C-Section Secrets Part II: Have a Birth Plan!

If you’ve had a baby or are expecting for the first time, you might have heard of a birth plan. It’s an actual piece of paper that you bring with you to the hospital detailing how you want your labor and recovery handled by doctors and the nursing staff at the hospital. This is a great tool that allows your wishes to be clearly stated and gives a sense of control over your delivery. Unfortunately, not all people think past the birth they’ve envisioned for themselves and if a surgical birth is necessary, it often leaves a mother feeling very out of control and “distant” in her birthing process.

Kacey's C-Section

But I am here to tell you–you CAN feel in control of your birthing process by taking a little extra time to think through your wishes if a C-section is necessary. For you moms who are still looking to deliver vaginally, here is a link to a great template for a birth plan from The Bump that touches on what to add to your birth plan in case of cesarean. I am going to focus on a birth plan for those who head to the hospital for a scheduled C-section.

My first C-section was scheduled, but I had no idea what to expect (check out my first post here). I figured anything I had hoped for was out the window now that a vaginal birth was out of the picture and I came in TOTALLY unprepared for my surgery. I was asked a bazillion questions in pre-op, and I was just winging my answers, and I had no idea what I had in store. Having a birth plan BEFORE your c-section will have you prepared for all those questions and more!

Kacey's C-Section

Break down your birth plan into three sections: Surgery, Baby, and Post-Op.

(These are all suggestions for things you could put in your birth plan)

Surgery:

  • No pre-operative medications
  • Catheter inserted after anesthesia (standard in most hospitals)
  • Husband and/or Doula present in OR
  • Husband may take picture/video of birth
  • I’m allergic to “XYZ” drug, please do not give me this!
  • Please explain what is happening during surgery
  • No sedatives after birth, please
  • Perform Tubal Ligation (I added this one for the last c-section, they’ll ask you a few billion times if you are “sure”)
  • Please use sutures vs. staples for closing me up (discuss with your dr.)

Baby:

  • Please lower sheet when pulling baby out so I can see baby
  • Keep cord long enough so husband can cut it
  • No eye gel or Hep B vaccine (you usually sign a waiver in pre-op)
  • If all is well with baby, please weigh and measure in a place where I can see (I loved watching this, and it gives you something to keep your mind off of them still working on you closing you up)
  • Breastfeeding exclusively
  • Please do not give pacifiers or sugar water
  • Husband to go to nursery with baby and be with baby at all times

Recovery:

  • Please bring baby into recovery room as soon as possible to start nursing
  • Please check with Husband or me before sending in visitors
  • I would like to be up and walking as soon as possible after surgery
  • I would like baby to remain in our room at all times

Kacey's C-Section

My advice is to put your birth plan in writing and print out for the last OB appointment before your c-section so you can discuss your birth plan with your doctor. Most doctors will try to accommodate your wishes, but it’s smart to discuss it with them, so you aren’t let down for any reason the day of delivery.

Did you have a birth plan? If so, what was important to you?

 

Kacey Roache
Kacey Roache is a Jacksonville native who lives in Ponte Vedra with her husband, TJ, and her three kids, Lucy, Lucas and Lola. Kacey graduated from Florida State University (Go Noles!) with a degree in interior design. She is passionate about the arts and arts education and has served on the board of Art with a Heart in Healthcare, Ponte Vedra Public Education Foundation for the Arts, Christ Church Creative Academy as well as the PTOs at her kids' school. In her spare time you might find her channeling her inner Serena Williams on the tennis court, performing in community theater, or enjoying the beach with her friends and family. Follow her family's chaos on Instagram: @kaceyroachepvb

7 COMMENTS

  1. This is awesome!!! I had a c-section with both of my babies and I never thought of having a birth plan for my c-sections. Such great advice.

  2. Thanks for posting! I had an emergency c-section the first time around and will have a planned c-section the next time so I love the idea of having a plan. I love that you put in weigh & measure baby where I can see, such a great tip!

  3. When a woman comes to have a baby and she has a birthing plan we nursery nurses notify the NICU nurses to expect a possible admit. It’s a shame but the truth. These mom’s come in expecting the birthing plan is the only way to do things. So she doesn’t allow medically necessary things to help her baby. An easy 6 out of 10 birthing plan babies end up in trouble. Having a plan is fine. Having that feeling of control is ok but don’t put those things above your babie ‘s health or life. Something as simple as a little sugar water has saved many lives. A pacifier helps in the reduction of SIDS. Its the greatest thing in the world to breastfeed. The benefits are limitless. But some women just don’t make enough milk. I’ve seen babies come back to the hospital because of failure to thrive because mom was a strict breastfeeder only and she wasn’t producing enough milk. The baby was starving to death because of her ideals. Ask a true medical PROFESSIONAL your questions. We do this for a living. And against what many say against the medical personal, we are going to do EVERYTHING we can do to help and protect your baby. So please know that things may not go as planned, it happens, it can be so very disapointing. But please please dont let that stop u from doung whatever is necessary to jelp your baby. My own was born with a cleft palate. I could not breastfeed. I was devastated.i pumped until i ran out of milk at 2 months.

  4. This is great. I had an emergency c section with my first and major complications during delivery but my second was planned and I worked out a plan with my doctor before about not having my arms secured due to panic attacks and she was amazing and even for onto a nurse when she tried to secure me. Since we had worked out a plan my husband and I were cutting up with the entire staff the whole time and it was completely relaxed.

  5. Thanks for sharing. This is going to be my 6th and final c section! And some of this stuff you have on your list o had no idea I could ask for like dropping the sheet so I can see baby. Amazing. Thank you so much.

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