Ideas for C-section birth plan??

[flootshoot]

Hi all,

I'm writing a birth plan for my ELCS and would like ideas of what others have asked for.

I'm also writing a contingency birth plan in case I go into labour earlier (have said I will give a VBAC a go if this should happen) - ideas for that would be useful too.

One thing I'd like to know - should I go into labour and it all starts to go belly up again, can I ask to progress straight to c-section rather than have an assisted birth? Forceps scare the beejesus out of me!!

Thanks

Hi - for my ELCS birth plan I had: music (for dd1, totally forgot for dd2 so had to listen to Elton John and Kiki Dee on the radio instead....); asked for the screen to be lowered so I could see them being born; asked that I or dh could identify sex; asked to hold them asap; dh cut the cord for dd1 (or at least he trimmed it - they cut it immediately then he trimmed it while she was being assessed); lights to be dimmed while they were born; skin-to-skin asap (I think this is standard anyway?); breastfed asap - in the recovery room I think it was. Umm, can't think of anything else. Dh took some amazing pics of dd2 being born, they really are sensational.

I am sure you can ask for a section rather than assisted delivery. I asked for a section instead of being induced for dd2.

Good luck!

All good ideas from strandednomore! Nothing to add to be honest, I had an EMCS and if I have a ELCS next time I'll be requesting all of the above too.

The only thing would be if you got so far that forceps/ventouse was a safer option than CS I think.

Ok assuming all goes well, as it should...

You can request calm and quiet at the moment of birth if you want to welcome the baby with your voice. You can request that the newborn checks (weighing / measuring etc) are done in your line of sight i.e. that this equipment is positioned so you can see it. You can request immediate skin-to-skin contact or that the baby is cleaned and wrapped first. If the ELCS is arranged because of anticipated issues with the newborn and so they will be taken out of the room (e.g. to NICU), you can request that someone of your choice accompanies the baby, even if they just walk alongside in the corridor and peer through a window. You can also request that photos are taken in the theatre, e.g. the baby being lifted from your abdomen, the baby being weighed, the baby being given to you... Another thing to consider is whether you'd prefer a single room in the post-labour ward (some people don't.)

I would try to think about your ideal situation then ask if each item could be accomodated rather than thinking about what options the hospital offers or assuming that something will be done automatically without you specifying it. Each situation / team / hospital being different of course and not all requests being realistic depending on the circumstances at the time.

My best advice is to keep your own copy of theplan and consult it yourself!

I had a planned section and put down about skin to skin, breast feeding asap etc. The midwives all went through it with me, agreed everything and seemed positive. When it came to it, hardly anything on the list was done (for no reason), and I was so distracted by my babies that I didn't remember and insist. I really regret not doing some of the things I'd planned, and wish me or DH had got the list out and reminded ourselves of our plans.