Woman delivers her own baby via c-section

By: Bridget Sharkey

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A midwife just proved once again that women are the most awesome, fearless people on this planet when she helped to deliver her own baby … via C-section.

While it is becoming a bit more common (but still breathtakingly incredible) for women to help “catch” their own babies during vaginal delivery, it is pretty much unheard for a woman to do this during a C-section. In fact, in many cases, women have their arms strapped down during the procedure, although this is slowly changing as “gentle C-sections” are gaining popularity. (These patient-focused methods of care are believed to be more to beneficial to mom, and hence, baby.)

Emily Dial, who is a nurse practitioner and midwife, is no stranger to the world of birthing and babies, so when she found out she was going to have a C-section, she made plans to ensure that she could still be an active and involved participant in her child’s birth. In order to do so, she “scrubbed in” like the other medical staff assisting in the birth, and she wore gloves to help keep things sterile.

Photographer Sarah Hill, a patient of Dial’s, was on hand to photograph the birth and she shared the images on Facebook and on the blog Love What Matters.

(Note: If you are sensitive to blood, you may want to scroll past the photos and continuing reading the story below).

When the time came, Dial reached down and pulled out her own baby, discovering as she did so that she had a daughter (rather than a son, as she expected).

“I was in shock and awe,” she told People magazine. “I really wasn’t thinking about my belly being wide open. I was just, like, ‘Oh my God! This really is a girl.'”

You can watch a video of Dial pulling out baby Emma, which was posted by Dial’s sister on YouTube:

This is the midwife’s third child. She lost her first child, a boy named Grayson, when he died at just 10 days old due to a health defect that would not allow his lungs to grow. Her second child, a now four-year-old named Ella, was also the result of a C-section, but Dial was unable to participate much in that birth as she was too nauseous.

Hence, she knew she wanted things to be a bit different this time around. She worked hard to make sure that she could take part in the birth as much as possible — further proving that C-sections are a completely valid and natural way to give birth, just as much as vaginal delivery.

“No, it is not ideal for a woman to have a Caesarean delivery, but even if you do, you can still have a great experience,” she told People. “It doesn’t mean you have to just be laying on a table. You can still be a part of your birth. Even if you’re not pulling your baby out, you can still be an active part of your birth and have a great experience.”

Congrats to the new parents and especially to the fearless Dial for shattering all those stereotypes about C-sections. You’re an inspiration, mama!

[H/t: PEOPLE]

This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.