Preparing just in case?

I hate to be pessimistic, but I do want to prepare myself for a c/s - is there anything I should ask for to make it a better experience for us, pre-, during, and post-birth? Also, is there anything they can do so I'd have a better chance of VBAC next time?

This is all JIC I have a caesarean, by the way. I genuinely hadn't given any real thought to the possibility until this week so I'm hideously unprepared.

(Those not "in the know" - we found out on Monday that Cookie's breech, I'm having a ECV tomorrow, and if s/he's still breech afterwards I'll be having a c/s scheduled in 2-3 weeks. If I go into labour before then and s/he hasn't flipped on his/her own it's an "emergency" c/s)


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Hi Teni, I think its great that you are "preparing" yourself for the possibility, my biggest problem after CS was the fact that I didnt prepare myseld AT ALL, I just assumed I would get the birth I wanted and that was that.

There are lots of things you can do to prepare yourself, maybe read a few of the positive CS birth stories. (probably not mine! :P) ask for skin to skin contact if possible, make sure of your wishes beforehand and make sure the mws are informed of these, like BFing straight after, having bub in recovery etc.

hopefully someone else can help you out a bit more, but I hope I have started you off anyway xxx

Who was the BB member who did the birth plan for her planned c/s I think her name was Brooke (?) but not sure of her BB username It's probably still on the site somewhere

G/L I hope cookie turns

Teni have you considered visiting a chiro or osteo that specialises in treatments to turn breech babies too? I know there are a mob in Greensborough that do it (I was worried Rose would be breach so did lots of research on options).

I'd suggest reading c-section stories and instead of being scared by them, try to learn from them and make notes about what you do and don't want/need. HTH.

I had an awesome c-section. We wanted it to be as close as possible to out original birth plan, so we got one of the nurses to take pics so DH could just be with me and not worry bout that stuff, DH cut the cord, Sammy had immediate gooey skin on skin with DH first, DH stayed with him (not sure if he was holding him or not) when the agpar testing and all that was being done, then I had skin on skin once I was wheeled out (I was a little shaky), we had heaps of time for Sammy to do the breast crawl and latch on, we just asked to be left alone so we could sort it out and it all went really well.

My c-section was elective so I had time (well, 3 days) to get used to the idea and sort out what I wanted. For me it was a head space thing more than anything else, letting go of what my original plans were and making the best of what did happen. I don't regret anything and am totally happy with my choices :)

Just like with a vaginal birth, it is important to have a birth plan prepared for your CS. A few things you could think about

Do you want a particular tune or piece of music playing as Cookie is born?

Do you want Cookie in with you during recovery (sometimes this is routine, at other times you need to request it)

If Cookie requires special care, do you want your husband to stay with her, or with you?

etc etc. It's really good you are thinking about this if you do decide to have a CS. Remember also that breech vaginal birth may be an option for you, depending on the type of breech Cookie is and the skill and confidence of your own caregivers.

I would also have in your considerations (as above posters have suggested with who holds, photos etc) what will happen should you need to have a GA rather than an epi or block that way you have all bases covered hopefully...

Oh, something else - if it does end up that I go into labour by myself, is it worth laboring for a while and then having the c/s, or would that not change anything? I mean in terms of the hormones released during labour, etc...


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Just :bump:ing, I'd love more replies :)

Apparently there's something I can ask for in terms of stitching me back up that can help strengthen the scar? I'm sure I read a thread or article saying that the other day, but I can't re-find it!

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far :D I'm slowly getting everything in order - dot points are my friends :lol:

Teni, a c/s doesn't need to be a bad experience - and getting yourself in the best headspace is probably one of the most important things. I suspected, well in advance, that i may require a c/s due to issues with my own heart. i gave labouring a bloody good go when the time came, but it was becoming dangerous for me as well as miss E

anyway, because i had prepared myself in advance that a c/s was a possibility, i was ok with it mentally, and i think that helped me cope with the physical. we outlined our wishes (DH cut the cord, skin to skin asap, keeping the placenta to plant at home) and all of that was respected as far as it could be (i had spiked a fever so DD needed to be monitored post birth - skin to skin was delayed as a result). i never felt the extreme anxiety i normally feel for ANYTHING - i was calm because i knew what was going to happen, and how.

i guess making sure your support people can be there, and, if cookie needs SCN, who goes with baby, who stays with you etc is important - both for you, and for them - the last thing you want is people confused as to where to go (esp for Scott - it's hard for them to know what to do!).

try to get out of bed as soon as you can and back to doing normal-ish stuff asap. i don't know if i have a high pain tolerance, but apart from a few time when i felt some stretching, to be honest, i didn't find the pain all that terrible (i know others have had extreme pain and i don't want to dismiss that) - the sooner you get up and moving, the sooner your system gets back to "normal" post birth - and getting bowels moving is a great way to relieve pressure on any wounds.

Your birthing experience with Cookie is potentially going to be a very emotional time for you given Ianto's arrival, so i really think that concentrating on the mental/emotional preparedness is super important.

GL hun - and Cookie, get that little tush turned around ASAP so Mummy doesn't have to worry about this stuff!

Teni, having even a little bit of labour is certainly better for baby than having none at all. Plus baby still essentially chooses their own birthday and all that. There are other things like having dim lights during the c/s and even having a maternally assisted c/s is possible too if thats what you want. you can also try to arrange bubs to be with you in recovery as well.

THere was an article or link awhile ago about a method of c section where they spread the tummy muscles rather than cutting them. DOn't know if you are interested, or if this would be a possibilty. I think it was more for planned c sections rather than emergency ones.

Would you be interested in attempting a VB if bub stays breech?

My second c-section was much better than the first, DD2 had skin to skin with in minutes, she breastcrawled and fed while they stitched me up and stayed with me and DH the whole time. But we did have to argue with the Paed to get that. Good idea to be prepared to stand your ground for what you want.

GL xx

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Your birthing experience with Cookie is potentially going to be a very emotional time for you given Ianto's arrival, so i really think that concentrating on the mental/emotional preparedness is super important.

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I was just saying to Scott last night that if I do have a c/s, it'll show just how mixed up our babies must be - I had a great birth with Ianto, but obviously a bad outcome (I hate calling it that, but you know what I mean); and with Cookie I'll have the birth I was trying to avoid with a great outcome :lol: Better that than be traumatised by Ianto's birth, I suppose.

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Teni, having even a little bit of labour is certainly better for baby than having none at all. Plus baby still essentially chooses their own birthday and all that. There are other things like having dim lights during the c/s and even having a maternally assisted c/s is possible too if thats what you want. you can also try to arrange bubs to be with you in recovery as well.

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I'd love to give that a try, I read the story of the first maternally assisted c/s in Australia last night. I was fascinated! And that was my thinking re: labouring before c/s (if I get to that)

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THere was an article or link awhile ago about a method of c section where they spread the tummy muscles rather than cutting them. DOn't know if you are interested, or if this would be a possibilty. I think it was more for planned c sections rather than emergency ones.

Would you be interested in attempting a VB if bub stays breech?

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I'll see about the muscle seperating if it gets to that. And I'd love to have a VB if s/he stays breech, but I don't think I trust the doctors/midwives/whoever to know what they're doing. It's not the "done thing" anymore, so no-one seems to have much experience at it. Something else I'll bring up if it gets to it.

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Hi Teni, I think its great that you are "preparing" yourself for the possibility, my biggest problem after CS was the fact that I didnt prepare myseld AT ALL, I just assumed I would get the birth I wanted and that was that.

There are lots of things you can do to prepare yourself, maybe read a few of the positive CS birth stories. (probably not mine! :P) ask for skin to skin contact if possible, make sure of your wishes beforehand and make sure the mws are informed of these, like BFing straight after, having bub in recovery etc.

hopefully someone else can help you out a bit more, but I hope I have started you off anyway xxx

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I'm going into the ECV tomorrow with the assumption it'll end in a c/s - maybe not the best headspace to be in, but at least I won't be blindsided if they suddenly want/need to do it. And it would make it all the more sweeter if/when the ECV works ;)

WRT the maternally assisted CS, I believe this is only appropriate when baby is lifted out head first. In this case the doctor lifts out the head and shoulders, which is the tricky bit, and the mum does the rest. For a breech birth the baby will still come out bum first, so it would not be appropriate for you be involved as the head still needs to be born iyswim. I am 90% certain of this, so definitely check with your OB, but I suspect the answer will be no.

If you decide to let your body go into labour naturally there are lots of benefits for your baby. Not only will they get all those lovely hormones, but they will also be ready for birth and you can avoid the risk of scheduling the CS too early. This is more common than you would think, in fact there is a big push now to stop scheduling CS before 39 weeks because of the number of babies born at 38 weeks who are actually showing signs of prematurity. And the last benefit is that waiting until you labour naturally gives your baby more time to move into a head down position. This does happen, even after 38 weeks, although not a huge amount of the time.

The risk of labouring naturally for a while is that your baby could be born vaginally before you get to the OR (and if you don't trust the skill of breech vaginally delivery of your OB then this will of course be a factor for you) and the risk for your OB is that you will labour in the middle of the night, or when they are doing another CS, which is obviously far less convenient for them.

HTH

I had a C/S for a frank breech baby, in January 2010.
Can I ask what hospital you are going to? I was at the mercy.
My C/S experience was awesome in my opinion.
Mostly due to the fabulous theatre nurse I had.
I had a spinal block, so no feeling at all- but DD was "stuck" so a lot of pulling and tugging was required.
I had skin on skin contact the second I was in recovery, this was possible because I asked to be scheduled at the last op for the day as I was told it would increase my chances of having DD in recovery with me.
We were also able to have our first BF in recovery, which was lovely.
My DD was taken by my DH to get weighed and measured while I was stitched up, I specified in my birth plan that only my DH and medical staff were allowed to touch/see/hold her until I got back to my room.
This was due to mine and DH's family hanging out in the waiting room, I wanted to be there to introduce her to them IYKWIM?
DD was born at 4.36pm, and I was up by 9am the next morning, which I think helped with my recovery.
Try to get up ASAP without overdoing it.

Sorry this post is all over the place- I'm on my phone.

I also had an ECV, not pleasant and didn't work for me.
I hope it works for you :)

Ps I know of 1 doctor at the Mercy hospital who is experienced in delivering breech babies, PM me for her name if you are going to the Mercy :)


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Nah, I'm going to the Women's. Thanks for everything else though :)

It might be a silly question, and completely showing how much I don't know about c/s, but do you walk to the operating room and then they stick the spinal (or whatever it is) in?

Yeah, that's what happened to me..... Then they got me to lie down and they pulled my gown up, whilst a million medical people walked in and out of the OR staring at my veejay :(
Which I had not done any gardening to, for 9 months......
Totally OT, but hope I gave u a giggle...


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Oh no, that's something I'll have to do tonight JIC tomorrow does end up being the day - I hardly ever "garden" so it's more of a jungle :lol:

Yup, I walked into theatre for my 2nd C-section, first was an emergency and I was wheeled in.

I was able to have skin-to-skin contact with DD2 whilst still in theatre being stitched up and in recovery as well. I didn't have to fight anyone for it, it just happened. (Guess I got lucky)

You can discuss whether they will use stitches, steri-strips or staples to close up. I had disolveable stitches internally and steri-strips.

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You can discuss whether they will use stitches, steri-strips or staples to close up. I had disolveable stitches internally and steri-strips.

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Oh, that's something else I wanted to ask, what's the best in that regard? There's something in a birth story I read about having double the amount of stitches (or something like that), and that can help strengthen the internal scar?

I had dissolvable internal stitches, no other options were discussed.


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My best friend, who is a midwife (public in Victoria), DS was breech. They knew about it and agreed for her to labour at home until 'x' time (I can't remember what that was!) and then went in for a CS. He was footling breech.

It's definitely best for baby f you can (are allowed to!) labour for a bit before your CS. All the hormones help prepare both you and your baby for birth (and motherhood) in many ways.

Doing your research or a CS is equally as important as researching for a VB in my opinion. You just never know what's going to happen, how your child will arrive. It's best to know a bit about everything.

Good luck!