How do you write a birth plan for a planned c-section?

[Naisy]

Not that I want to rival Tolstoy! But what are things I should consider on a c-section birth plan?

My partner and I have our 36 week appointment on Thursday and have been told we'll discuss / decide the birth plan then.

I have only just heard about delayed cord clamping, but am not sure if you can have this with a c-section? Also are there things about my OH and his role we should be thinking about?

No idea where to start so any thoughts or experiences welcome!

Skin to skin? It was the only thing I really wanted with DD & I got it as soon as the docs has checked her over. They took her away for a couple of mins put a nappy & a hat on her gave her back & put her inside my gown, it was lovely.

There's lots of other things you can request from music/no music, your OH cutting the chord, who tells you if it's a boy or girl ie do you & OH want to find out for yourself or do you want the docs to tell you? Breast feeding straight away, do you want baby cleaned up or just the way they are?

Do you want the screen dropped when baby is being delivered?

Are you comfortable with student midwives/doctors being present?

I'm sure there's more but can't think at the moment.

I need to write mine too, off for a think....

Oh & they held her up immediately so DH could tell me she was a girl, then took her aside.

Ask if you will be allowed to take photos. Different hospitals have different policies. My hospital didn't allow it in theatre, but it was permitted in the little room at the side where they weighed baba, so my husband went in there and took photos. They are amazing photos, and still make me cry!

I didn't bother; I just told them the essentials in theatre when they were checking me in. Electives are very quick and you're much more "with it" to be able to ask for things on the day.

There were certain hospital policy things to be aware of, and you could check at your app't e.g. Dropping screen not possible at mine, not that it bothered me, tbh.

I think most already mentioned but: chose music or ask for silence when baby born; ask for skin to skin straight away (with dd2 they brought her as soon as cord cut; some hospitals do also do delayed cord clamping with c/s so worth asking); if not poss with you then partner; lights dimmed when baby born; screen lowered; you to discover sex of baby; breastfeeding as soon as poss; ask for extra help with b/feeding as it can be harder after a c/s and certainly positions may be different....can't think of much else at the moment....

I had a planned C sec and never bothered with a birth plan, but.... I do think it is worth asking for a description of what to expect on the day. From how long it normally takes to when they put in the catheter (best after anaesthetic, imo, some hospitals seems to like sending a mw in to catheterise you beforehand, for no good reason I can see) -

where it is best for your husband to be, if they normally have music in theatre or not, etc etc (no point requesting a 'playlist' if they have no music, for example).

It may be that some of the things you would like to happen are what they do anyway. but at least if they describe their usual process, you can see more clearly what it is sensible to ask for.

I had a great mw explain to me in detail what to expect, including the number of people in the theatre (a lot!) and it really helped on the day.

My c-section birth plan has been written for quite a while now. I'm not so bothered about music etc., but I am very bothered about my baby being given formula, as my first was dairy allergic and given formula within 12 hours of the birth. I know what I want and have it written down in case I can't express it.

The NCT have a .pdf c-section birthplan. I've nicked a lot of mine from there, it gives you a chance to think about what you would like happen if things don't go according to plan too.

They can do delayed clamping with a cs, it's a new policy in the hospital where I had dd2 3 weeks ago, a mw reminded the surgeon to do it, I didn't even mention it.

My birthplan stated that I wanted dd dried and wrapped and given to dh, then I was offered skin to skin whilst we were moved to recovery so did it then, then I bf once we got there; that I wanted a managed third stage; that I was happy for dd to have a bottle if she needed one for some reason (she didn't); and that I wanted her to have im vitamin K. I can't think what else I asked for off the top of my head.