can result in birth trauma, increasing the risk for postpartum depression and other perinatal mental health disorders.
Vinaka to this brave mama for sharing her story đ
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