All three of our children were born by c-section. The first two were emergency c-sections, due to insufficient dilation — unfortunately, in that moment, you have no other choice. When I became pregnant with our third, I looked into natural ways of experiencing a c-section birth. Thankfully, hospitals are gradually making the necessary adjustments to support that too.
With a natural c-section (a “gentle section”), the process follows a natural birth as closely as possible. The most important aspect is that your baby can lie on your chest immediately after birth, so skin-to-skin contact can begin right away, and the baby can start seeking the breast. You also get to experience much more of the birth itself, since you’re able to watch as much of it as possible.
In my experience as an African woman, the other natural elements up to that point are certainly: a healthy relationship in which the child is conceived, a healthy pregnancy, gathering the right information about both pregnancy and birth, the birth itself and how you show up for it, how you handle a newborn, healthy nutrition, and bonding.
Breastfeeding, and the #Torsowrap, which I simply tie on and off as needed. My baby lies happily asleep on my back. This year we were blessed with a daughter, and even she was carried in the Torso wrap right from birth. Just like in Zimbabwe, where mother and baby stay indoors for the first three weeks until the baby is stronger, after which the mother, father, or a family member can start carrying around the house. My sister came to visit during that postpartum period.
Having given birth by gentle-section for the third time, I wasn’t able to do much besides lift my own baby for the first eight weeks — which I had to, since I was still breastfeeding her. I couldn’t use any carrier other than the Torso wrap. It was ideal, since my surgical wound was fairly large and still very sensitive. This carrying system lets you carry the baby on your back entirely, without ever touching the lower abdomen where the c-section site is — so it never disturbs the healing process of the wound. The doctors say not to carry anything heavier than your own baby. Carrying your baby on your back without straining your shoulders or back is the most ideal way. I’ve tried most carriers and felt far more pain until I realised I really only had one good option.
How have I used my Torso wrap since 2007? Wherever I go, I bring it along — it fits into the smallest bag you could imagine. I pack: the Torso wrap, a handbag, the car seat (which stays in the car), nappies, wipes. That’s it. I always have milk with me too, breastmilk kept at the right temperature. I step out of the car, lift the baby from the car seat, up onto my back, and within seconds the baby is settled in the wrap and my hands are free.
The Torso wrap draws a lot of attention — on the school playground, in town. Being able to carry a newborn this way earns me so much admiration and so many positive reactions, though sometimes also people who have simply never encountered it before. I always answer them anyway. Every now and then I run into another carrying parent, and it almost always turns into a nice little conversation. Those parents tend to be a bit less rushed, and genuinely curious how many other people practise this too.
