Help me get the best c/s experience possible.

[{sarah}]

Thank you for that Julie-Ann

[Rouge]

First of all congrats on making a decision I know it's been something you've been churning over for a while It will be an awesome birth!

Have you checked out my c/s plan? It's around somewhere... pretty similar to J&J's.

You're having a baby WOOHOO!

[suse]

Sarah - (and I've just realised I'm about to out myself here ), I'm facing the same thing, except that I don't have a choice in the matter. Which in some ways is easier as I can't second guess a decision I don't get to make, but anyhoo.

We might end up being c/s buddies - I'd say you're probably due around the same time as me. Yay!

Anyway, as well as things that others have suggested, I'll be doing the following:

- pushing for a surgery date as close to full term as possible. E was born ECS 14 days post dates after spontaneous labour, and was in no way overcooked. I'm also going to ask them about the feasibility of allowing labour to start prior to going into hospital for the surgery. Don't know whether they'll agree to this one though.

- Not telling anyone (except maybe one or two people) the date, to try to keep an element of spontaneity to it. Also to avoid the constant 'oooh, are you excited' calls leading up to the actual date. I'm just telling people that I'm due in July and will leave it at that.

Depending on the hospital it's usually unlikely that you'll get to have bubs with you in recovery itself, even if they have a midwife who can stay with you. This is primarily because there are other patients in recovery. If that's the case, I'd push for as much early contact whilst still in theatre. I've also been told that having bubs skin to skin whilst being stitched up is not a problem with a non-problematic surgery (which is normally the case with an elective), but if there is any haemorrhaging, for example, they will have to work on you quickly without you having skin to skin.

[{sarah}]

SUSE!!!!!

I'm also hoping to go as close as possible to EDD, Z was 8 days over & J was 10 days over so history says it shouldn't be a problem.

I was thinking the same thing about not sharing the date, though at least *someone* will have to know because I'll need a pair of hands to look after the kids. One thing that I have already made clear is that I will be introducing the new baby. Noone is to visit, including Z & J, until I am on the ward with my baby. I missed out on seeing family's reactions to my first two & I don't want to do that again.

Rouge, I decided that I'd prefer to enjoy my pregnancy than fight the whole way through like last time. It took a long time to get here, as you know, but I'm happy with the decision. That said, if I happen to go into labour before the c/s date I will absolutely be going for it. I'll have a hunt around for your old birth plan, I used it last time & it had great stuff in it.

[Hollybolly]

Sarah,

DH & I have been talking this over too - & Dr S has asked what our expectations/wishes are.

There's so many things, I don't want to miss anything out so I'm going to subscribe to this thread too

When I had Luke he was an emergency c/s, so I know I won't be completely exhausted & out of it after labouring for 3 days beforehand & with numerous drugs in my body.
I know I want the skin to skin contact as he was just taken from me & then Ex DH took him downstairs to meet everyone & I was stuck being sewn up by myself & missed everyones reactions to seeing him for the first time

So like you, I'm going to ask that noone gets to meet the baby until he/she is in the ward with me so I can share their first reactions as well

I'm going to ask about having the baby with me in recovery... and also about delayed cord clamping (and for DH to do it).

I'd love to ask for the screen to be lowered (wow julieannjules! I didn't know this was an option) - and my main one is being able to try & feed as soon as possible as it was really delayed with Luke (After I came out of recovery) & it was an issue for the first few days to get him to attach. May not have been the complete reason why but its important to me to make sure I can do this as soon as I can.

We already have our date booked in (about 10 days earlier) - for a few reasons... Dr S is a busy man & I want to make sure there is absolutely no way I run the risk of getting another doctor (I know this is minimal as a private patient, but he is the only one I trust now after so many issues with surgeries in the past) - and its also booked in early as he is concerned about my uterus holding up with all of the damage with a baby if it gets too big

We haven't told too many people the date (BB people, but that doesn't count ) - but obviously there are some people, for example my mum as I'll need her here to have Luke as our baby will be delivered in a hospital 2 hrs from our house
We've elected for DH to stay in hospital with me - one so he can help picking bub up etc & also so he is part of everything.

I can't think of anything else just yet, but desperately trying to think of more before Tuesday at our next OB appointment

ETA - AND SUSE!!!!!

[suse]

I was thinking the same thing about not sharing the date, though at least *someone* will have to know because I'll need a pair of hands to look after the kids. One thing that I have already made clear is that I will be introducing the new baby. Noone is to visit, including Z & J, until I am on the ward with my baby. I missed out on seeing family's reactions to my first two & I don't want to do that again.

We've told mum that we'll either be 'booking' her for weekly babysitting duties towards the end of the pregnancy (that will coincide with the date), or we'll tell her the night before. She looks after E a fair bit during the day now so it's nothing out of the ordinary for her. Fortunately all of our family is interstate or two hours drive away, so no sneaky visits until we tell them. As far as everyone else is concerned, it will be a normal birth, in that it won't have have a scheduled date.

As for the screen - last time we could see everything in the reflection from the lights anyway, the screen was a bit pointless. It was quite fascinating really.

[Michelle71]

Sarah - congratulations on your decision!! My only c-section experience I was unconscious for so not much help really. There are some great suggestions though.

Mainly sneaking in to say Suse - Another one around the same time

[Janie]

A friend of mine recently had her second c/s, she was most concerned about being apart from baby while in recovery, as she found that to be very traumatic after her DS's birth. But her hospital had changed their procedures, and this time her baby and husband stayed with her the whole time! She was so happy, said it made an enormous difference . Definitely something to push for, if you feel comfortable doing so .

Good luck ladies!

[paradise lost]

Sarah, many congrats again and congratulations too on finding the birthing direction you want to take.

I don't know if this would appeal/interest you, i think i talked about it ages ago on BB, but you could see if they can do a gentle c-s for you and babe? It's where they deliver just the head, and then the body to the chest, and then the rest, to mimic the slowness of VB, then immediate skin-to-skin on mama with the cord left unless there is a compelling reason to cut it etc. etc. If they lower the screen you can see babe emerge bit by bit, and babe gets more of a "clue" what's happening and apparently they can be more alert immediately after birth due to that.

There are some UK obs who do it, i'm not sure how widepread it is internationally.

TBH you are quite early on (i assume! lol) and i think you should think what YOUR ideal is and then talk to the Obs about getting it. Tell them that you feel their help (surgical) is what you need most and youd be grateful for them to work with you to give you and babe a really empowering, peaceful, loving birth - i bet they don't get requests like that very often, you might find they are really open to helping you achieve your goals.

Best of luck sorting out the fineprint hun, and congratulations once again on your little natural miracle!

Bxxx

SUSE! *whispers* congrats!

[Tanya]

Congrats on coming to a decision, Sarah.

I will be keeping an eye on your thread to see what you and Suse come up with to have an beautiful empowered birth.

xx