How to Prepare for a Cesarean Section

By eHow Parenting Editor

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If you're scheduled for a cesarean section, you'll want to prepare ahead to make the day go smoothly.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Take a special C-section prenatal class, if you're not too far along when you learn how you'll be giving birth.

Step2

Expect a longer hospital stay (insurance usually covers four or five days). Have someone lined up to care for older children, pets and your house.

Step3

Follow your doctor's advice about what to eat before surgery. Because of the anesthesia you will need, doctors generally recommend no food, water or even breath mints for 12 hours prior to surgery.

Step4

Go out to a nice dinner the night before - you won't be eating solid food again for up to 48 hours.

Step5

Take a long bath - it will be a while before you will have that luxury.

Step6

Ask for a regional anesthesia, if you want to be awake for the arrival of your baby.

Step7

Ask whether your partner can be with you in the operating room, if that makes you (and your partner) more comfortable.

Step8

Ask to hold the baby right after delivery.

Step9

Tell your doctor you want to breast-feed immediately, if you feel up to it.

Tips & Warnings

Ask questions throughout the operation so that you can understand and be comfortable with each step of the procedure.
If you let labor progress a bit before the C-section, your baby will have the advantage of uterine contractions to stimulate breathing after birth.

Comments

kingkazstar88 said

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on 5/25/2008 I have had 2 c-sections following many many hours of long labor and never reaching full dialation. I am pregnant with number 3 and just days away from having another c-section due to this baby being breech! My first c-section followed a painful 72 hours of labor most of which were spent at home with a midwife. To say the least I was greatful to have the c-section after all those hours of active labor and then 7 hours of pitocin with NO painkiller. However I wasn't prepared for the emotional aspect of the ordeal. My second pregnancy was great and because I became pregnant so quickly after my first I was unable to find a midwife that was willing to take me on for a VBAC because it had been less then 18 months since my last c-section. I did however find a great doc that let me atleast try for a VBAC. Recovery, bonding, and my emotional wellbeing was MUCH MUCH better the second time around.

pdxmom said

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on 3/22/2008 I had an emergency c-section after 24 hours of natural labor. Although I achieved full dilation and everything seemed to be going well, it turned out by baby was very large (10 1/2 lbs) and couldn't descend. The worst part about the c-section for me was how totally emotionally unprepared I was after all the hard mental and physical work of labor. I was *very* scared during the surgery. I think my recovery was a little more difficult than usual because I was recovering from both labor and surgery. However, I was really feeling pretty good after a month. The incision felt weird, but not painful, after a couple of weeks.

I think the story above really underscores the importance of researching your hospital and making sure you like its policies before you commit to delivering there. They're not all the same and it will make such a difference to you when something unexpected happens! My ho

pdxmom said

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on 3/22/2008 I had an emergency c-section after 24 hours of natural labor. Although I achieved full dilation and everything seemed to be going well, it turned out by baby was very large (10 1/2 lbs) and couldn't descend. The worst part about the c-section for me was how totally emotionally unprepared I was after all the hard mental and physical work of labor. I was *very* scared during the surgery. I think my recovery was a little more difficult than usual because I was recovering from both labor and surgery. However, I was really feeling pretty good after a month. The incision felt weird, but not painful, after a couple of weeks.

I think the story above really demonstrates a terrible hospital most of all--and the importance of researching a hospital's policies before you commit to delivering there. My hospital was very supportive of breast-feeding and my baby was *never* separated from me. My hus

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 I absolutely hated having a C section! The surgery wasn't bad, it was the recovery I didn't like! I rarely got to hold my son, because I was either sleeping from the medication or because I was in so much pain! Everyone got to enjoy my son before I did! No matter what you do, you use your stomach muscles and it kills you to do anything! I am having my second child and I am going to try a natural birth. I do not want to feel horrible for three months after the birth! My advice is; if it's not necessary, don't do it!

Anonymous said

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on 1/4/2006 I thought the pain would be awful, but to my surprise it wasn't. Even though the C-section was an emergency, my baby was fine. Actually, better, because I didn't have to do all that pushing. I am having a planned C-section with my next baby, and I can't wait!

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