175: What to Expect During a C-Section: Part 1

Whether it’s scheduled or unexpected, I firmly believe that a cesarean birth is still a birth, and every mom deserves to feel informed, supported, and empowered through it. But the truth is, many women go into their C-sections feeling unprepared and unsure of what to expect during a C-section. That’s why I knew we needed to record this episode, and I found the perfect guests to help us do just that: Dr. Jen Wagner, a board-certified obstetric anesthesiologist, and Bethany Scott, a registered nurse, doula, and fellow C-section mom. We had such an incredible discussion that we ended up talking for hours! There was so much valuable information being shared that we decided to split it into two episodes, because we truly didn’t want to leave anything out. These kinds of honest conversations are exactly what we need to help shift the narrative around cesarean birth. Who are Bethany + Jen? Dr. Jen Wagner is a board-certified, fellowship-trained obstetric anesthesiologist with years of experience supporting women through labor and delivery, especially during C-sections. She’s not only a practicing physician but also an educator and advocate for integrating evidence-based medicine with patient-centered, trauma-informed care. After giving birth to her daughter via C-section in 2018 and her son via VBAC in 2020, Dr. Jen became even more passionate about improving the birth experience for others.  Her dear friend and co-host,  Bethany Scott, is also here to chick-chat with us. Bethany is a registered nurse, certified birth doula, and mom of three born via C-section — plus one angel baby. Her journey started in the fashion world, but after moving to New York City, she followed her true calling into women’s health. Bethany began as a doula, later transitioning to labor & delivery nursing and OB/GYN triage. Through her own powerful experiences with birth and postpartum, she recognized the lack of preparation resources specific to C-sections. She decided to create the kind of support she wished she had. Today, Bethany is passionate about helping women feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout birth and beyond.  She and Dr. Jen now share their insights and perspectives through their podcast, The C-section Experience Podcast, which helps women prepare for and process their birth stories with more confidence and compassion. What Did We Discuss? In this part 1 episode, Dr. Jen, Bethany, and I chick-chat about what really happens before, during, and immediately after a C-section — whether it’s scheduled or unscheduled — and how to make the experience feel more like a birth and less like a procedure. It's essential for moms to understand what options are available to them every step of the way, and we feel like this episode does that. Final Thoughts I hope this part 1 episode gives you the information that you were looking for to prepare for the procedure and your birthing experience. Next week, we are going to dive into more of the postpartum experience and what you can expect. Bethany + Jen's Resources Website: csxpodcast.com Instagram: @thecsxpodcast TikTok: @thecsxpodcast Thank you for listening to our podcast. Cheers to an empowered & supported cesarean birth! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices