Real Healing After Caesarean: A Victorious Recovery from a Traumatic Birth Experience [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

I have always been aware that childbirth is one of the most life changing experiences a woman can go through. I have always been aware that childbirth is different for every woman. Although I was aware of these things, and having being fortunate enough to have a good labour experience, I was not aware of the extent of the serious effects childbirth could have on a woman. Real Healing after Caesarean by Martha Jesty opened my eyes to a world of women for whom the dream of a `good labour experience' was brutally shattered and destroyed, leaving them with devastating and often long term effects if left untreated.
The title of Martha Jesty's book cannot be taken at face value. It is not a book of one woman simply relaying her traumatic birth experience as a process of venting her hurt and frustrations, far from it. What I discovered is that Real Healing after Caesarean is a book through which one woman uses her candid and unabashed account of her experience and recovery to do four key things.
The first is that Martha's detailed recollection of her first birth experience provides a place of solace and hope for women who may be suffering and feel alone in their struggles, with no one who understands them or who can relate to their experience. This book proves to this overlooked group of women that they are not alone, that there is realness in what they are experiencing i.e. it's not in their heads, and that help is available to them. The second key element of Real Healing after Caesarean is that it introduces and thoroughly explores the under researched field of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) linked to childbirth. The research and explanation of this disorder in Real Healing after Caesarean provides an effective guide to help women, their partners, family members, and health professionals identify and understand the causes and symptoms of PTSD, how it can be treated and what help and support is and should be available to sufferers.
The third area I would highlight is that book examines how women can be commonly misdiagnosed with Post Natal Depression (PND) following childbirth, but combats this by clearly distinguishing the differences between PTSD and PND, as well as its similarities. Real Healing after Caesarean also goes further to describe the other related conditions that can stem from PTSD following childbirth, which include Tokophobia (fear of further pregnancy) and Vaginismus (a disorder which makes intercourse painful and in most cases impossible).
The fourth and what I believe to be the most important area of Martha's book is that it provides accounts of real recovery. I believe this coupled with the research and facts about PTSD moves this book from being anecdotal to a real and thorough self-help guide. Not only does it demonstrate the personal recovery of the author, it gives the reader details of other women who have walked through `the fire' and come out victorious at the other end. There is nothing more effective than hearing how a person has overcome extreme conflict. The power of its effectiveness is all the more enhanced by the countless personal witness and personal experience of others. The possibility therefore of a sufferer reading the book and starting their journey to `real healing' is extremely likely.
The obvious strength of Real Healing after Caesarean is Martha's story, which instantly engages the reader. It provides good background of the author, who comes from Lima, Peru and how her cultural expectations had a significant part to play in what she experienced. Without this it may be hard to fully understand the contributing factors that lead to her diagnosis of PTSD. For example, Martha recalls in her book the abundant support that is commonly available to women through their journey from pregnancy to motherhood in Peru, and how that contrasted with her frustrating, isolating and traumatic experience of motherhood in the United Kingdom.
The area that the reader may have difficulty with, which I experienced, was the amount of detail given to the research around PTSD. Not having much knowledge of medical terminology (which although used in this book is not overdone) or illnesses, at times it proved challenging to continue to read through the descriptions, symptoms, causes of PTSD and other related disorders. However, I do believe that this is an important part of the book, especially for medical professionals who need to be aware of this condition in women, and who will in turn have the greater impact on their diagnosis and treatment. Personally, as a result of persevering through these detailed sections, I will be more informed and in a better position of supporting a friend or family member who may display symptoms of PTSD, which I believe is one of the overall goals of Real Healing after Caesarean.
A section of the Martha Jesty's book that I found very insightful was the account given by her husband Paul. He described his feelings of Martha's traumatic experience and how he supported her through it. I believe this was important to include, because fathers are often neglected and unsupported when their partners experience trauma in childbirth. In addition, they are left ill-equipped to deal with it and feel helpless about how they can best support their partners. However, I would like to have seen more accounts of fathers' experiences and how they coped and overcame such a difficult period.
The greatest appeal of Real Healing after Caesarean for me is that its target audience is not just women alone. No doubt its readership will mainly be women, however as I have mentioned before it also appeals to partners, family members and friends of a PTSD sufferer, as well as health care professionals and those in health care training.
As a fellow Christian, it was very encouraging to read about Martha's faith and trust in God through hard times. Through her book Martha not only demonstrates her utter dependence on her faith as a Christian and believer in the healing power of God, it is also complimented by the practical steps she took, the discoveries she made about her illness, the research, support and further work she then made her passion, to which she is extremely dedicated to. A combination of these elements would be beneficial to a fellow Christian and non believer alike.
Although I have never experienced PTSD or encountered another woman with this illness, I can honestly say that I was deeply affected by what I read, as well as being enlightened. Martha Jesty writes with such raw emotion in her book that I found it almost impossible not to be moved, and in fact on many occasions I was lead to tears as she recounted the treatment that she experienced. What I was most moved by was an absence of resentment that Martha presented in her book, when it would be the most normal human reaction to be bitter and angry. Instead she speaks with a heart that has found forgiveness for those who mistreated her and a heart that was then lead to help others through her story. This then shows that there was a purpose to Martha's experience and a real opportunity to be a catalyst of hope for other women like the organization she started calle Help Women and Children.
As a Christian I know and believe that we perish because of lack of knowledge. Real Healing after Caesarean is a book through which the author, Martha Jesty, opens up her heart and life to ensure women who are suffering with PTSD do not perish but are treated and supported in the best ways possible.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See the customer review...

 

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Search Listmania!