Doula Support During a Cesarean Birth

You can have a beautiful and peaceful Cesarean birth. Many times a Cesarean Birth is unexpected.  Or, maybe your baby is breech and thus the only option is to give birth by Cesarean. And maybe there are other non-medical reasons for the choice for a surgical birth. Mothers may have feelings or regret and sadness as they mourn the loss of their "birth plan." No matter the delivery, a woman should be cared for as though she is experiencing a sacred and beautiful event...the birth of her baby.

In my experience as a birth doula, many doctors allow the birth partner and doula to join the delivery in the operating room. That final decision is made by the Anesthesiologist who runs the OR. If the doula and partner are allowed in to the operating room, they will need to sit down, at the head of the bed i order to avoid the risk of tampering and disrupting the surgery. Often hospitals allow mothers to bring in their own music; have certain birth preferences honored such as double-layer suturing and vaginal seeding. Also, the mother can request to have her placenta saved if she is planning to have it dehydrated for placenta capsules.

Here is a sample paragraph that can be used on the Birth Plan regarding preferences for the Cesarean and also for the placenta. Note that if a mother wishes to take her placenta home, she may be required to sign a waiver.

Sample Language for Birth Plans

CESAREAN

• I would like to avoid a Cesarean unless it is absolutely, medically necessary.
• If a Cesarean is recommended, I would like to be fully informed and able to participate in the decision-making process.
• I would like my husband present at all times if a Cesarean is necessary.
• I request double-layer suturing so that I can increase my change for a VBAC.
• I would like to have skin-to-skin with the baby as soon as possible after the initial assessment.

3rd STAGE OF LABOR - Placenta Herbal Medicine

• Placenta:  I am intending to keep my placenta for herbal encapsulation and ingestion.  I do not consent for my placenta to be removed from my birthing room.  I decline my placenta from being transferred to a Pathology lab and I will sign required Waiver & Releases.  Should my placenta require further medical examination, I request that my placenta be returned to me at the earliest convenience for safe transfer to my home.  Please do not mutilate, distort, or contaminate my placenta with any chemicals, i.e. Formaldehyde.  Thank you for respecting my birth wishes.

Not only will having your birth doula with you during your Cesarean birth calm your nerves, she can also be of support to your birth partner and remind him/her of the birth preferences for Baby care. Your doula can further be beneficial by giving you aromatherapy cotton swab to reduce the operating smell in the operating room which is an unpleasant smell and can be alarming to the mother and her birth partner. Having a doula by your side will help bring you peace of mind.

I notice that these very simple adjustments to the birth scene actually make a big difference. For example, extraneous chatter is kept to a minimum. I once was in a C-section where the doctors were debating which McDonald's was better. I shook my head and thought to myself, "Hello? A baby is being born!" This type of occurrence is minimized when the room is altered by things like soft music and the scent of lavender essential oil. These are minor additions and do not interfere with the medical procedure of a Cesarean birth.

A mother can also request to have her baby given to her as soon as possible so that she can begin bonding with her baby is the postpartum room. Your doula can also assist the new mother with breastfeeding techniques.

Your doula can also take beautiful photos of the new family. I took this the photograph above. That initial state of bliss between baby and his mother is undeniable.
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No matter how your baby comes into this world, it is still a sacred and beautiful occasion!

#birth #pregnancy #doula #aromatherapy #vbac #newbornbaby #birthphotography #placentapills

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