04. An Emergency C-Section, a NICU Stay, and a Mother's Strength: Chaya Sury's Birth Story
Birth story, emergency c-section, factor 11 deficiency, induction, NICU journey, birth trauma recovery — this episode covers it all, through the honest and deeply moving story of one mother's unexpected birth.
A note before you listen: this episode includes discussion of an emergency c-section and postpartum newborn complications, including a NICU stay. If this may be difficult for you, please take care of yourself as you listen, and feel free to pause or return to it when it feels right.
In this episode, I sit down with Chaya Sury, who shares her birth story with so much honesty and vulnerability. Chaya Sury walks us through her pregnancy with factor 11 deficiency (a blood clotting condition common in the Ashkenazi population), the medically necessary induction at 38 weeks, a long and complicated labor, and the emergency c-section that followed after hours of pushing.
She also opens up about the days after birth, including her baby's NICU stay after a stroke diagnosis, and what it was like to advocate for herself and her son through it all.
Chaya's story is a powerful reminder that birth doesn't always go the way we plan, and that there is so much strength, wisdom, and resilience in every version of a birth story, even the ones that look nothing like we imagined.
WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@gentlebeginningsofficial
TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:
- Navigating pregnancy and induction with factor 11 deficiency, a blood clotting condition.
- What happened during a long labor, an emergency c-section, and the confusion and fear that came with it.
- Advocating for herself and her baby through a NICU stay and stroke diagnosis, and the wisdom she carries forward.
CONNECT WITH TOBY:
- Follow Toby on IG: https://www.instagram.com/gentlebeginningsofficial/
- Website: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/
Need support? Here are a few resources:
- Brain Body Birth Course: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/bbb
- Free Mindfulness Track: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/FreeMindfulnessTrack
- Healthy Breakfast Lactation Cookies: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/cookies
- WhatsApp Community for women who are pregnant or love learning about birth: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DAcXJqhMM0aCCBniRr6VPj
- Questions to ask when choosing a doula: https://www.gentlebeginnings.life/questions
About Toby: Toby Deutsch created Gentle Beginnings because she saw how many expectant mothers were entering birth feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of what to expect. In a world filled with conflicting advice and fear-based stories, it can be difficult to know what to trust or how to prepare in a way that truly supports both mother and baby. Through her work, Toby focuses on something that is often overlooked in traditional childbirth preparation: the powerful connection between the mind, the nervous system, and birth outcomes.
