tell me about c-section birth plans

[Ldogg]

So I am now 37 weeks, and baby is still in the breech position. I have not completely given up hope, but given I have a decent-size uterine septum I know that my chances are slim for the LO to flip at this point.

I have a c-section booked for a couple of days before my due date, and I need to rework my birth plan now that I know I have a much greater chance of going through with this section (I'm still doing what I can to encourage flipping, but I want to prepare for all scenarios).

So, if you've had a c-section before, what did you write in your birth plan? What did you NOT write, but wish you had?

(The hospital I'm going to is pretty progressive and is supportive of natural childbirths, so I feel good that they tend to honor the mothers' requests as much as possible.)

[MeepyCat]

In the end, I did not have a birth plan for my c-section (it was emergency surgery at 32 weeks, nothing was optional). But there are a lot of things I would have written:

- I wanted the baby to come with me to the recovery room and stay with me at all times.
- I wanted to try and initiate breast feeding ASAP.
- I would have liked to have at least one arm free and be able to see and hold the baby while they were stitching me up. (I honestly cannot recall whether or not they strapped my arms down, they did bring DD to me so I could see her for a moment before they whisked her to the NICU.)
- Once out of recovery and into the post-partum ward, I wanted to be disturbed as infrequently as possible - nothing beyond absolutely necessary doctor and nurse visits for the first 12 hours, please don't even send the cleaners in unless I ask.

Every c-section birth plan I have seen on line has a ton of suggestions about lowering the drape so you can watch your baby being born, etc. If you want this, go for it, but my husband started to get woozy and light-headed just *hearing* this suggestion, and I honestly don't think I could have stood it myself.

Your info says that you're in Boston, which I feel like is fairly good news. I don't know what hospital you're planning to go to, but I've dealt with three Boston hospitals, and they've all been pretty reasonable.

[BetsyS]

I've had 2 c-sections, and they were pretty good experiences.

There are also some posts (including a sticky about c-section birth plans) in Birth and Beyond.

I think some things to be aware of--usually the surgeon and team chit-chat during your c-section, about unrelated stuff. If this bothers you, just tell them, and they won't do it. I like hearing it, because it assures me everything is going normally. But, it should be up to you.

Most ORs have someplace you can play music. It's nice to have something familiar to focus on away from the c-section part.

Ask to have the baby with you in recovery. I did (and breastfed in recovery), and it was great.

[Marylizah]

Things that helped me cope with my recent c-section (which was an emergency and I was under general anesthesia, unfortunately):

As soon as DS was born, he was taken to DH (who wasn't allowed in the OR since I was under GA). DH got to do skin-to-skin with him almost instantly.

Shortly after I woke up DH and DS joined me in the recovery room and I was able to hold DS skin-to-skin and I got to breastfeed right away.

Those 2 things were really important to me.

Best of luck!

[kelantan]

I didn't know i was having a c-section but i was educated by a midwife about important things.

She said to make sure you have the uterus double stitched. Doctors won't normally do it because it takes an extra twenty minutes but it's thought to make the incision stronger. (especially good if hoping for a VBAC)
Make sure you request that, if you are breastfeeding no other formula, milk, sugar water be given to your baby while in the nursery. (it can make nursing more difficult)
Also, if you can, request the baby not leave you (except they most likely will take the baby to the nursery to give him/her his/her initial check up).

And for one measure of hope, my niece was breech until the day before my sister-in-law went into labor. It was most definitely a miracle. Have you thought of trying to have a version done? they have decent success rates (especially when followed by induction--which of course raises your c-section risk... but currently with breech it's almost 100%)

Just thoughts. Best of luck!

[CherryBomb]

I included c/s in my vba2c birth plan. I can't remember everything, but I put things like, dh is to be with baby at all times if possible, initiate breastfeeding asap, have the baby with me in recovery, things like that.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to B & B

[happythistle]

C-section wasn't our birth plan but happened anyway due to ds not dropping - turned out the cord was keeping him up too high. Our midwife was present in the OR the whole time and it was her back up OB, whom we love, who did the surgery. I wasn't strapped down and dh stayed right with ds the whole time from when he left the or. My OB double stitched so now I can try for VBAC. As soon as I was in recovery, dh brought ds so I could nurse right away. Then dh stayed with ds while he got a bath and I was moved to the maternity room.
The effects of the morphine are pretty wild - I got the shakes pretty bad for a bit but declined any more meds. had enough by then! The staff listened and abided by all of my pain management requests. Overall, it was a good experience but I hope to avoid it this time around. Best of luck to you!

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by MeepyCat

Every c-section birth plan I have seen on line has a ton of suggestions about lowering the drape so you can watch your baby being born, etc. If you want this, go for it, but my husband started to get woozy and light-headed just *hearing* this suggestion, and I honestly don't think I could have stood it myself.

I didn't want that, either. I could feel enough of what was going on, without seeing anything. However, with my last one, the OB lifted dd2 up as soon as she was out, before she got handed off for her weighing and checkup. I was surprised how much difference that made. (DD2 was also the pinkest baby I've ever seen...so cute!)


Let's see...the biggies for me (no birth plan, as such, but discussion with the OB ahead of time) were:

• Breastfeeding asap. I'd hoped for the OR, but was told I'd have to wait until recovery. The OB was sympathetic, but didn't think there was oom on my chest above the drape. Then the L&D nurse latched her while my tubal was being done. DH and the nurse held her over my shoulder, so she was nursing with the top of her head pointed toward my feet. YAY!!
• DH with me for the spinal. I find surgery terrifying. I find the spinal every bit as terrifying. This one was up to the anesthesiologist, and she was cool with it, so that was great.
• Skin closure with sutures, not staples. I'd heard from other women who have had both how much better sutures are, and I'd had staples tear twice (resulting both times in an infected incision). Sutures rock! I mean...they suck, but they are soooooo much better than staples. I can't even describe how much better they are.
• No morphine crap in my IV. That stuff makes me itch like crazy, and I don't like it. I'd rather be in pain. I got a PCAP, instead...and only used it a few times.

Other things that matter to me, but I didn't have to ask for, because they're standard:

-Arms not strapped down. They don't do that at my local hospital.
-Baby rooming in. That's what they do, unless the baby requires NICU...and not for "observation".
-Baby with me in recovery. That didn't happen with dd1, but it was because of bed availability, and my request won't change that one way or the other.

The only thing I asked for, but didn't get, was delayed cord clamping. The OB said she didn't want to leave me open any longer than absolutely necessary. Since it was my fifth section, it took longer than usual to get in, anyway, and my tubal also added more time. (Looking back, I wonder if would have been possible to remove the placenta and then cut the cord? I don't know...but I'd be nervous asking for something the OB wasn't comfortable with, surgically, anyway.)

[Ldogg]

Thanks for all the tips, mamas! Very helpful.