5 Ways to Have a Better Cesarean Section: Tips for a Positive Birth
A C-Section is not always part of the plan but here are five tips for having a better experience.
1. Awareness: Knowledge is the foundation of trauma-free birth. Being informed about the C-section process can reduce your anxiety and help you take an active role. Even parents planning for a vaginal birth will benefit from learning some of the ins and outs of a surgical birth. Talk to your healthcare provider about what to expect for the procedure and the steps involved. For example: the type of anesthesia commonly used, the timeline, the incision location, and the recovery process.
2. Create a Birth Plan: Although a C-section is a surgical procedure, you can have preferences and choices to make this experience feel as personal as possible. Discuss your desires with your healthcare provider. For example, you can request skin-to-skin contact after birth, ask for delayed cord clamping (it will be shorter in the OR). You can also have music, take pictures and have your support person and doula with you. If your baby is not in distress and you are stable, there is no reason some accommodations cannot be made for you. While not all requests may be feasible depending on the medical reasons for your c section, having a birth plan can help you feel more involved and have a family-centered experience.
3. Plan for support: Having a supportive team around you can make a big difference in your birth and recovery. Discuss with your partner,family, or friends how they can help you in productive ways. You may want them to be present in the operating room, provide emotional support, or provide some postpartum care so you can focus on healing. Additionally, consider hiring a doula or a birth photographer!
4. Be kind to yourself: Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being is crucial during the C-section and recovery process. After the surgery, practice good wound care, stay on top of pain medications, get enough rest, and eat nutritious foods to support your healing. It's also important to prioritize your mental health. Give yourself permission to take it slow for a bit and don’t be afraid to reach out if you experience any extra emotional challenges such as postpartum depression or anxiety.
5. Validate your experience: While a C-section may have not been your first choice, it is still the day your child is born. Your experience is real and it matters. It can still be beautiful and meaningful for you and your family. Focus on the joy of meeting your baby and try to create special moments despite the surgical setting, such as playing a favorite song or having your partner announce the sex or name of the baby. You deserve a positive birth experience, no matter how it happens.
Bonus thing I would love to see my local cesarean families start requesting:
Look it up! Other places are doing this safely and with great results, we can too! The way these changes happen is when parents. speak. up. Ask for this! If you are told no, ask why not? Are there real, increased risks, or is it just new? Is your doctor able to perform a few extra safety and sterilization measures to make this more possible for you? Doctors are smart and capable, they can learn new things! While it may be not realistic for every birth, this should be a choice for non-urgent c sections. The doctors don't prioritize what the doulas want, but they should care about what their patients want. Make your voices heard!
Your body is glorious and strong, no matter how you gave birth
In summary, with the right mindset and prep, a cesarean section can be a positive and empowering birth. Educate yourself, make a plan, build a support system, practice self-care, and celebrate your journey to motherhood. It might look different than you imagined and that’s okay. All birth is beautiful.
