ELCS birth plan

[scaryfairy28]

I have my birth plan all written to include water birth etc but if ECV is unsucessfull I'll be going for an ELCS any experience of what I can ask for with this would be welcomed.

For mine I asked that DS be brought to me immediately, and if I couldn't have skin-to-skin, DH was to hold him skin-to-skin; that if for some reason DS had to be taken to special care, then DH was to go with him; that DH was to remain with me during stitching-up; that breast-feeding is to be established immediately after birth if possible.

We didn't have immediate skin-to-skin, as DS was wrapped up first (it's cold in theatre), but DS was then brought to me by DH and held close to my face. DH held him skin-to-skin. DH stayed with me throughout (and was there in the beginning, during prep.), holding DS, and was with DS when he was being weighed and checked. I think everything I asked for was pretty standard, anyway. Breast-feeding couldn't begin until I was in recovery, but that was fine - there were no problems at all in getting it started.

We did take in some music, but in the event forgot all about asking them to play it, and there was no background music at all.

They asked if DH wanted to cut the cord - he didn't, and I wanted the screen lowered as DS was being born - I didn't.

The whole thing was very calm and actually enjoyable. Hope it goes well for you, too.

Thanks Slanted that's the sort of stuff I'd like but didn't know what would be allowed.

Mine was similar to Slanted's, though some pts were unnecessary, and I can say it was a great experience w/ regards to bonding w/ DS:

o Husband in theatre with me and baby at all times
o Clear communication regarding procedure with mother & father throughout, and no music
o Epidural instead of General anaesthesia
o Catheter insertion after Epidural, as late as possible
o Screen lowered at baby?s birth/removal
o Immediate skin-to-skin with mother (or father) if rescuscitation not necessary
o Father to cut umbilical cord
o Baby to stay with mother/father during stitching
o Vitamin K injection for baby
o Breast milk only (in recovery) no formula or bottles
o Removal of catheter as soon as advisable
o Walking about as soon as possible
o A room with a bathtub if possible

When 1 of the docs recommended music, the MW remembered my wish and said "no, she would prefer no music"! :)

Good luck w/ this and hope it's an ideal birth!

Thanks those points are really helpful. Did you manage to get skin to skin straight away?

Ckny, ignoramus warning: why would you want the catheter in as late as possible? How come there is even a choice?

I presumed it was cos if it was done after epidural you wouldnt feel it.

Ok, I only had one surgery in my whole life, but catheter was inserted after a surgery, while still under total (in that case), not before the surgery ?

Fretty Betty - for a Caesarean an empty bladder is better, reduces risk of it being nicked. Also I guess, it's less messy than a patient who is weeing uncontrollably and uncontained.

Mine was put in after the epidural, so I never noticed (and only really realised when someone came to take it out in the morning)

Scaryfairy, yes, we had skin to skin immediately for a brief moment before mw took him to resus table, also very briefly, then back to my chest while they stitched. 'twas perfect!:)

Fretty, I'm the ignoramus for forgetting why initially I wanted to delay cath...I think it was for 2 reasons: so as not to feel discomfort when they inserted it, and to avoid having it in me for too long to decrease chances of infection (though like Widow, unfortunately they removed it next day...fortunately no infections).

BTW, had a spinal, not epi...still don't know difference, but was the scariest minute of my life!!! Am such a baby w/ needles...though anaesthetist was very kind!

Right - get it now. I may have to have ELCS for medical reasons, so trying to understand...

Been told today I'm having a ELCS following failed ECV. Hospital say no to skin to skin until back in observation can I argue it? Its really important to me.

I've never had a section myself but i've seen many in a nursing capacity.

My understanding is that if the baby breaths spontaneously and there are no obvious problems then the baby can go straight to you and be well wrapped up against your chest (tip - put on gown so it opens at the front). You must discuss this with the midwife and surgeon before you get to theatre so everyone knows where baby's going. However baby will need to be taken and weighed, checked, etc (and i've seen mothers refuse to hand them over) but this shouldn't involve leaving the room. I know it's normal to be asked to wait to breastfeed until you get to recovery, i believe this is to do with the breastfeeding causing uterine contracture that can hinder stitiching, but do check this with your midwife/doctor as babies well enough to feed aren't really my remit.

A spinal is a single injection and lasts for a finite time but an epidural is a tube left in your back through which the effect can be topped up as required. IE. ELCS usually a spinal as there's a known duration but unpredicatable labours need epidurals that can be topped up.

, there is plenty of positive advice and stories out there. Good luck with meeting your little one :)

Thanks Devon I'll ask and read your link. Thanks

what do you think am I being too fussy?

? DP in theatre with me and baby at all times
? Clear communication regarding procedure
? Epidural instead of General anesthesia
? Catheter insertion after Epidural
? Screen lowered at baby?s birth
? Immediate skin-to-skin with me (in line with NICE Guidelines 1.5.3)
? Baby to stay with me at all times including during stitching and not to be removed from the room unless completely necessary
? If baby does not breathe spontaneously and has to be removed from room for resuscitation then DP is to go with her
? Baby to be weighed, measured and given Vitamin K in room with us even if it means waiting until recovery
? No formula or bottles except in exceptional circumstances
? Removal of catheter as soon as advisable / possible
? Walking about as soon as possible

I love this film, it is so different to the csections in OBEM.

www.jentlechildbirth.org.uk/?portfolios=the-natural-caesarean

Thanks I'm feeling a bit better about it just wish I got to meet the doctor before the big day to find out what he would accommodate.

Thanks for all the advice she arrived yesterday totally perfect and I got everything in my birth plan, skin to skin as soon as cord was clamped.