A mom from Colorado, Natalie, recently shared her emotional story on TikTok about something that left her feeling upset after the birth of her baby girl. Natalie, 26, gave birth via cesarean section in October, and her experience resonated with many other moms who went through something similar. Her story quickly went viral on TikTok, where she posts under the handle @itsonlynatalieee, receiving over 150,000 views and sparking a conversation among mothers everywhere.
C-sections are a common way to bring babies into the world. In fact, the CDC reports that in 2023, 32.3 percent of all live births in the U.S. were by C-section. But Natalie’s experience had a twist that caught people’s attention.
Natalie shared that she was inspired to post her story after watching videos of other moms talking about the joy of holding their newborns right after birth. For Natalie, things didn’t go as planned. Because of her C-section, she didn’t get to have that immediate, skin-to-skin moment with her daughter.
Natalie explained that this was her first baby, and her family was overjoyed. She has five siblings and was the first among them to become a parent. Her mom and two sisters were especially excited to be part of the big day. Originally, Natalie had planned to have her husband, mom, and sisters in the delivery room with her. But when doctors decided she needed a C-section, those plans changed.
After the surgery, Natalie was wheeled back to her room to recover. But when she got there, she realized her daughter was already in the room—with her husband, mom, and sisters. They had all taken turns holding the baby while Natalie was being stitched up.
Although Natalie was grateful to have her family there, she couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. She shared that it made her sad to realize she wasn’t the first to hold her daughter, as she had always imagined. Instead, she was the fifth.
Natalie took to TikTok to open up about how she felt. She explained that while her family didn’t mean any harm, it was hard not to feel upset about missing that special first moment with her baby. Her post struck a chord with many other moms, who shared their own experiences in the comments.
One mom wrote about feeling “bitter” that her husband held their daughter first. Another shared how constant visitors after her delivery meant she missed having her first hour alone with her baby. Yet another mom said she wasn’t the first to hold her child either, adding that she could relate to Natalie’s feelings.
For Natalie, seeing these comments brought her some comfort. She realized she wasn’t alone in feeling this way and that her emotions were valid. She also hopes her story can help other moms-to-be. Natalie encourages pregnant women to communicate clearly with their families about their wishes for the delivery room, so they can create the special moments they dream of—no matter how their birth plan unfolds.
Natalie’s story is a reminder that every birth experience is unique, and it’s okay to feel all the emotions that come with it. Her openness has inspired many others to reflect on their own experiences and plan for the moments that matter most to them.
