C-sections are super common — in fact, they account for over a third of all deliveries in the U.S. as of 2024. But for something so normal, there’s still a ton of mystery (and stigma) around them. People whisper about “emergency C-sections,” throw around words like “failed labor,” or talk about them like they’re the “easy way out.” Spoiler: they’re not.

We sat down with Dr. Jen Wagner, an anesthesiologist, and Bethany Scott, co-hosts of The C-Section Experience podcast, to talk through what actually happens during a C-section, what recovery looks like, and what every parent really wishes they knew beforehand.