Cesarean Birth Preparation (Do Not Bypass Because You Are Planning A Vaginal Birth)

By Expert Contributor: Lisa Dowling

Image via: livestrong.com

Cesarean Birth: If like me, you had been hoping to avoid a cesarean then you mosy likely avoided reading anything cesarean delivery related during pregnancy, I definitely stuck my head in the sand and thought ‘it won’t happen to me’. 

Bad idea!  It can happen to anyone, sometimes it’s unnecessary but sometimes it is a life saving measure so never ignore the possibility.  There are things you could read that would make it easier to deal with if it happens and in the recovery period.

If you are having a planned cesarean don’t assume there is no prenatal education required.  If you can take a positive cesarean class it will help both you and your birth partner prepare. (For more information on classes in Florida see www.positivebirthagency.com).  You could also utilize a positive birth program at home like GentleBirth’s Homestudy Course available on www.gentlebirth.com.

Depending on the hospital you are attending, your birth partner may be asked to wait outside the theatre whilst they site the epidural.  Important thing to note here – you can refuse to be separated from your birth partner.  It may be hospital policy but if it’s important to you then know they can stay with you with enough persistence.

If you haven’t done it the surgical team will shave the area above your pubic bone so even if you are planning a vaginal birth it may be worth bearing in mind just in case.

How does it feel?  Well you feel no pain, yet you feel everything.  It’s the strangest thing.  You feel a lot of tugging and movement, sometimes it can make you a little sick.  I felt pressure and then a release as my son was born.  This is a comfort, feeling the moment he came into the world.

Some hospitals will give you immediate skin to skin with your baby whilst they finish up the operation, others will give baby to Dad to hold.  It’s not uncommon for Dad to be sent with baby up to postnatal until you are out of recovery and ready to join them.  Again if this is something you don’t want you can negotiate your preferences with your care provider.

Your scar, for me I’d never had stitches before and was terrified they would all rip open if I wasn’t hunched over all the time – that won’t happen!  But it is major abdominal surgery so some points to remember in recovery:

Your first time to stand after delivery will feel weird.  Stand up really slowly and take at much time as you need.  Your stomach will feel tight, but that will go away once you are on your feet a bit.

You will most likely have a 2-4 night stay post cesarean.  The doctor will remove your stitches if they are not dissolvable before you are discharged.

You will still bleed for a couple of weeks post cesarean.  This is normal and nothing to be alarmed by. If you are worried always consult your doctor. Don’t lift anything heavy – if you’ve bought a heavy expensive stroller and ended up with an unplanned cesarean buy a light stroller that you can open, close and put in the car with ease (even when you can drive again you could do damage by swinging a $700 stroller in and out of the trunk).

Always have a pillow to hand for if you need to sneeze or cough – you will be surprised by how much is related to your stomach muscles and holding a pillow tight against your lower tummy when you need to cough will prevent too much pain.

The stitches – clean them gently and at least once a day to prevent infection.  If you are like me and are very nervous about touching the area, ask your partner to do it for you whilst you stand in the shower.  They have watched you deliver your baby so this is not going to freak them out.  Have faith in your partner’s ability to be your “go to” person in the postpartum period.

You may find hiring a postpartum doula to be of high value to you following a cesarean delivery to ease you into motherhood and help you adjust post-surgery.

A little word to the wise if you have a recliner – I sat in our recliner to nurse our baby when we arrived home from hospital.  A few minutes later queue my partner walking into the room after hearing me crying.  “What’s wrong” he asks, in my highly emotional state I was overwhelmed by the fact I could not get out of the recliner because I just did not have the strength in my stomach muscles to push the leg rest down.  No not sit reclined in a chair unless there is someone nearby to help you back up ;-)

How will you feel emotionally?  Well, you will either be happy with the delivery and experience or you could feel a bit upset by it or you could feel completely traumatised by having a cesarean if you had been hoping for a vaginal birth.  Important thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to feel.  If you are happy-great, if you feel down then talk to someone who will validate your feelings and not brush them aside.