Cath’s Gentle Caesarean Positive Birth Story
Alexia cleared her own tokophobia and developed a method that has helped women clear theirs for more than 10 years.
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Today on the podcast I’ve got a positive birth story with a difference because today’s story is a beautiful gentle caesarean story. A previous podcast guest of mine, Emily told me about Cath and suggested her as a guest for the podcast because of how positive her story is for a caesarean.
Caesareans get a lot of bad press, and some vaginal birth advocates regard them with dismay, but that overlooks the important role they play when the safety of mum and baby is at stake.
Cath’s previous two births had both ended in emergency caesareans for similar reasons, so when she found herself pregnant for the third time, she instinctively felt it would be best for her and her baby to plan a caesarean from the outset. Her consultant was a big fan of natural birth and had supported her through both previous pregnancies and births, so when he said he felt a caesarean would be better for her and her baby, she trusted him. At 20 weeks she made her decision and chose a date one week before her due date, because she didn’t want to risk going into labour.
Because of her previous births, Cath wanted to plan this birth so it could be as positive as possible, and she prepared for it in a way that’s probably a little different from how most mothers prepare.
During our chat, Cath shares:
- How she prepared for her birth including how she “negotiated” her wishes and desires with her medical team
- how she talked to her Supervisor of Midwives (a role since replaced in England by Professional Midwifery Advocates) about what was reasonable to ask for, and how that gave her confidence in making her requests
- how the way that she was treated by medical staff mattered to her, both in the lead up other birth and during it… and what they did that was brilliant!
- what she wanted from her gentle caesarean… and what she ended up having
The key parts of a gentle caesarean that Cath wanted were:
- A slow delivery; take out baby’s head and shoulders but let the womb contracting bring baby out. This means no pulling of baby for them to come out.. or if it’s required for it to be minimised where possible
- Skin to skin immediately following birth
- Delayed cord clamping
- Baby to be left on mum for as long as possible before being handled and checked over by medical staff
Cath also shared her experience of:
- placenta encapsulation and placenta smoothies; why she wanted to and how it tasted
- tandem nursing; nursing 2 children
Cath’s advice if you’re preparing for a gentle caesarean
Cath’s advice for women preparing for a gentle caesarean:
- Find a positive birth group – see Positive Birth Movement for a group in your local area
- Search for other local birthing groups, even if you simply connect with them on Facebook, as Cath did to her local Home Birth Group
- Seek out Gentle caesarean groups on Facebook
- Get informed and know your rights
What would Cath do differently?
When I asked Cath if she would have done anything differently, she said she wished she had done something about her baby’s gut flora (the microbiome). Babies born vaginally pick up bacteria from their mother during birth, and some parents having caesareans have asked for a vaginal swab to be wiped on their baby, known as vaginal seeding. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises against vaginal seeding outside research, because the benefits aren’t proven and there is a risk of passing on infection. If this interests you, talk to your midwife or doctor.
Resources
Gentle caesarean film
This is the film that Cath mentioned during our chat.
Adventures in tandem nursing – the book Cath shared on nursing two children
Cath was inspired by research into natural caesareans.
Fear Free Childbirth is a publication and is not a substitute for medical or mental-health care. If you’re struggling to cope or in crisis, please contact your GP, midwife or a qualified professional.
- When a Wanted Pregnancy Ends: TFMR, Grief and Pregnancy After Loss, with Sabrina Fletcher - 6th November 2026
- Birth Imprints: Why You Might Fear a Birth You’ve Never Had, with Nicole Moore - 6th November 2026
- A Healthy Baby Doesn’t Mean the Birth Wasn’t Traumatic: What New Research Shows - 23rd October 2026
Ha ha…just listening to this. Wonderful! Coco pops! 😉 Love the Health Coach. xx
I’m glad you’re enjoying it Rochelle! Thanks for dropping by! xx