Woman With Heart-Shaped Pelvis Explains How She Gave Birth -- Without Anesthesia (VIDEO)

by Ericka Sóuter August 14, 2012 at 5:21 PM

becky's birth story Just the thought of delivery can be nerve-wracking to a first-time mom-to-be. You fret about the baby's size, if your OB will be out of town on the big day, or where you'll be when your water breaks. Then there are those unexpected hiccups, like that of Becky T, the mom featured in the new episode of CafeMom Studios' Birth Stories.

As she prepped to welcome her first child in 1961, the doctor gave her some shocking news: her heart shaped pelvis would prevent a vaginal delivery. (Apparently that is a shape more common to men than women.) Instead, she had to have a cesarean and -- get this -- without general anesthesia! WHAT!!! At that time, her doctor didn't want to put her to sleep for fear of knocking the baby out too. Hear her describe the harrowing -- yet blissful -- birth here:

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ericka Sóuter

is a veteran pop culture and celeb news writer. That experience boils down to two things: she knows way too much about the Kardashians and she dominates on Trivial Pursuit's arts and entertainment questions.

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Nonmember comment from DR2011

August 14, 2012 at 5:32 PM

Just sayin' c sections are rarely done under general anesthesia (general uses inhaled gases and IV drugs to sedate and paralyze the patient, with the paralytic the patient is intubated and put on a ventilator). Sections are usually done under spinal anesthesia (nerve block placed a little differently than an epidural). General anesthesia is not the option of choice for c sections in the 1960s or now.

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Nonmember comment from Thesimpletruth

August 14, 2012 at 10:31 PM

My mom had a csection with no anesthesia in 1978 with my brother. She had placenta abruption and was dying. Small town hospital and no anesthesiologist on staff. They just cut in the exam room. My brother was born with brain damage because of lack of oxygen, but they both lived.

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AlwaysExpecting

August 14, 2012 at 10:55 PM

This video left me confused. It was poorly edited and whoever was interviewing her needed to ask better questions.

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Nonmember comment from MaryElizabeth

August 15, 2012 at 10:16 AM

You would think that a blogger that is actually a parent parent would be aware of the fact that general anesthesia is rarely used in caesarian sections, a spinal block or epidural is used.

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wjbrady2011

August 17, 2012 at 5:22 PM

This doesn't make sense. I had a c section. You generally get an epidural. It's not that bad

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Facebook comment from Sharon Krista Weaver

August 17, 2012 at 5:57 PM

i had to have an emergency c-section with my 2nd child, 7 weeks ago, and general anesthesia was used. i had been induced and the babys HR kept decelerating during every contraction, the dr said we would have to do a c-section and they were going to go prep the OR. seconds later there was pandemonium because the decel took my babys HR to the 50s and wasnt coming back up. we were rushed down to the OR, there as no time for them to get the epidural going because my daughters heart rate was dropping fast. within seconds of reaching the OR they gave me the anesthesia through my IV and had my daughter out within a minute. my baby girl wouldn't have made it if they had taken the time to get the epidural set up for a c-section.

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Nonmember comment from Laura

August 17, 2012 at 6:01 PM

I also had a c-section and did not have general anesthesia... they gave me medicine through my epidural. I was completely awake and did not feel one thing!

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Facebook comment from Theresia Dean

August 17, 2012 at 6:20 PM

That's weird mine is heart shape and it didn't prevent me from delivering vaginally...

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Facebook comment from Rebecca Nelson

August 17, 2012 at 6:56 PM

Let's all remember: This was 50 years ago. The art of delivering babes has changed in that time!

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Facebook comment from Dani Garn Sample

August 17, 2012 at 8:40 PM

we did a spinal for my c-section. so did this woman have a c-section with no pain medication at all??? if so why is she so calm about telling about it!? i would be like.. it hurt like crazy!!!!!!

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