How to Stay in Control During a Non-Emergency Cesarean

For many women, labor is spontaneous. But for some, the date of their baby's arrival has already been chosen. Whether you are having a cesarean because of a breech presentation or multiples, you can maintain a certain amount of control during your process with a little bit of preparation. Most women who feel like they have a part in the decision-making process of their births, feel overall that they have a good birth experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Write a birth plan. Although your labor won't be spontaneous and you won't have to include traditional labor options, you should still express your wishes. Writing a birth plan will also help increase the communication between you and your doctor. Although you are having a cesarean, you want to make sure that you are a part in the decision-making process.
2. Be awake during your procedure. Talk about the pain medications with your doctor and choose one in which you are completely awake and not groggy. The most common form of pain medication during a cesarean is an epidural or a spinal.
3. Ask your doctor to have your partner or support person with you during your procedure. Having your partner with you will reduce your anxiety about the procedure and keep you relaxed as you await the arrival of your beautiful baby.
4. Most often, during a non-emergency cesarean, your doctor will make a transverse "bikini cut" incision on your abdomen. However, make sure that this is his intentions. Many doctors will let you attempt a vaginal birth after cesarean with this type of incision.
5. Request that you are able to see the baby immediately after birth. You may not be able to hold him, but your partner can hold him close to you.
6. Have your partner go to the nursery with the baby. The hospital may let him help bathe the baby and take all of her measurements. This will help encourage the bonding between dad and baby.
7. Delay the eye ointment medication until after the initial bonding time with your family. The eye ointment can actually be denied if you don't want it, but you'd have to sign a waiver in most states.
8. If you'd like to breastfeed, talk to your nurses about the appropriate medication available. There are lots of things you can take for the discomfort of your incision that will not interfere with breastfeeding.

Tips & Warnings

• Just because you have to have a cesarean doesn't mean that you can't take part in the decision-making process.
• Feeling like you've had a part in making decisions makes it more likely that you'll walk away feeling like you had a positive birth experience.