Tag: caesarean after loss

Are you having a caesarean birth? Here are 7 ways to personalise it and plan the birth you want and deserve!

1. Hypnobirthing

Yes, you can use hypnobirthing, meditation, mindfulness and relaxation to your advantage before and during a caesarean birth. Practise calm breathing techniques, positive affirmations and bonding with your baby. The calmer you are, the more oxygen reaches your baby (or babies), and the better your recovery is likely to be. Hypnosis also has a positive effect on your mental wellbeing in pregnancy and after the birth.

2. Skin-to-skin

Immediate skin-to-skin with a parent helps your baby regulate their temperature, spreads good bacteria and much more – it’s beneficial all round! The good news is that most UK hospitals support immediate skin-to-skin between birthing parent and baby after any type of birth, as long as it’s safe. So if you and your baby are well (and the cord is long enough – it usually is!), you can have immediate skin-to-skin.

3. Optimal (delayed) cord clamping

Optimal or delayed cord clamping allows your baby’s blood to flow from the placenta back to them. This can improve their Apgar scores and their immediate and longer-term health. Most UK hospitals support optimal cord clamping for all types of birth, including caesareans.

4. Adapt the environment

Have your partner or doula with you (some hospitals allow two birth partners in theatre) and choose your music. Some birthing parents wear headphones to block out the sounds of surgery, listen to their hypnobirthing tracks, or have their partner repeat their affirmations with them.

5. Stay calm

Use whatever helps you stay calm – your partner, your doula, your relaxations, your music, or a photo of a loved one or pet. Being calm may help reduce blood loss, means more oxygen for your baby, and can improve your recovery.

6. Vaginal seeding and your baby’s microbiome

Vaginal seeding means transferring vaginal fluids – using a sterile gauze or swab placed in the vagina about an hour before the caesarean – to the newborn’s mouth, nose or skin, to pass on the mother’s vaginal flora. Some parents ask about it, but the evidence is still limited and it isn’t routinely recommended in the UK, so discuss it with your care provider. Other ways to support your baby’s microbiome are lots of skin-to-skin and breastfeeding.

7. Ask about a gentle (family-centred) caesarean

Many UK hospitals offer gentle or family-centred caesareans. Rather than the obstetrician pulling the baby out, the baby is born more slowly, helped by the uterus contracting (aided by synthetic oxytocin). It’s usually accompanied by immediate skin-to-skin and optimal cord clamping. Read more in What is a gentle caesarean birth?

Here is an article about a gentle caesarean birth story: The Guardian

And here is a video of a gentle caesarean at one of my local hospitals in Nottinghamshire:

Knowledge is power

Knowing your options and what happens during a caesarean helps you plan the right experience for you. Discuss skin-to-skin, optimal cord clamping and adapting the birth environment with your healthcare provider, and write them into your birth plan.

The video below shows how many people are usually present during a caesarean birth.

These are just 7 ways to personalise your caesarean birth – I’m sure you can think of more! Please share your ideas and experiences in the comments. You might also find Recovery after Caesarean Birth helpful.