The C-Section Experience: Empowering C-Section Education and Support

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide In this heartfelt milestone episode, Jen and Bethany share a big announcement: The C-Section Experience is taking a temporary hiatus. They open up about the full mix of emotions—gratitude, pride, tenderness, and excitement for what comes next. They look back on their favorite moments from the past 64 episodes: unforgettable listener messages, th...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany get real about one of the most universal - and universally dreaded - postpartum milestones: the first poop after a C-section. With equal parts humor, honesty, and medical expertise, they unpack why it can feel so intimidating and what you can do to make it easier.  They share personal stories and professional insights, break do...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany discuss elective C-sections, also known as cesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR)—exploring why some women choose a planned C-section  without  a medical indication, what the research says, and how obstetricians view these requests in real clinical practice. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   The first week home after a C-section is a mix of exhaustion, emotions, and endless questions - and Jen and Bethany are here to help you navigate it all. In this episode, they walk through the first seven days after coming home, sharing realistic, day-by-day guidance for rest, recovery, and sanity. From managing pain and medication to setting...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany unpack one of the most serious, but fortunately rare, complications in obstetric anesthesia: high spinal anesthesia. Their goal is to help listeners who may have experienced this event, or who have questions after hearing about it, find clarity and reassurance through understanding.   Dr. Jen explains what a high spinal is, how...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany break down what to pack in your hospital bag for a C-section—so you feel calm, organized, and fully prepared for your big day. You'll learn: C-section hospital bag essentials — including your ID, insurance card, nursing bra, comfortable clothes, breast pump, cozy blanket, and toiletries. What to pack for your baby — swaddles, n...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Most parents don't know they can request an anesthesia consult during pregnancy—yet it can change your birth experience. Dr. Jen (obstetric anesthesiologist) and Bethany break down what an anesthesia consult is, who should get one, ideal timing (late 2nd–early 3rd trimester), and how to ask. They cover medical reasons (cardiac, respiratory, cl...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany unpack the recent Tylenol-in-pregnancy panic—where it came from, what the evidence actually shows, and how risk–benefit thinking should guide real decisions (especially if you're having a C-section or surgery in pregnancy). We talk association vs. causation, sibling-matched data, fever and infection risks, NSAIDs across trimest...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide What's it really like to be a dad during a C-section? In this episode of  The C-Section Experience , Jen and Bethany shine a light on the often-overlooked experiences of fathers and partners in the operating room and beyond. Bethany shares her own family's story while walking through responses to ten candid questions answered by dads who've been...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide In this episode of  The C-Section Experience , Jen and Bethany conclude their two-part discussion on intraoperative pain during cesarean deliveries—a topic rarely talked about but deeply important for moms. They revisit the pain assessment challenges explored in Episode 4 and highlight Heather Nixon's innovative approach of continually assessing...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide In this episode of  The C-Section Experience , Jen and Bethany break down Susanna's story from  The Retrievals  podcast, focusing on her experience with neuraxial anesthesia during a C-section. They explore how anesthesiologists test for effective spinal and epidural blocks, why it can be challenging for patients to communicate pain or unusual s...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide In this special episode of  The C-Section Experience , co-hosts Jen and Bethany open up about their personal recovery journeys after childbirth, sharing the real and raw challenges that often don't get talked about enough. From the recovery room to the first year postpartum, they highlight just how different every mother's healing process can be...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:   CSX Guide Thank you to our sponsor, Coterie.  Use Code CSX20 at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of $65. Jen and Bethany continue their conversation with Dr. Caroline Rich, an occupational therapist pioneering postpartum OT for C-section recovery. In this episode, the focus shifts to holistic and integrative approaches that can make a real differen...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:   CSX Guide Thank you to our sponsor, Coterie.  Use Code CSX20 at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of $65. In this episode of The Recovery Series, Jen and Bethany sit down with Dr. Caroline Rich, an occupational therapist specializing in women's health and a leading voice in bringing OT into postpartum recovery after C-sections.  Dr. Rich shares her...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:   CSX Guide Thank you to our sponsor, Coterie.  Use Code CSX20 at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of $65. Jen and Bethany continue their conversation with Dr. Lashonda Jones, a doctor of physical therapy specializing in C-section rehab. In this episode of the Recovery Series, the focus is on movement, healing, and the practical tools that can make a...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:   CSX Guide Thank you to our sponsor, Coterie.  Use Code CSX20 at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of $65. Jen and Bethany sit down with Dr. Lashonda Jones, a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in c-section rehab and recovery, to talk about her journey from as a PT who is a passionate advocate for postpartum care. After facing her own challengin...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide Jen and Bethany continue their deep dive into the medications commonly given during and after a C-section. From Pitocin to Toradol, they break down what each drug is for, how it's administered, potential side effects, and what moms need to know, especially when it comes to bleeding, pain management, and breastfeeding. They cover: Uterotonic meds...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   In this episode of  The C-Section Experience , Jen and Bethany break down the  medications commonly given during a C-section —what they are, why they're used, and how they might make you feel. They walk you through  every stage of the process , explaining the purpose, timing, and possible side effects of: Acid-reducing medications  like sodium...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany continue their in-depth discussion of  The Retrievals  Season 2, focusing on the complex realities of C-section experiences, both personal and clinical. Jen, an obstetric anesthesiologist, answers Bethany's pressing questions after listening to the first two episodes, diving into topics that many listeners may be wondering abou...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   What happens when anesthesia doesn't work during a C-section?  Jen and Bethany dive into  The Retrievals  podcast's second season, which highlights the terrifying experience of a woman feeling pain during her C-section. As two moms and a board-certified OB anesthesiologist, they unpack what went wrong, what's missing from the story, and how yo...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide Jen and Bethany dive deeper into "What I Wish I Knew Before My C-Section" with more honest, real-life stories from listeners. From the unexpected "spinal zinger" during anesthesia to dealing with pre-surgery exhaustion, no food, and the effects of medications, this episode covers what so many C-section moms wish they'd known ahead of time. The h...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany break down what expectant parents need to know when choosing a hospital for childbirth. They explain the different levels of maternal care (Level I–IV) and why it matters for your delivery. Topics include the availability of obstetric anesthesiologists, Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists, blood banks, and NICU levels, al...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide Jen and Bethany dive into what moms  really  wish they knew before their C-sections. Drawing from personal stories and listener responses on Instagram, they share honest insights about C-section preparation, recovery, and the emotional impact of birth. Topics include: What C-sections  feel like  during surgery Common surprises like shivering, sw...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany explore how breath work and breathing techniques can support women before, during, and after a C-section. They break down how methods like Lamaze and hypnobirthing, often associated with vaginal birth, can be adapted to the c-section experience to reduce anxiety, promote calm, and enhance a sense of control. They discuss: How b...

Download our FREE C-Section guide here:    CSX Guide   Jen and Bethany dive into the rarely discussed but important topic of general anesthesia for sesarean births.  They break down the reasons general anesthesia might be used during a c-section, whether it's an emergency, a medical necessity, or a personal choice, and explain how it differs from spinal or epidural anesthesia.   You'll learn about...