C/S Birth Plan? - Page 2

[Megs Mom]

Added to the birth preferences - thank you!

Meg is two today!

[cwaddick]

I am so glad you started this thread!

I am planning a homebirth for my second birth. My first birth was in the hospital, and I had a normal vaginal delivery with minor complaints (I tore, and I didn't care for the anaesthia).

I was very anxious about having a hospital birth the first time... I mean I dreamt about bringing a gun to the hospital with me so that they couldn't take my baby away from me. I wrote a birth plan and said I'd rather leave against medical advice (AMA) and give birth on the sidewalk outside. It went okay, though it would have gone better had I been at home.

This time, I'm planning a homebirth, but if something really does go wrong...

BTW, there is a thread about what went wrong at homebirths right now in the Homebirth board.

..If something goes wrong and I have to be transported to the hospital, I want to be ready for it. So, you've given me the idea to get serious and put together a C-section birth plan. I'm so scared about going through a c/s. It is hard for me to think of it as a "cesarian birth" that can be a "wonderful experience." I just see it as a disaster. I would probably react allergically to all the anaesthias, painkillers, sedatives, etc. I probably wouldn't heal for year. ... Actually, I didn't feel good about the healing on my tear for 9 months after birth of my first child.

-- Caitlin

[its_our_family]

Here is another thing...

I don't know if you had an epidural with Meg but I itched horribly from either the epi or something they put in it. I do not think I was given a sedative during the surgery but I was given benadryl (at my request) for the itching. They gave me DROWSY benadryl! That stuff takes me 4 days to recover from! So, this time I am adding to my bp that I want non-drowsy if I need it!

[anythingelse]

No - I did not get a sedative, I was passing out from the shock of it all & kept getting rolled over to get epy shots in the hip to raise my blood pressure. They were trying to get me going to get me to recovery. I had planned on a midwife no drug delivery like my previous birth. I had no plan for c-section, and my husband was so scared for us that he was honestly not much help. After baby was born, he was as much in grief about the birth as I was.

Make your plan, make s/o read it too.

[Megs Mom]

DH has been over the plan with me, and we went over it with the OB last week!

No epi with Meg but that's interesting about the Benadryl. I do have no sedatives on my list...

[MamaOui]

don't know if you had an epidural with Meg but I itched horribly from either the epi or something they put in it.

I itched horribly as well. It was explained to me that it was from all of the fluid retention due to all the IV fluids that I was given. My feet were so swollen that I could not put shoes on for a week.

[its_our_family]

Originally posted by MamaOui
I itched horribly as well. It was explained to me that it was from all of the fluid retention due to all the IV fluids that I was given. My feet were so swollen that I could not put shoes on for a week.

The week AFTER my c/b I was still swelling. By the time ds was 6 days old I had new stretchmarks on my feet and NECK!!! Those went away...luckily!

[cwaddick]

Natural Approaches in a C-Section?

I would like to know if there are any natural approaches that can be taken during or after a c-section surgery.

For instance, can I request acupuncture instead of pharmacalogical anaesthia? (Not sure I'd want to, but...)

I am just wondering what my larger array of choices are in a hospital.

I'm sure the epidural would make me itchy....It makes 25% or more of all people itchy as a routine side effect... I'm not sure I would want more drugs to "cure" the side effects of the first ones.

What are my other options?

-- Caitlin

[Megs Mom]

Self-hypnosis has been used for all kinds of surgeries, but you might have a hard time finding a dr. to agree to it...

[guestmama9924]

Hi there, I wanted to chime in on this great thread for many reasons ( as a doula).

I was just hired by a couple expecting twins and baby A is also footling ( 30 weeks along) so in all likelihood, it will be a c/s. They hired me anyway because they want an advocate for them ( hubby, friends, family and mom) at all times and to help with first latch. They plan to request that I be permitted in the OR, but I don't find that likely.

The mom wants to request that chit-chat be kept to a minimum- it is a birth and she wants to feel 'present'. It is a sacred moment and MD's chatting about football playoffs over her uterus sounds icky to her.

She also plans to have on headphones playing the labor music she had dreamed about for a while. It will block out the noise of surgery and let her just envision her babies being brought out into the world.

Her DH plans to be wearing a digital camera and take photos ( which you may have to get permission for ahead of time)

She wants an epidural over a spinal so that she does not have the increased risk of having to lay down flat PP. She wants to be able to sit up and nurse.

As for the GREAT suggestions to request double layer suturing over single ( for better chance of VBAC later on ) that is a tough one. I have had surgeons FLAT OUT REFUSE it on patients upon request. "We don't do it like that anymore! We are trying to prevent you from bleeding to death! Do you want to die?!?!?" was the most recent verbal abuse a c/s mom received. And when she insisted, he threatened to transfer her care and quit. ouch.

All I am trying to say there is , pick your battles with a planned c/s. PUt your priorities in order and shoot for the ones that you cannot live without.

Good luck!

[OnTheFence]

Re: Natural Approaches in a C-Section?

Originally posted by cwaddick
I would like to know if there are any natural approaches that can be taken during or after a c-section surgery.

For instance, can I request acupuncture instead of pharmacalogical anaesthia? (Not sure I'd want to, but...)

I am just wondering what my larger array of choices are in a hospital.

I'm sure the epidural would make me itchy....It makes 25% or more of all people itchy as a routine side effect... I'm not sure I would want more drugs to "cure" the side effects of the first ones.

What are my other options?

-- Caitlin

Ummm, trust me when I say you dont want acupuncture for pain relief for a csection. Have you ever seen a fish gutted alive? I felt my first csection -- I dont think acupuncture would put you in a position to deal with the pain of being cut and manipulated and having your uterus plopped up on your belly to be stitched.

I chose not to take anything for itching, that is totally up to you if this were to happen. but the scrathing can get to be annoying. It hasnt happened to me personally but it has to others. You can also get a spinal or GA.

[OnTheFence]

Originally posted by Megs Mom
Self-hypnosis has been used for all kinds of surgeries, but you might have a hard time finding a dr. to agree to it...

This was something I basicly did with my last csection. I did get an epidural but I got no pre-op or post op drugs and had a PCAP in my epi cath. But even after it was pulled I did not have pain. I was a little sore but that was it.

[OnTheFence]

KeysMama if your client gets an epidural and is planning on breastfeeding and doesnt want to be out of it I highly recommend continues pain relief with demerol that will go directly into the epi cath. She can give herself doses with a PCAP pump and it will offer long term relief and allow her to not be out of her mind. If she gets shots afterward or morphine in a PCAP pump it may really affect her and she may not be lucid.

I had my husband and my sister with my during my csection. I dont think you being allowed will be an issue. I had pictures taken at both my csections. Very good ones I might add!

During the first csection no one hardly spoke at all and it bothered me. My second one we had casual chit chat, very nice atmosphere with funny conversation. (when they pulled Jack out he peed all over)

If she is going to have to have a csection, try to prepare your client for certain aspects of it. Like nausea and vomiting -- ask her to request Zofran instead of getting phenegran or both. Let her know she may have to get oxygen and wearing headphones may not be an option. Also if an emergency arrives that is something that doesnt need to be on her head or around her neck. She could have a cd player brought in but some already have them installed in the ORs. Ask to tour the local hospital and ask to look inside an OR. Talk to others who have cbirths there.

[guestmama9924]

OnTheFence- thanks, all good stuff to pass along. She is birthing in the WORST hospital in South Florida, so I won't hold my breath for anything!!

I would like to know if there are any natural approaches that can be taken during or after a c-section surgery.

cwaddick - Yes!( for postpartum anyway...)
Homeopathic arnica is great for surgery and trauma, as well as Star of Bethlehem flower remedy. Both can be taken post-surgery to assist the body in healing itself. Also when you get home, a good massage to ease the stiff body

[julie128]

Here is a link to some vbac birth plans. Most, if not all, include a section for CS.
http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...threadid=68774

[anythingelse]

one thing that really helped with the shakes after was having a warm small blanket immediately laid over the midsection, they were microwaving them for me

[Megs Mom]

How about a couple of Christmas Eve babies?

Patrick Nicholas 4 lb. 7 oz. 17.5" 10:54 pm
Catherine Constance 4 lb. 8 oz. 17" 10:55 pm

Home with me today, on Day 4 of their tiny lives. Details to follow.

http://www.baylorhealth.com/webapps/...x?babyid=47251

[MamaOui]

Congratulations!:

[Megs Mom]

thanks, kerry!