What did you write in your c section birth plan? :D

[Elmo311]

Hello,

I am having an elective c section in 2.5 weeks and i am writing out my birth plan for it.

Interested to see what other people wrote for theirs?

I have the usual things... skin to skin, take photos if allowed, lower screen when baby being born, my preference for regional block over GA, urinary cathether to be inserted after epi/spinal placed...(unless having it inserted is not painful?)

What other things should i include?!
My OH is prone to black outs so I've warned them of that!

Thanks in advance!

Oh good idea for a thread! I'm interested to see what other people say!

What about delayed cord clamping? Do they so it as standard at your hospital? If that's something you want of course.

I remember writing yes to the Vitamin K injection for dc for my planned c section in my birth plan.

Nothing, didn't have one, nobody mentioned it. I would not want screen lowered tbh.
I had twins they came earlier so ended up being emergency section and I was in hospital for a month so perhaps just as well.

I didn't have one either. With my section they did pretty much everything you want. The only thing they didn't do was lower screen (didn't want that anyways) and didn't have the option to have skin to skin straight away. My partner cut the cord and had baby hugs first... bit but to be honest I was that numb that when they did hand me baby in other room (after I was cleaned up etc) I could hardly feel him. I know everyone is different though.
Only advice I can give is be firm with what you want (as long as it does endanger you obvs )
Congrats btw

@ParadiseLaundry Thanks! I think they don't offer delayed cord clamping in my hospital for c sections due to the risk of infection as your abdomen is open for longer that way.... but I'll ask again at my pre op appointment!

@IsAStormApporaching is the vitamin K for clotting? They haven't mentioned it to me yet!

@Hollowvictory Long stays in the hospital are the worst. I hope you are all ok now?
I had an emergency c section with my first, and it wasn't a great experience so i just want to attempt to make this time more ....enjoyable?!

I had my preferences re screen up/ down, delayed cord clamping (most places happily do this for a calm section, only not done if a clinical reason), immediate skin to skin, vit k (injection as most reliable delivery) music, who was to cut the cord, who was to dress him (husband wanted this to be him. Midwife just did a nappy) feeding plan, etc.

Usually will be under a spinal - GA is for dire emergencies and special circumstances. Usual routine is cannula, connect fluid, spinal, catheter, formal check or spinal, prep then the op.

Good luck!

@Starburst8 Thanks for your reply! I'm a bit weird in the sense I'd love to watch the whole surgery i feel like I'm missing out! I'm a vet nurse so I've seen inside animals loads and we aren't so different so I'd love to watch haha. I am sad at the thought that they may not lower the screen even for us to see as she's pulled out :( But I'll get over it if i have to!

Why did they not allow skin to skin straight away?

A lot of the answers i need i can't get until the day before my surgery so just trying to get an idea!

Different beast to an emergency section - we had a playlist, it was very chilled, and had then had a big hot chocolate in recovery as the spinal always makes me chilly! Worst bit was the itchy legs as the spinal wears off, but the hot shower once my legs were back was lovely 😊

@BagelDog super helpful! Thank you! X

My local hospital have a family friendly section policy, which encourages screen down, skin to skin etc, makes it less clinical iyswim? I was allowed immediate skin to skin, he was wrapped in a towel but not cleaned or anything, straight to me. THis was something I asked for too.

@BagelDog did they ask you to put on the compression stockings before they started the surgery?
With my emergency c section i didn't get them until afterwards and i had such swollen legs for days!!

HAVE a rummage on line - lots of hospitals now talk about family friendly or natural sections, seems to be becoming part of the policy for electives in lots of places.

YEs they did - I walked into theatre in my gown, green stocking and slippers.... so glam!

@Elmo311 I'm not too sure why they didn't allow for it. I was just told x y z would happen. I suppose they took into account my previous experience (reason why I had c-section this time) and just wanted to make sure I was ok etc.
It was a good experience this time don't get me wrong. Plus I did get to see him ( and kiss his head) before they sent him out into the room with dad whilst they put me back together.

Ooh another thought, don't forget to take your phone in for pictures... my midwife reminded me but just in case no mentions it. You can take it in for pics 😊

Dim lights, minimal talking, noted what music I'd like playing, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin, slow/calm caesarean rather than baby pulled out quickly.

delayed cord clamping, although this was standard practice in my hospital. They raised DC up above the screen to show me and then waited a few minutes (half of eternity) to cut the cord

Skin on skin and help to latch
Vitamin K

The only other thing I was offered/asked about was a clinical trial where they take a tiny slither of womb muscle tissue during the section before stiching
It’s used for a study looking into why some women go into premature labour
I was asked about it the day before my section when I went in for the pre-op checks so didn’t need to think about it weeks beforehand, but I consented to it
It added a few mins into the stiching time..!

@BagelDog I'll have a look online at what my hospitals policy is. Thank you!

@Starburst8 Glad it was a good experience! Sounds nice that you got to kiss his head! :)
I will make sure my OH has his phone! Did you get many pics?

@RoryLeighGilmore love the name!
Thank you, i have added to my plan!

I've never heard of a birth plan for a planned CS before. I've had 2 x planned CS and both times, I had to go to a pre-op appointment 2 days before the CS day. At the pre-op, a midwife asked all those sorts of questions (do you want skin to skin, do you want vit K injection, etc), filled in a form with the answers, answered any questions I had, and was generally very helpful so I felt fully prepared for the day.

I think this sort of pre-op appointment is standard in the NHS so hopefully you will have one too. Best of luck for the big day!

@tenbob Interesting! If they ask me i will consent to it!
Do you know what the Vitamin K is for? Do they not just give it anyway?

@Elmo311 OH took his phone and took photos of baby as he was getting cleaned up, cord cut etc. Also found out afterwards he was taking selfies in the room next door with baby this makes me laugh cos OH doesn't do selfies.

@1Wanda1 Thanks! I'm hoping it all goes smoothly!
I do have a pre op appointment the day before surgery, but i was told by my midwife to write a bith plan, especially if i want skin to skin as some of the midwives are 'old fashioned and don't believe in it' so it's made me want to write everything down!

Thank you!!