top of page
Search

Planning A Caesarean Birth - You Can Still Be In Control - Part 1

Beth

You might be planning a caesarean birth for many reasons. You might already know that it is the right option to have a planned or elective caesarean, or you might be planning a vaginal birth but want to have your plans in place if that doesn’t work out on the day.

 

I bring some caution with the word elective because I have spoken to many people who don’t feel elective is the correct word for them. This is usually because they didn’t feel they elected or chose this route to birth but that their hands were tied by circumstances; maybe your baby’s position or a low placenta meant this felt like the only option and you reluctantly agreed rather than ‘elected’. For that reason I will talk about planned and unplanned.

 

Any caesarean that wasn’t planned in advance with a scheduled date tends to be classed as ‘emergency’, again not always entirely correct. Whilst some are emergencies, most are not quite in the category the word suggests to most of us. They are unplanned.

 

How do you plan for a caesarean? For a lot of people the knowledge that you will be having a caesarean can mean a sense of just handing everything over to the professionals; that birth will no longer be in your control and will be a medicalised operation that you will just go through.

 

It is perfectly ok to feel happy with that. To not give it much thought and just let the doctors and midwives let you know what will happen. But it is also possible to speak to your team and put some plans in place to keep some control of your birth and include things that are important to you.

 

All these suggestions will need some discussion with your health care providers, not all hospitals will be willing or able to accommodate everything. But, if you come up against resistance it is always worth pushing further and speaking to a different consultant to see if they can support your requests. If it is a real sticking point, investigate a different hospital.


Dates


If you are having a planned caesarean you will often start to discuss dates by 36 weeks so your birth is booked in. Depending on how your hospital manages these slots and when you are scheduling for you might be able to pick your baby's birthday! It won't be a wide range of dates, and it won't include weekends, but you might have a few dates to choose from around 39 weeks of your pregnancy.


Occasionally schedules do move around, if there are several emergencies on your day you might be moved to the next day. And if you baby decides they want to pick their own birthday they might put in a slightly earlier appearance.



Your environment

 

How would you like the room to feel? You can have your own music playing, ask for the room to be quiet (no chit chat), have your birth partner(s) with your, or even for the lights to be a little dimmer. When you plan for a vaginal birth the environment is key to boosting your oxytocin for labour to progress, you might not need that in this situation but oxytocin is also key in bonding with your baby and keeping you calmer in a potentially anxious situation. Both really good reasons to still keep your oxytocin in mind.

 

The birth

 

Now this certainly isn’t for everyone, but you might feel you are missing out on parts of birth that you had been planning for – maybe even looking forward to – and there may be ways to help with this.

 

When you are in theatre there is usually a curtain or drape across your body to screen the surgery going on. For some people a better option is to be able to see the birth of baby and there can be ways to make this happen. Some hospitals may use a see-through drape and others will lower or remove the curtain. This usually happens when the incision is done so that you can see baby be born (but not the cutting!). To help with this you might be slightly propped up so you can see a little better.

 

When babies are born via caesarean they are slightly more likely to need help with their breathing. This is because their lungs aren’t squeezed in the same way they would be in a vaginal birth which helps expel the fluid. A more gentle caesarean involves the baby being lifted out more slowly, with a little pause with their head and shoulders out to try and replicate that squeeze. If you would like to explore this have a conversation with your consultant or midwife. It they don’t seem keen there are lots of examples online of UK hospitals where this has happened.

 

Some women want to keep the control and involvement they feel they would have had in a vaginal birth and might use their muscles to give a push as the doctor lifts baby out, or even to reach down and be part of the team lifting baby out. These both definitely need a willing consultant on board and will take some planning.

 

Boy or Girl?

 

Checking the gender of the baby is something you and your birth partner might be looking forward to doing together. Baby snuggled on your chest and taking a peek. You might already know and just need to double check (mistakes do happen!) or you might have decided to wait for the surprise. Either way, let the team around you know you want to keep this moment for yourselves. Even if they know, they don’t need to make the big announcement as soon as baby is out. Have your snuggles and find out in just the way you pictured it.


Skin to skin

 

Speaking of snuggles, what about skin to skin? It is well known that immediate skin to skin with mum after birth is incredibly beneficial for both mum and baby. As well as helping your baby adjust to the world it helps with bonding, feeding and the release of the placenta. All that oxytocin as you hold them close will help your uterus contract back and the healing process begins.

 

There are a few reasons why skin to skin in theatre can be a bit more difficult, but in many cases it should be possible with the right support. You can think about what you are wearing! A theatre gown; but could it be a bit looser so you can tuck baby in the front, or even open at the front rather than the back? Have the ECG stickers on your back instead of your chest so the wires don’t get in the way, and place the oximeter on your non dominant hand or even your toe so you can easily hold your baby.

 

Sometimes theatre is considered a bit too cool for baby and the preference is to get them wrapped in blankets before they are given to you but we know that skin to skin is the perfect way to help your baby regulate their temperature. So cosy on your chest, with a blanket or towel over you both if needed, will be ideal.

 

If your baby needs some help at birth then a delay in skin to skin may be necessary. If the team need to help them it will probably be in the same room but out of your sight. Your birth partner might be able to go closer but it will depend on the theatre layout. Of course you can’t predict anything, but the reason for your caesarean may make this more likely. If your baby was showing signs of distress in labour or there were concerned about their growth they may well need a quick check over first to make sure all is well. If this happens try and ensure baby can come back to you naked rather than in a pile of blankets.

 

Sometimes the effects of surgery mean that you don’t feel able to hold your baby straight away. You might be vomiting, feeling dizzy or shaky and just not feel you can safely hold them. It might be possible for them to still be on your chest with a midwife to support you (and them!) or this might be the time for your partner to step in for some skin to skin until you are ready.

 

Whatever happens in theatre you will more than likely be supported to spend lots of time skin to skin with your baby once you are in the recovery area and on the postnatal ward. This will really help you bond and start breastfeeding, if that is your plan.

 

There is lots more - make sure you have a read of Part 2 for more about after the birth. And don't forget, a caesarean birth doesn't mean you don't need antenatal classes, still so much benefit from knowing your options and having some coping techniques ready in case you need them.

Commentaires


Wednesday 8th January
Baby Classes


Wednesday 8th January
The Antenatal Course


Monday 13th January
Confident Birth Workshop

Thursday 23rd January
The Birthing Class Pinner

Tuesday 25th February Confident Birth Workshop

Wednesday 26th February
The Antenatal Course
 
What's On?
bottom of page