Ceasarean Choices
We’ve been asked many times, “Do I have a say in my Ceasearan?”
The short answer is: sort of.
You, first, need to know the anesthesiologist is in charge of the operating room (OR) not your doctor, provider, or nurses. This means everyone, including the patient, needs to play by his/her rules.
Some choices you may have when having a Cesarean: clear drape, your own playlist of music, delayed cord clamping, vaginal seeding, skin-to-skin in OR, partner skin-to-skin in OR
Clear Drapes: Not all hospitals offer (or have in stock) clear drapes. If you are lucky enough to birth at a hospital with clear drapes, we recommend taking full advantage of this option. Clear drape does not mean the birther will see everything that the doctor is doing. There is a solid drape behind the clear drape; when the baby is ready to be born, the solid drape is dropped so the clear drape remains and birth can see the baby be born. We have found that watching the birth of your baby helps prevent the disconnect from the baby that some birthers feel after a traditional Cesarean. (Partners: we recommend that if you’re squimish, don’t look…you will see more than just the baby from your angle.) *See blog picture
Playlist: You may be able to have your own playlist of music during your Ceasearan birth. This is solely up to the anesthesiologist. If she/he allows (and permitted by your provider), this can be an option.
Vaginal Seeding: Vaginal seeding is an option that you have which could help prevent your baby from having immune issues such as allergies. This is done by having cotton gauze swab your vaginal fluids and is transferred to the baby mouth, nose, and skin. During a Cesarean, the baby does not get passed the birther’s microbiome protection as the baby would if it were a vaginal birth. There is no solid research to say this actually helps your baby, not no research to say that it doesn’t. Below are some links for more information about vaginal seeding.
Skin-to-Skin: If you feel up to it, you are able to be skin-to-skin with your baby after a Cesarean birth while you are still on the OR table. As doulas during Cesareans, we have watched birthers feed (or attempt to) feed their babies while still on the operating table (it is quite a beautiful sight to see)…of course birthers need a bit of help and stability from a partner, doula, or nurse…but it IS 100% possible.
Partner Skin-to-Skin: Should you as the birther not feel up to skin-to-skin in the operating room, your partner or support person can do skin-to-skin with the baby in the operating room. We recommend the partner to wear a button-up shirt into the OR. That way the shirt can be unbuttoned and baby can be tucked under the OR gown against the partner’s skin.
Hopefully these options will help to put your mind at ease when going into your Cesarean, whether scheduled & planned or not.
(We also recommend making a Cesarean birth plan even if you are planning a vaginal birth for the just in case. This plan you would not give to anyone, but you would have on-hand in case you need it. This gives you control of a seemingly uncontrolable situation. If you need help making your birthing plans, we make personalized visual birth plans for anyone. Please reach out on our contact page.)
Vaginal Seeding Resources
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180530113126.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/vaginal-seeding/faq-20380881