Best C-section possible?

[OTMomma]

Hi Ladies. My SIL is pregnant with a little girl who is currently breech- the OB's have scheduled a c/s for August 10, one day after her due date, they are currently doing all they can to get the little one to turn, but if she does have to have a c/s, (the OB group will not deliver a breech baby)- can someone share some advice or a website for how to have the best possible c/s experience? They are doing accupuncture daily, all the spinning babies stuff, and hoping for the best, but if anyone has any more ideas to help baby turn, please share.
I'm worried for her how breastfeeding will go after a c/s and how to make the best of this.

All positive ideas appreciated!

[PiggyPiggyOinkOink]

I have had 2 c-sections, one emergency and one planned. Neither surgery affected being able to breastfeed either baby. Some things she can do to make this a wonderful birth for her:

Talk to her OB about letting her play music that is soothing to her during the surgery.

Remember that although this is going to be a hard recovery, she will be ok. Her baby will be ok, and her OB is trained to do this and they will be doing their best.

It's ok to ask for medication if she needs it. If I should need another c-section, I'm going to talk to my OB about using some Xanax or something to help me relax because surgery gives me panic attacks. It's not just c-sections, but any surgery, and I want to be able to enjoy the day I give birth to my baby, kwim?

Make a plan for visitors. Talk to the hospital about their policy for time spent in recovery and plan for when she is out of surgery. I planned for my parents to bring my son at a certain time when I went in to have my daughter. It worked out pretty well.

Above all, this is her baby's birthday. Celebrate it. She can and will have a wonderful day.

[GOPLawyer]

I would recommend cancelling the c/s and waiting for labor to start. Even if she does have a c/s, she and the baby will then receive all of the benefits of labor (hormones/squeezing etc.). Further some babies don't turn until after labor starts. If she waits, she will give her baby the best chance possible to turn.

[AtYourCervices]

I second waiting for labor to begin.

I'd also suggest she see a chiropractor about trying the Webster Technique for turning a breech baby.

Regarding having a positive birth experience, I'd recommend she have her partner or another support person there, to hold the newborn baby, and advocate for the baby, to ensure the new little one isn't whisked away for unnecessary and invasive tests/procedures. Yeah, she won't be able to hold the baby right away, but that doesn't mean the baby won't be able to be held right away. Don't forget that.

[Mrs-Mama]

I also recommend waiting for labor to begin, unless there is a reason not to (like a transverse baby whose cord could prolapse if her water broke first).

Here is my birth plan:

Goal: Despite the surgical nature of the birth, we aim to retain as much of a natural experience as possible, including early bonding, early breastfeeding, and minimal separation.

Requests for Cesarean Birth

1.Catheter placed after the spinal has taken effect.
2.No arm restraints.
3.View the birth either by lowering of the curtain or by positioning a mirror. Didn't get this.
4.“Play-by-play” of the birth (not the surgery).
5.See baby in natural state before being cleaned off.
6.Give baby to Dad after the birth (before being cleaned off) while he/she is suctioned, checked out, etc. Didn't get this.
7.We would like to be able to take pictures, if possible.
8.See placenta (to satisfy curiosity).
9.Re-stitch muscle layer.
10.Face-time/snuggle with baby while still in OR.
11.Breastfeed as soon as possible (in OR or recovery, within 1 hour) after the birth. In recovery.
12.No mind-altering drugs.
13.Motrin (not percoset) for pain management after spinal wears off.
14.Discharge from hospital 48 hours after birth, barring any complications (and I feel ready).


Care of Baby after Birth

1.No artificial nipples or formula.
2.Delay bath until after first breastfeeding and bonding with Mom.
3.Baby ready to breastfeed and bond when Mom is out of surgery and in recovery.
4.Minimal separation of baby from Mom and Dad (room in).
5.NO CIRCUMCISION.

[Mrs-Mama]

Originally Posted by AtYourCervices

Yeah, she won't be able to hold the baby right away, but that doesn't mean the baby won't be able to be held right away. Don't forget that.

Actually, I "held" DD before DH did. The pediatrician was standing right there and had her hands on DD, too (I was afraid I would drop her). But she was on me, right by my face for a good while!

[AtYourCervices]

Originally Posted by Mrs-Mama

Actually, I "held" DD before DH did. The pediatrician was standing right there and had her hands on DD, too (I was afraid I would drop her). But she was on me, right by my face for a good while!

That is awesome!

How a c-section is handled depends on hospital protocol. Oftentimes, unless you advocate for yourself, the hospital staff will do what's easiest on them.

[lach]

I've had 2 Cs, one emergency and one planned, and had no trouble BFing either child. Suggest that she see a LC as soon as possible after birth, but I'd also recommend that for a vaginal birth. It's always a good idea to make sure the latch is good right away (before nipples get too sore!)

I didn't find recovery all that hard. Just remind her not to overdo it, and make sure her partner understands the need to step it up about lifting heavy objects for the first few weeks. Babies generate a lot of laundry, for example, and he's on laundry-basket duty.

I have to say that I'm kind of shuddering at the thought of viewing my C. DH saw more than enough when he went behind the curtain to cut the baby's cord.

[Mrs-Mama]

Originally Posted by AtYourCervices

That is awesome!

How a c-section is handled depends on hospital protocol. Oftentimes, unless you advocate for yourself, the hospital staff will do what's easiest on them.

Yes, you are correct about that. BFF just had a c/s at a different hospital than me and she didn't get her baby until almost 3 hours after the baby was born They whisked the baby off to the nursery (kicked Dad out ) and wouldn't let BFF have the baby until she was out of recovery

[Storm Bride]

The first thing she needs to do, if she's going to have the section (and I agree about waiting for labour - not having done so with dd1 is one of my biggest regrets about my sections), is find out what the hospital policies are, so that she knows what she's going to face.

DO they separate mom and baby post-op? My local hospital doesn't do so routinely (although I ended up separated from dd1 during recovery, due to a bed shortage in L&D). What do they do with baby in OR? (Our hospital takes the baby for a quick checkup off to the side in OR, then brings the "burrito" to mom to hold, with help, on the table.) What's their routine for post-op pain control? (Last time, I refused the routine morphine and used a PCAP to self-administer a few doses of Demerol. I tried to do the same with ds2, but the doctor didn't ask - just gave me the morphine. I hate that crap.)

She needs to find out now, since she's running out of time, then discuss what's acceptable to her and what isn't. My single biggest thing last time was the I wanted dh to be with me while they did the spinal. It's up to the anesthesiologist, and I strongly suspect I only got my way, because when a mom has had a stillbirth, we suddenly get a bigger share of the consideration all expectant moms should receive, but it made a huge difference to my experience.

I wish your SIL all the best.

And, I'm afraid that recovery is unpredictable. I've had five (two emergency and three scheduled) and they've all been different.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by lach

I have to say that I'm kind of shuddering at the thought of viewing my C. DH saw more than enough when he went behind the curtain to cut the baby's cord.

Yeah. I had less than no desire to have the curtain lowered. This last time, the OB did lift dd2 up over the curtain to show her to me, though...pinkest baby I've ever seen.

[Lucy Alden]

I haven't had a c-section but I have read that it is better for mom to have the OB stitch her up instead of using staples. Also www.ican-online.org has a ton of great info.

Crossing fingers baby turns soon!

[lach]

I agree with Storm Bride that the best thing she can do is check with her hospital. It might be easiest to ask friends who have had Cs there what their experiences were like. My hospital's protocols sound like Storm Bride's. The baby and I weren't in separate rooms at all... after they was cleaned up a bit in the OR they was burritoed up and DH held then right next to me until we went to the recovery room. In the recovery room, the nurse (all the nurses in the maternity ward are certified LCs, though the hospital also has dedicated LCs on staff who help if there are problems) helped me breastfeed for the first time. We spent a few hours in the recovery room, and during that time DH went off and telephoned relatives. The nurse did come occasionally and poke at the babies... official weight and measurement were done in the recovery room... but for the most part I held them.

But different hospitals have different protocols, and I've read on here that some aren't nearly as enlightened. But IMO there's no point in her freaking out about the baby being whisked off to the nursery immediately or lack of BFing support if that's not how her hospital normally does things anyway.

[Diyan]

I loved this post about skin-to-skin after a c-section:
http://obnurse35yrs.wordpress.com/20...ing-it-happen/