This Woman Performed a C-Section on Herself and Survived

Women are incredible beings, capable of doing some unthinkable yet impressive things. For example, a woman performed her own c-section in 2004, and somehow, both she and the baby survived.

Performing a C-Section at Home

In 2004, a 40-year-old woman performed a c-section on herself, delivering her baby alone, before being transferred to a hospital for care. Inés Ramírez Pérez was a mother of 8, living in a one-room cabin in a village in Southern Mexico and 8 hours from the nearest hospital when she went into labor with her 9th child. The desperate mother had previously suffered the loss of a baby two years prior due to ” obstructed labor“—the result of poor sanitary conditions and no running water or electricity.

When questioned about her motives, the brave mom said, “I couldn’t stand the pain anymore. And if my baby was going to die, then I decided I would have to die, too. But if he was going to grow up, I was going to see him grow up, and I was going to be with my child. I thought that God would save both our lives.”

She had been in labor for 12 hours when she decided to perform the impromptu C-section. Although she performed the c-section with success, she lost consciousness. Fortunately, not before she could instruct one of her children to call a local nurse. The nurse stitched the wound using a sewing needle and cotton thread. The mom and baby were transferred to Dr. Manuel Velasco Suarez Hospital in San Pablo, Mexico. There, she was given triple antibiotic therapy and was kept for observation for ten days.

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Medical Professionals Respond

“She took three small glasses of hard liquor and, using a kitchen knife, sliced her abdomen in three attempts … and delivered a male infant who breathed immediately and cried,” explained Dr. R F Valle of Dr Manuel Velasco Suarez hospital. “This case represents an unusual and extraordinary decision by a woman in labor who, unable to deliver herself spontaneously, and with no medical help or resources, decided to perform a caesarean section upon herself.”

Dr. Valle then co-wrote a report that was published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, reviewing the remarkable woman’s C-section story. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that people have stated instances in which women performed their own c-section. However, this is the first time the event has been documented in medical history, and first that has evidence of both mom and baby surviving.

Stories like this are incredible because they showcase the true power of women. The relationship between a mother and child is sacred and women have been known to do some seemingly impossible things for the sake of protecting their children. While none have gone to the same physical lengths as the woman who performed her own c-section, they do paint a beautiful picture of the astounding power within a woman who’s determined.

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Bravery Unrelated to the C-Section

Another example of sacrifice and bravery portrayed by a mother took place in northern Quebec in 2006.

Lydia Angiyou was with her 7-year-old son and 2 of his friends when they stumbled upon a polar bear. She attempted to fight the bear off, while it clawed at then climbed on top of the woman. The bear was eventually scared off by the sound of gunshots, and luckily all 3 children were unharmed.

Then in 2009, a mother named Maureen Lee from Vancouver, Canada was on a walk with her daughter when they encountered a cougar. The mom recounted that the cougar pounced on her daughter, leading her to wedge herself between them. She then “hurled” the cougar off and ran with her daughter to a house nearby.

Last, in 2010, a mother from Lumberton, Texas braved a housefire to save her children. “It was hot, and it was smoky. Never plan for anything like this. It was just a reaction,” Melissa Harvey explained of saving her 11 and 13-year-old children.

While the woman who performed her own c-section was the only of these mothers to attempt something that should only be done by medical professionals, each one of these women risked their own lives to save their children.

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