What do I need to write in my Birth Plan for an Elective C-section?

[GoldenSnitch]

I had a truly awful birth with my DS that began with Pre Eclampsia and an induction and ended in an Emergency c-section. This time I am having an elective section as I just cannot face going through it all again.

Last time I wrote a short but comprehensive birth plan that was completely ignored until I was being wheeled away to the Operating Theater.

I'm tempted to not bother to even write one at all this time given the attention that was paid to the last but I know I should.

But what do I need to write?

Obviously all the stuff about about labour that I had last time is unnecessary now - or is it? What if I go into labour before my section date?

So confused. Thinking about it reminds me of last time and makes me feel out of control and scared all over again - but not having one on the day would probably make me feel the same way too.

Can anyone help?

GS take a look here.

www.csections.org/planning.php

hope you are well.

Hi guys hope uz dont mind if i join in the conversation..i had an awful experience with DS which ended in an emergency section!! Im due on xmas day n reluctantly have opted 4 an elective section mainly so i woz out 4 crimbo as DS is 5 and soooooo excited!! Bt thngs have not went 2 plan..2nd consultant i seen would not book me in b4 39wks so only available d8 4 section is 22nd...ppl say u recover much quicker when itz planned n get home earlier..any1 thnk i might b lucky n get out on xmas eve night??? 2 make things worse DS is goin in 4 an op on 17th so i cant even argue with consultant 2 get sectioned earlier cauz i want 2 b there 4 him 2....help

How exciting!

My last c-section, I had him on the Wednesday morning and was out Friday afternoon.

The other two (8 and 7 years earlier) I had the baby on the Friday and came out the Monday I think.

But bear in mind that if you need help/advice the day after you get out you might be better off in hospital as it's Christmas day.

Thanks Charleymouse. I've used quite a bit from there now

How is baby mouse?

Yeah thatz tru...thanx!!
Consultant sd i would defo get home xmas day if am lucky xmas eve nite...just dont want 2 miss the excitement of goin 2 bed w8n on santa cumin im only a mile away from the hospital so hopefully they will take that in2 account 2!! If worst cums 2 worst then surely bringin a baby home on xmas day would b a gr8 present 4 DS...just dont want him resenting baby 4 "spoilin" xmas!!

I can imagine that being just home with a newborn on Christmas Day, being allowed to do nothing but: cuddle/feed the baby, eat Christmas Dinner cooked by Someone Else, watch DCs open presents and watch Christmas Telly, very close to bliss.

Christmas must be a magical time to have a new baby.

Sounds fine I think !

As for the 'going into labour bit'. If you do and you definitly want a c-sec just go to the labour ward asap.

FWIW, you only need to stay in 48 hours now if a c-sec is straightforward because they need the beds think the best place for the mother is with their family..... So, you have until 22nd to make it home ! My paperwork was completed in the morning and they told me I could go the minute the clock turned 3.42 (the time I had dd2).

Good luck !!

You'll love my plan for Xmas day then Slayer

Hopefully, the section will go ahead on the 17th and by the 19th, I'll be home with my new baby girl. We'll get up on Christmas morning and open presents with a very excited 2.9 year old DS - I've even pre-made and frozen homemade blueberry pancakes to have with Golden Syrup for breakfast.

Then, I will talk my DH through putting the meat on for xmas lunch while my Mum, Sister and Brother travel up from my other Sisters house where they've spent the night. We'll open more presents and Mum will finish cooking Christmas dinner and we'll all squish round our little table to eat together.

I will get to sit on the sofa in my PJ's all day. DS will get 4 doting adults to play with him and his new toys and we'll get a lovely dinner all together.

It's going to be wonderful

I'm so hoping that they don't cancel this date and I end up in hospital over Christmas. DS wouldn't even be able to visit me because of the Swine Flu scare!

Balloon slayer - Yeah ur prob rite soooo hoping thats the way it works out

Wheelybug - is that rite enuf abt the 48hrs for a planned section???

GS - i really feel 4 u..in a similar situation where i might not get 2 spend crimbo at home fingers crossed!!

I was told 2-3 days in hospital after the section when I spoke to the consultant on Monday.

Thats wot i woz told 2...only if i woz lucky i would get out after 2 nites cauz my section is at 8.30am

Your baby may have to be taken out of the operating room to have a puff of oxygen or to have mucus removed from lungs. If your partner is there may be good to decide beforehand if s/he stays with you or goes with the baby and have that in the birth plan. Or at least discussed before you have been cut open

When I had DD I was second on the list and she was born at 12.30pm. I was told that this meant she was born a "day later" than if she had been born just before noon. According to the way they work it out.

Sometimes I think they make it up as they go along.

I remember being told when I had DS1 that although the milk normally comes in on Day3, that was not when DS1 was three days old, oh no: because he had been born by caesarean (emergency) the day he was born was day 0, not day 1 as it would have been had he been a vaginal birth. WTF?

Defo...they just tell u whatever!! Plus each hospital/doc/midwife has diff opinions etc!! Just need 2 hope i get 1 that is sympathetic n lets me out on xmas eve

Surely 12.30 as in half past midnight is the next day? Not just past lunch!

Yeah u would think eh!! I remember being in with DS n if consultant didnt c u b4 12.30 or authorise ur discharge b4 thz time u were left 2 the following day which is pantz

No, Goldensnitch, it was just past lunch. If she had been born in the morning she would have been eligible to go home a day earlier or something. It sounded utterly bizarre.

But I do wonder whether they make these "rules" up just to get you to shut the fuck up when they have decided that for whatever reason they don't think you should be going home just yet. Which is understandable I suppose.

That same hospital stay the young mum opposite had learning difficulties and the staff said that they were inventing excuses to keep her in so that they could teach her more parenting skills, which was sweet. (BTW they were not being indiscreet, I had asked them to check on her as I never saw her pick the baby up to feed it, and it was then they told me the situation and that they were on the case. She was feeding the baby actually, it did the crawling up the mum's body thing, which is why I never saw her pick it up. The midwife said she'd never seen anything like it, but I have since read about it on here.)

I believe you Slayer - it just doesn't make a lot of sense! Blinking hospitals!

I suppose they have to keep an eye on you for a certain amount of time so a post lunchtime baby might need an extra day but the milk coming in shouldn't be affected surely?

I had no cancellation call today so I'm one step closer to getting my date of the 17th so hopefully, I'll be out well before Christmas. I'm going to miss DS terribly but it'll be easier to cope with if i'm not missing christmas day itself.

Just reading these posts, your x-mas day plans sound lovely goldensnitch!! I am 36 weeks, and still not even sure i will get ELCS, finding out next week, and slightly concerned now after hearing how booked up your hospital is lol!! The point about the hosp staff making stuff up as they go along is ringing very true, as I have been made to feel like there is loads of time to book me in...

Good good luck, hope it all goes well and you get the 17th, keep us posted

Thanks Cornerstone. Fingers crossed you get a good date too. When's your EDD?

was 16th Jan, then following dating scan moved to 9th, then to 6th Jan at 12 week scan!!! i am convinced will come sooner, i have packed everything but my toothbrush for the hospital he he, but maybe just thinking that because i am anxious and want to be prepared. and because it's nearly chrimbo and have that to organise too!

Baby must be growing well if they kept moving the date backwards! Mine got moved forwards from the 25th to the 27th December. I've been told my baby might be early too though as I have too much amniotic fluid apparently and may "pop" sooner than expected as I just won't be able to hold any more!!

Packed my hospital bag today. Got a spare toothbrush so I could have one in the bag and one out to use too Just got money, phone, MP3 player and pregnancy notes to pack and we're good to go!

Was putting it off cause I thought I might jinx the section if I was too prepared but DH persuaded me I was being silly so I've done it.

I've also iced the christmas cake and filled the freezer. Just want to wash the sofa cushions now and I'm ready to go

I had an elective 24 days ago and it was lovely. We went in, I got changed into a gown in a delivery room (i had to have help due to terrible spd, but if I was well I could have done it all myself) and then about ten different people took turns to come in and have lovely relaxed chats about "their" bit of the procedure.

I had plans to ask to have the screen lowered and see the placenta, or at least have the procedure described to me, but as it happened, as soon as I got on the table, I dissolved into a gibbering wreck and decided to try and ignore the fact I was having an operation at all. DD2 was born as me and DP discussed DD1s haircut.

As soon as she was born, they lifted her up above the screen and I burst into happy tears. I will never forget the sight of by beautiful fat little baby, screaming her healthy little lungs out, with her bright lilac cord hanging down. I actually had that rush of love that you read about as soon as I saw her. All I could do was lie there, crying and laughing and thanking everyone, then they gave her to DP who held her while we both stared in complete awe at her while I was sewn up.

Such a difference from DD1s birth, I have blocked most of it out, it was an emergency section and she was all skinny and ill, she couldn't even cry. It took me months to bond and I became seriously mentally ill. I absolutely adore them both now, and would go through any horrors for them, but DD2s birth was so incredibly different.

Planned sections are a million times better, and I'm not sure if it is just me, but I have recovered so much faster too. She was born at 11.26 on the monday, I was in the car on the way home at school chucking out time on the wednesday. Three weeks later I feel almost back to normal (I'd say most of the not-normal is down to the remains of spd and tiredness, not the section, which has just left me slightly stingy if my clothes rub)

That's a lovely story ButterPie. I'm so hoping I get a birth like that. It's got to be better than DS's whatever happens but that sounds totally idyllic

I have a feeling that the walk to the theatre is going to be the hardest bit. Knowing I'm off to get a needle stuck in my spine and then be cut open. I was in agony when they did the epidural last time and would have agreed to pretty much anything! I think I'll be with you in trying to ignore what's happening until I see my baby.

Aww nice story butterpie i had an emergency section 1st time round n nw im terrified of my elective 1 on 22nd
Reassurin 2 hear u recovered quicker plus got out so soon cauz am dreadin the thot of not gettin out 4 xmas!!