Gentle Caesarean Birth Plan

[sparklingharbour]

Hi
I've an elective c section booked for this month.

Does anyone have a link to a template gentle caesarean birth plans, or have any suggestions please?
I'm interested in things such as leaving the cord attached for a little while, immediate skin to skin etc.
Thanks.

There's a natural section fb group www.facebook.com/groups/naturalcaesareanuk

Your main points need to be

• quiet, respectful voices to be used by medical staff
• own choice of music to be played in theatre
• lowered drapes prior to delivery of baby's head
• gown worn backwards and monitors applied to back rather than chest to allow for immediate and unimpeded skin to skin
• delayed cord clamping
• baby not to be taken away and checked until in recovery
• breastfeeding to be established in theatre if desired
• partner to stay with you at all times
• baby to stay with you at all. times

If you Google newbury doula, she has written some good natural section articles

IME it depends on the surgeon doing the OP how happy they are for this. I came across someone with a similar birth plan who turned up on the morning of her section with this plan having not mentioned it to anyone before. Was a blanket "no" from the Drs for everything.

Yes, you need to really give them the heads up beforehand. However, none of it is impossible/difficult so there's absolutely no reason for them not to respect your wishes

imo and experience it was much better for baby to be checked just after birth then given straight to me for skin to skin which lasted over 4 hours uninterupted. once I had my baby i wasnt letting go even with the drugs.. :)
There are compromises, I had an mp3 player for my own music. I had all the drips in my non dominant hand. I asked for things to be explained to me. I worked with the theatre staff and got what I wanted that was within clincal tolerances.

enjoy it. its certainly a unique experience :)

Following for tips.

Have you read up on micro biology at birth? Some suggest that the baby will benefit from being wiped over with a swab that has been wiped over your vagina to promote the growth of the microorganisms they would have had should they have been born naturally.

I also second making sure all this is OKed with a consultant well in advance

Watching with interest as after a traumatic labour that resulted in an emergency section last time I am determined to have a calm and some what controlled elcs this time

Thanks! These all sound just like what I would want. I have a consultant appointment 10 days beforehand, not about the cs though, just because I have been under his care and they like to see people before the birth. I will talk about these things then. Is there any other way I can talk to them about it beforehand I wonder? Can't see myself getting another appointment at this stage.
Galaxy that is a shame - I'll be prepared to insist as much as possible then and ask them to explain themselves. This is difficult on the threshold of the theatre though!

I also think my hospital (Royal Sussex) does skin to skin/lower screen as standard so hopefully it won't be too much of a battle, although I did mention the delayed cord clamping when booking the cs a couple of days ago and the doc wrinkled her nose a bit. i wasn't prepared with a list when I saw her though as I didn't expect the cs to be booked then and there.

I had a clear list at the front of my notes with about 5 or 6 clear points I wanted to happen in theatre. when i went down with the midwife I was introduced via my key points so everyone knew what I needed.

Keep it simple and priotise the key points that would make a massive difference to you if they weren't done. it makes it easier for them to do as much as they can for you.

The woman I saw asked the dr to explain herself. The dr said she was doing the surgery and would make the surgical decisions and at a time when the uterus was open and could lose a litre of blood a minute she wasn't faffing around having delayed cord clamping. Nor was she prepared to have the sterile field risked by skin to skin, etc.

I did try advocating for the woman as I have heard of it been done at other hospitals so I know its possible.

But telling us literally ten minutes before going its theatre wasnt the best idea. Neither me nor the woman had time to find any "proof" or convincing arguments for the Dr.

No, right before theatre wasn't ideal, but it is so hard to get an appointment with them so i guess maybe she might not have had a choice.
It is probably a good idea to keep the list short - I have a tendency to throw the kitchen sink in which mightn't be the best approach always!

newburydoula.co.uk/2013/08/20/the-natural-caesarean/

That's great notoasthere. Just what I was looking for. Will print off and hopefully get the consultant to discuss with me when I have my (unrelated) appointment mid month.