thread: Caesarean Experiences

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    I'd be happy to answer any questions from my own experience, for those who are wondering what will go on if they are having a scheduled c/s (I for one hate the term 'elective' since it implies it's what I chose, when in reality, my c/s was scheduled due to placenta praevia and I didn't have another option!). I'm an advocate for natural birth and am desperately hoping for a vbac next time around. But I know c/s is a fact of life for some of us, and I appreciated my ob talking through every step beforehand. I would still change some things if I had another c/s for any reason.

    For example, I'd ask about having a private midwife so my baby could stay with me in recovery. It might not be possible, but I'd like to ask at least. I'd like to ensure I'm not last procedure for the day, so the operating theatre isn't absolutely freezing. Then I might be able to get skin-to-skin contact with my baby straight away. I'd like the baby handed to me (as long as all is okay) rather than a midwife first. I'd like to bf the baby while I'm cuddling her/him.

    I'd like all weighing, measuring, etc done after I've finished in recovery and am returned to the ward.

    So if those things are possible, I'll be asking. All in all though, I was very happy with my experience, even if it wasn't the one I would have had in an ideal world. Seeing my baby born and holding her soon after were very important to me.

    Did anyone else get some or all of what I'm asking for next time with their caesars?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    Perth, WA
    1,240

    Hey Jennifer

    Thankyou for your post and thoughts on c/s...I think you sound amazing!

    I'm in the process of finding out whether a c/s is going to be recommended for me...long story!

    The other day I wrote out my c/s birth plan...with much help from the Birthrites birth plans for c/s....and it had many of the things you suggested...I'm yet to share it with my Ob. (need to wait for his final decision)...but hope that he will be open to it...to be honest, I don't expect him to go for all of it (especially the maternally assisted part)...but if I can get 50%...that's better than nothing!

    I wish you all the very best...

    Here it is...

    Having a caesarean is not what we planned BUT we do understand that due to my prior uterine surgery this is the safest option for my baby and myself.

    Our concern is that as the birth is surgically assisted, it may be highly medicalised, sterile, cold and detached. We want our baby’s birth to be a time of welcoming, warmth and connection. Therefore, what we are wanting is a birth that, as much as possible within the surgical setting, is ‘naturalised’. In no way are we wanting to put our baby or myself at risk, but we are also not wanting “medicalised” where “naturalised” is possible.

    This birth plan is a guide for an ideal birth given the current circumstances for my husband, baby and I.

    It contains things that are important for our family unit.

    We however understand that flexibility is necessary and we are open to other suggestions and paths that may need to be taken due to medical reasons and we would like to be consulted first as the need/time arises.

    Should I be unable to make decisions, I request all details and decisions about my medical care be discussed with my husband present.

    We have set out below, in point form, our requests as we have a strong desire for the birth to be a bonding and welcoming experience.

    We have heard many wonderful things about Mercy Hospital and we hope that you understand and support our birthing plan.

    __________________________________________________ ____________________________


    Communication:

    • We would like to have someone talk through the process of our baby’s birth whilst it is happening

    Environment:

    • We would like to supply the music to be played during our baby’s delivery

    • We would like the theatre lights to be dimmed when our baby is delivered

    Procedure:

    • We do not wish to have a screen placed in front of us (please use one that lays flat across my stomach if required). If a screen is necessary, we would like it lowered when our baby is delivered.

    • I would like to be placed on a slightly raised angle (45o angle to view and assist)

    • I would like to have sterile hands/gloves (to help prevent infection in case of contact with wound)

    • I would like to assist in the delivery of our baby (Once the babies head/shoulders are visible and out I would like to be guided in placing my hands under the arms of our baby and assist in lifting our baby out of my stomach onto my chest (as per most natural child birthing situations)

    • If I am unable to assist in the delivery, we would like our baby to be placed on my chest immediately for skin-to-skin contact with a blanket placed over the top of us both

    Contact with our baby:

    • Following the delivery, we would like our baby to be placed on my chest immediately for skin-to-skin contact with a blanket placed over the top of us both. If the baby is unable to delivered directly to me, we would like it to be delivered to my hasband

    • We would like the baby to remain on my chest whist I am being sutured

    • If there is any medical reason that I should need to be separated from my baby, we request Matthew is to remain with the baby at all times

    • We would like all paediatric examinations to be completed within the theatre room

    Umbilical cord:

    • We would like the cord to be clamped by my husband, only once the cord has finished pulsating

    Placenta:

    • We would like to view my placenta once it has been removed

    Recovery:

    • We would like to be together as a family whilst I am in recovery. If this is not possible, I would like to have a support person with me in recovery.

    __________________________________________________ ____________________________


    Thank you very much for taking the time to read our Birth Plan, and we hope we can discuss any problems you see with it.

    We thank you in advance for your support and kind attention to our choices, as we look forward to a wonderful birth.

    Your support and co-operation is greatly appreciated.
    Last edited by monnie; July 24th, 2007 at 01:50 PM.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    7,197

    We got alot of what we wanted even though it was an emergency c/s.

    * Luckily the midwife was able to come with us from the ward because it wasnt busy - different day differernt time - she may not have been able to come and hold my other hand!
    * While they stitched me up etc Izzy was held by DH right next to my face so I could stroke her face and kiss them both
    * Midwife, Al and Izzy were all with me in recovery because of this - and the midwife had me skin to skin and breastfeeding as soon as the recovery nurse turned her back!!
    * Al cut the cord
    * Izzy was weighed etc quite a few hours later after birth

    I think thats it for now !
    Heres my full birth story if you are interested and once the other forum is open I will be posting about some of the issues I had and am still dealing with!

    Isabelle Jade's Birth Novel....

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    Thankyou for your post and thoughts on c/s...I think you sound amazing!
    Thank you, monnie, you're very sweet!

    What a great birth plan!! The screen part is a definite must. My only other tip is to make sure the ob talks through every aspect of how a c/s would usually go if he disagrees with any part of your birth plan. Having the screen up during the procedure is no real issue as long as it's dropped prior to delivery.

    My ob was okay with skin-to-skin, but like I said, the theatre was freezing and I ended up needing heaps of blankets on me so that I didn't shiver (Lucy needed a blanket too).

    What I also found helpful was the fact I wasn't treated as a patient, but everything was explained to me bit by bit, plus my ob made a few jokes throughout. I knew when he broke the membrames, for eg (he told everyone who couldn't swim to grab a chair!).

    76stars, sounds like you got some great bonding time with Izzy, what a positive story. Thanks for sharing!

    Also forgot to mention that if you are scheduled for a c/s, be prepared to be delayed for HOURS! DP and I ended up having a great big argument because we were 4 hours later than expected (and he wanted to call his mother to let her know - I didn't, I told him he should've made it abundantly clear we might be much later, as I did with my family!).

    Also, just because you know your baby is going to be born on a certain date, doesn't mean visitors think they can start arriving that afternoon. As for any delivery, we told everyone no visitors until the following day during visiting hours.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2004
    brisbane
    654

    I had a surprisingly good exp for my caeser - not at all what I was expecting. I thought there would be more pain than there was for me during recovery but I found that I didn't even need the p/killers they had bought in for me!
    The screen was raised for me, and in recovery (Private) bub was with me the whole time and DH had the option of staying in the room as well which was fantastic:-)
    And the midwives were great too - they couldn't do enough and the advice & support was always there.
    I'm having our 2nd baby in January and have decided to do this again. Its right for me anyway:-)

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    by the lake .....
    1,047

    I too had a good cs experience. I had a good rapport and although the screen was up and we didn't get to pull Jake out or anything (that would be awesome!!!!!) we held him while they stitched me and Darren went with him to get weighed etc. Then when I got to recovery both of my boys were there having a lovely cuddle! I did skin to skin back at my room just bcos I was shaking so much from the anaesthetic - but it would have been good to do that in recovery!

    How long do you need to wait before trying vbac?

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    nelly, my ob said he would recommend not having 2 c/s in 12 months, but nothing to me about the wait before having a vbac.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    by the lake .....
    1,047

    Thanks Jennifer!

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Aug 2007
    nsw
    26

    Hi i'm new here, was wondering if anyone had preeclampsia resulting in ceasar, how did this make them feel