Cesarean Birth Can Be Gentle Too!

      When you are faced with an emergency or planned c-section you may have many questions. For some women VBAC (vaginal birth after ceserean) may not be an option due to their health problems or their babies health. The need to feel supported and secure in this situation is important and what you need still matters.

     Gentle birth during a ceserean is still possible. Your doula can be there to reassure you during your c-section and then she is there to offer support after. A doula could help you to make a birth plan. Your written request will be there for your OB and the staff to see.

     After your c-section  you may want skin to skin contact with your baby. During this time your baby's father, your partner, or your doula could bring your baby to you so that you could kiss him or her. You may get to nurse and you would not miss the critical mother and child bonding moments.

     When a doula attends your birth whether it is a vaginal birth or a c-section they are still there to help you with your birth plan. The birth events are recorded, and photographed if the mother and the hospital allow. Your birth space is still witnessed and protected.

     Having a healing and empowering birth is important for all women whether it is a medicated birth, a homebirth, c-section, or birth center birth. There are many ways that babies are born but there is always the need for love, compassion, and caring for the mother. Have you ever asked a doula if she would attend a c-section birth? I know this doula would, and so would many others. We exist to support you. 

A gentle C-section birth plan might look like this;

• I do not want my arms strapped down to the table
• I would like a mirror to be able to watch my baby come out
• I would prefer to have the drape let down to see my baby be born
• I want to breastfeed my baby immediately after birth in the OR and have skin on skin contact
• I would like for my partner to cut the cord and for delayed cord clamping/ donation to take place
• Music would help me to stay calm in the OR
• Please don't carry on side conversations in the OR or talk over me
• I want my baby with me or my partner at all times
• I would like to be guided through the procedure and told what is happening

There is not right or wrong with what brings you comfort in birth. If hospitals, mothers, and doctors work together you can still have many options in the OR. Gentle C-section options should be there for all mothers.