So, what would you put in a c/s birth plan then?

[phdlife]

I'm going for a vbac but have read in several places that it's a good idea to have a c/s plan in place, just in case.

I admit this has me boggled (I am v v sleep deprived. And it is hot, which melts my brain.)

So what would you put in??

Well firstly you need to have it clear in your head what circumstances will change your vbac into a c-s?

Once you have changed to a c-s i would have:

• let mum/dad determine sex of baby (if you don't already know)
• let mum hold baby as soon as poss, even if only for a few secs
• let dad have some skin-to-skin contact while mum is being stitched up
• don't dress the baby (put a nappy on/wrap in a blanket), then once you are able to sit up a bit/over the shakes (in my case) you can have some skin-to-skin and try bf

-DON'T have a drain put in (it bloody hurt coming out) unless absolutely necessary (seems to be up to different surgeons )

• ask for a private room in hosp once you've gone in (if you can afford it, they have them, etc.)
• get home as soon as you can!

But most of the c-s stuff you will have done before, right? so maybe look at more vbac threads to get an idea of what interference interventions you will allow/contemplate before c-s?

(aiming for a (h)vbac next time)

Think about what you want:
? Do you want the screen removed?
? A running commentary from the midwife?
? Music?
? Silence for when the baby is born so yours is the first voice baby hears?
? Can baby be delivered on to your chest?
? Have someone take photos of the bits you can't see e.g. when baby is weighed
? Dimmed lights at birth?
? Delay having baby dressed or fed until you are ready?
? No separation from baby?
? Do you want to wear a hospital gown or something of your own?
? Do you want the staff to remain quiet whilst suturing so that you can retain that special time with your baby immediately after the birth?
Sleep with a blanket the night before so that even if you are unable to hold baby immediately baby can be wrapped in your smell.

Preparation for the homecoming - making sure there is extra support in place for longer and we can discuss the healing process if you like. Work pre-birth on creating a 'birth plan' of sorts. You can have influence over the birth environment
Do you wish to use remedies (arnica. aconite and nux vom, also hypericum and calendula) in theatre and do you want to sprinkle your choice of essential oils onto your (own) pillows. The babe can be wrapped in her own towels and blankets.

TOP TIPS!!
? Fill your freezer up before you go
? Take Arnica before and afterwards to help with healing
? Rescue remedy is good too - it feels like you are helping yourself somehow
? Get some relaxing music for the theatre if possible
? Keep visitors at bay for at least three days
? Take some perfume and make up with you!
? Magazines are easier to read than books
? No pants are too big! And buy cheap cotton ones not disposable ones.
? Take your own most comfortable pillow

wow MarsLady, that's quite a list! thanks, lots to think about there.

and good luck with that hvbac, JustKeepSwimming. I've done a LOT of research, have a reasonably clear idea of what I will/won't put up with - that said hospitals do seem to have an astonishing ability to think up dumb policies for things I would never, ever have considered to be an issue

If you want to breastfeed I'd also ask them to save some amniotic fluid to use (on chest/on baby) in recovery to assist breastfeeding and also would't want the baby skin to skin with dad unless it was grunting/nasal flaring and at risk of being taken away to SCBU - it's much better if the baby is skin to skin with the mum first if you want to breastfeed.

Would definitely think a lot about when you would have a semi-elective (and calm) section rather than pressing for a vaginal birth at all costs (which could be traumatic in itself) - e.g: do your hospital augment with synto would you be happy with that? etc...

What everyone else said plus this Very Important Point

• do not put catheter in until after spinal has taken effect.

You're welcome honey. It's what I give to my clients.

funny last time of course I never gave any of this any consideration a-tall. ds was weighed etc but then put onto my shoulder while I was stitched, and he stayed there for the rest of the day - successful bf within an hour or so.

ds was emcs for ftp in 2nd stage. and by ftp I mean, I found out later he was still nestled somewhere under my ribs . If that happened again, or if dc was in distress...

hm, can't think how you would decide/know when to have a part-elective c/s. To me an instrumental delivery would be worse than a section, but I wouldn't know when/how to switch/give up - esp as my thinking is mostly going the other way - eg. that 2nd stage should be allowed to go for longer than an hour if necessary. All I've thought is that, provided it's progressing, I get to say when I throw in the towel, not some hospital policy. But apart from "if it's not progesssing" I don't know how I'd decide that!

umm... any tips here???

Not putting downer on it, but if you're having a VBAC a section will be a last resort, won't it. If you have an emergency section, it's highly unlikely you'll get a choice of music and a running commentary from the midwife etc.

I'd stick to your absolute deal breakers.

For me, it was

1. Let DH/me see the sex of the baby - don't tell us
2. skin-to-skin contact a.s.a.p
3. want to bf a.s.a.p

That's not strictly true MrsMattie. One of the things that I've found is that the mws and doctors are quite keen to know what the mother wants esp if she's gone down the VBAC route. It's only if the section is a crash section with a GA that none of your wishes come into play.

I've been with clients who have gone from VB to emergency c-birth and you know each of them have had quiet when the baby is born, music of their choice playing and even the screen lowered. Some have wanted the mw to tell them what's going on and others not.

That's the beauty of planning. Of course skin to skin is the mantra that the partners go into theatre with.

I'm not sure DS2 was too impressed when he first heard my voice in theatre. 'Jesus H he's ginger!'

Cue extended discussion with anaethetist on genetics of ginger hair........

MrsMattie as I understand it there are varying degrees of "emergency" c/s - some where they've got to get the baby out in 4-6mins, others where it's all pretty casual (except, in my case, for the swearing )

I had an semi elective 3 weeks ago following failed VBAC - my waters went 2 days before and I didn't go into labour so I had to have c-sec.

I had written a birth plan but wasn't hugely detailed and contained much of what was written here. Here it is:

BIRTH PLAN IN THE EVENT OF CAESAREAN SECTION

Assuming time and circumstance allows the following I would like:

? The option of the screen being lowered to see the baby being born
? To hold the baby immediately with skin to skin if possible
? To find out the sex of the baby ourselves
? The baby to stay with me as much as possible

In the event of the baby needing to go to SCBU, I would like:

? For DH to stay with the baby

I intend to breastfeed so I would like this to be attempted before any formula is provided.

On top of that they asked DH to choose the music - I hadn't bothered about this as didn't think I'd really be listening to it (which I didn't really) and was more concerned it would be something the surgeon liked .

Good luck - although I was disappointed not to have a VBAC it was a pretty positive experience in the circumstances - DH was encouraged to take photos so we have some great ones of a screaming baby covered in gunk . Everyone was pretty relaxed (other than me) and joking etc which made for a nice atmosphere. .

ta, wheely, that's a really nice story

will share your experience with dh and we'll give it some thought.

am getting more anxious as I'm 39+5 now and I haven't had so much as a single braxton-hicks, despite looking so ridiculously huge I am scaring small children and old men in the shops

I have had 2 sections- one emergency and one elective. I didn't get to choose a single thing about either of them! No choice of music, no photos allowed, midwife declared sex, baby was wrapped up before being shown to me, didn't get to hold them until I was in recovery and they were already dressed etc. With my first baby my mum was with me in theatre and recovery, and she had already given dd1 a bottle of milk by the time I was wheeled into recovery despite telling midwfe in theatre I would like to try breastfeeding.

I will be having a 3rd section in November and didn't even realise there were things you could do to 'personalise' the experience. I just focused on the baby arriving safely and me not passing out again through low blood pressure, despite repeatedly voicing my concerns over this issue!

This article from the Times on Saturday might be of interest?

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6028478.ece

Good Luck phdlife. Not everyone has BH - or if they do, they don't notice them so you shouldn't let that worry you.

Don't know if you're short sighted but when my friend had a cs, someone took her glasses off her (contact lenses not allowed) so when they held the baby up it was all just a blur .

So hang on to your specs or make sure dh has them to hand.

1 hour for second stage??? Is this a VBAC rule? Does any First time Mum have a 2nd stage in under half an hour?

Look forward to your birth announcement!

I wish I'd seen this earlier PHD, but I suspect from your absence the past few days that you are either giving birth or have given birth.