Family-Centered Cesarean

The birth of a child is one of the most significant events in the lives of families. It is considered a rite of passage by many women, and involves the first interaction between parents and their baby. There is much buzz today about the necessity of making birth a “family-centered” experience, where the focus is often on creating a special environment for bonding between parents and child in the first moments and days of life. But what if you are one of the one in three women who experiences your baby’s birth as a cesarean section? Is it possible to make your surgical experience into a family-centered birth?

The answer is a resounding yes. While planning a family-centered cesarean is easiest for the woman who must, for whatever reason, schedule her baby’s birth, there are a number of ways that a woman who encounters an unplanned or even emergent cesarean surgery can make her experience into a celebration of her baby’s birth.

Become Familiar with the Procedure

It is first important that every pregnant woman and her partner become aware of the procedures that surround a cesarean surgery. Many women who experience unplanned cesarean deliveries lament that, “I skipped the section of the book on cesareans, I assumed it couldn’t happen to me!” Having some familiarity with the procedure and all that it involves can help reduce much of the surprise and fear that can surround the unknown. (For an excellent explanation of cesarean section go to http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/wp_cssurgery.htm)

If your cesarean is planned, it is important that you have the opportunity to fully discuss with your care provider the reasons for your surgery. Knowing that this surgery is the best choice for your or your baby can create a less tense environment for the delivery. If you desire a vaginal birth and feel that a cesarean surgery may be unwarranted for you, consider getting a second medical opinion that all medical consumers are entitled to.

Write a Birth Plan

Next, plan this birth just as you would a vaginal birth. Write up a birth plan including your preferences for the surgery as well as for yours and the baby’s postpartum care (See second article attached below, written by Connie Banack). In the case of a pre-planned cesarean, it is usually possible to schedule an appointment ahead of time with your anesthesiologist. He/she is the person who actually controls the environment of the operating room. For example, generally, women’s arms are strapped down for their surgeries, so that they do not dislodge IV wires or sully the sterile surgical field. Ask if you can have at least one of your arms free – or have your support people hold your arms in place.

Discuss the pros and cons of both epidural and spinal anesthesia as well as the effects of various other medications you may receive both during and after the surgery. Some of the medications that treat specific symptoms such as trembling and nausea may cause extreme drowsiness or amnesia. You may decide that you would rather tolerate these symptoms than be asleep for the first few hours of your baby’s life.

When you write your birth plan and discuss it with your care providers, there are a number of things you may want to consider. Many women negotiate to have two support people with them in the operating room, generally their partner and a doula or friend and family member. Doulas are a great addition to a cesarean birth team. They are familiar with the process and can reassure you and your partner. Additionally, if you and your baby need to be separated at any point, your partner can accompany the baby while your doula stays with you. Doulas also often have some expertise in post-cesarean breastfeeding and can help with this.

Click here to read more of this excellent article by Michelle Smilowitz. 

BBC news also had a great article on the "Natural Cesarean".  Click here to read how to make a scheduled cesarean section more mother and baby friendly.  The slide show can be found here.

~A certified doula at Birth Works can help you to have a well-informed, beautiful cesarean section.  Give us a call today 501-663-2850~