Caesarean Circles in Leeds & West Yorkshire

Your birth story matters

Birth can be one of the most significant experiences of our lives, and yet we don't always have the opportunity to talk about it in the way we need to.

For women who have given birth by caesarean, there can be so many different experiences and feelings surrounding their birth.

Perhaps your caesarean was planned, or perhaps it happened unexpectedly. Perhaps things unfolded very differently from how you had imagined they would. You might feel positive about your experience, or there may be parts of it that still feel difficult to think about. You might feel grateful, sad, relieved, disappointed, proud, angry or a mixture of many different things.

And sometimes, those feelings can sit alongside one another.

We can love our babies and still have complicated feelings about how they came into the world. We can understand why a caesarean was necessary and still need time to process what happened. We can feel that we have moved on, only to find that something brings the memories back again.

There is no single way to feel about a caesarean birth.

Yet conversations about birth can sometimes leave very little room for these complexities. We might hear that what matters is that our baby is healthy, that we should be grateful, or that the experience is over now and we should focus on what comes next.

But the birth happened to you, too.

Your experience matters, and you deserve space to reflect on it in your own way.

Why Caesarean Circles?

Caesarean Circles offer a dedicated space for women who have experienced caesarean birth to come together and share their experiences.

Each gathering has a theme, offering a gentle focus for our time together. This gives us an opportunity to explore different aspects of caesarean birth, our experiences and the things we may carry with us afterwards.

It's an opportunity to talk about your birth story, if you wish, and to hear from other women who may understand aspects of what you have been through.

You might have questions about your experience, feelings that you haven't had the chance to express, or memories that you are still making sense of. You might simply want to meet other women who have experienced a caesarean and have conversations that you don't often get to have elsewhere.

There is no expectation that you need to feel a particular way about your birth, and there is no right or wrong story to tell.

You don't need to arrive feeling upset or needing to work through something difficult. You might feel completely at peace with your birth and simply want to connect with other women who share this experience.

Whatever brings you, there is room for you.

What happens in a Caesarean Circle?

Each gathering is shaped around its theme, creating space for conversation, reflection and connection.

Alongside the theme, there is time for crafting, homemade cake and herbal tea. I love the idea of having something for our hands to do while we talk, giving ourselves permission to slow down and allowing conversations to unfold naturally rather than feeling that we have to sit down and talk about something personal straight away.

The crafting activity is an opportunity to get creative, whatever that looks like for you. There is no expectation to be good at it or to produce anything in particular. It's simply part of creating a welcoming space where we can spend time together.

You can share your story if you feel ready, listen to other women's experiences, or just enjoy being there. There is no pressure to speak about your birth, and you can take part in whatever way feels comfortable for you.

The theme gives each gathering its own focus, but there is always room for the conversations, feelings and experiences that women bring with them.

Babies are always welcome. A Caesarean Circle is a space to be heard, not a replacement for professional support. If you are struggling, please also speak to your GP or health visitor.

Is a Caesarean Circle right for you?

It might be for you if:

• You've had a caesarean, planned or unplanned, and would like to talk about it.
• You have mixed feelings about your birth and would like to hear that you're not the only one.
• You feel at peace with your birth and simply want to meet women who share it.
• You have questions or memories you're still making sense of.
• You'd like to bring your baby along.

The importance of community after caesarean birth

I think community is particularly important when it comes to birth and motherhood.

We can go through something as significant as giving birth and then find ourselves expected to carry on with life, caring for our babies and adjusting to motherhood, often without much space to reflect on what we have experienced ourselves.

Our experiences of caesarean birth can be very different, but there can be something reassuring about sitting with women who understand at least part of what that experience can mean.

Sometimes we need to hear another woman's story. Sometimes we need to share something we haven't felt able to say elsewhere. Sometimes we simply want to know that we're not the only one who has wondered about something, felt a particular way or needed a little more time to make sense of our experience.

We don't always find these opportunities in everyday life, and I think we need to create them for ourselves.

Community isn't about comparing birth stories or deciding whose experience was more difficult. It's about making space for each woman's story to be heard and respected, while recognising that we can offer one another understanding even when our experiences aren't the same.

These circles are an opportunity to build those connections. To spend time with other women, share homemade cake and herbal tea, get creative and explore the theme of the gathering in a supportive environment.

My hope is that women leave feeling that they have had space for themselves, that they have connected with others and that their experience matters.

Because birth may be something that happens to us individually, but we don't have to make sense of it all on our own.

Coming along

Caesarean Circles run monthly in Leeds, each with its own theme. To join one, email me at kayelizabethmizan@gmail.com or send me a message on Instagram. I'll tell you about the next circle, its theme, the date and the price.

Women are welcome from across Leeds and West Yorkshire, including Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax.

If you'd like to work with your caesarean scar as well, I offer c-section scar massage in Leeds as a separate session. And if you'd like a circle that isn't about birth, Women's Circles are open to every woman.

You are welcome

Whether you're drawn to a Caesarean Circle because you'd like space to reflect on your birth experience, or because you want to meet other women who understand, I'd love to welcome you.

You don't need to know anyone beforehand, have attended a circle before or know what you want to say.

You can simply come as you are.

If you'd like to find out more about the circles, their upcoming themes, when they take place or whether one might be right for you, please get in touch. I'm always happy to answer any questions.

Beaming love your way,
Kay x