Worry Free C-Section Tips 7-Part Mini Course

Welcome to Part 1 of my 7-Part Mini Course

My goal is to help educate, inspire and empower you to take control of your c-section experience.  But it's also important to be ready both physically and mentally.  The less stress and anxiety you have, the easier it will be for you to more fully recover and enjoy your baby's birth.

So I commend you for being here.  You're already on the track to becoming a great mom, I can tell :-) 

One of the topics of having a c-section that is near and dear to my heart is with women who have had c-sections and come to regret having one.  Not only do they regret having one, they are angry at the doctors and themselves, leaving them a miserable wreck.

My intentions are not to encourage or disparage c-sections.  C-sections happen for many reasons, most of them are performed out of a real need, however some are not, some are planned and some are not.  Many are performed out of convenience, however most of them are not.

Whatever the reasons, my wishes are that if you have a c-section, you are ready for it, you accept it and that you make it one of the most memorable experiences of your life. 

How do you make it a memorable, non-regretful experience?

It starts by taking control.  Your doctor may say you need a c-section and you may very well need one, but it's really up to you to help yourself become comfortable with that idea.  Get a second opinion or talk to others who have been in the same situation. Once you become comfortable with having a c-section your next step is to plan for it and create a birth experience that is according to YOUR plan, not someone else's.

Statistics show that women suffer a lesser degree of emotional stress and depression from having a c-section if they are prepared for the process, fully understand why it is needed and take part in the decisions being made.

Of course, c-sections are not always planned, in fact many first time moms have a c-section without it every crossing their minds that it would become necessary.

So how do you prepare for something you don't expect will happen.

"Expect the unexpected" as they say and have a plan that includes the possibility of a c-section.

My first born was an unexpected c-section.  I was healthy, maintained good weight, had no physical complications, felt good during pregnancy and had a c-section anyway.  It never crossed my mind that it would be needed.  Needless to say my birth expectations, my recovery, nursing, bonding all went out the window.  I managed ok, as we all do, but things were a lot more stressful than I had expected, consequently my memories aren't so pleasant :-(

When I became pregnant with my second child I had another c-section.  The difference was I was determined to make it a better experience.  Of course, having had one already I knew the problems that I could potentially encounter, I knew what I did wrong the first time and I knew how to better cope with recovery, breastfeeding, bonding at home, etc., but what a difference it makes when you can plan and foresee how to make things better.   Yes, my second c-section went a lot better but my first one could have been better too if I had worked the possibility into my plan.

The most important thing I want you to take out of this lesson is to be prepared.  Fully understand and accept why a c-section may be necessary for you. Be ready should it happen and have a plan in place for the surgery, recovery, breastfeeding, bonding, handling fatigue and all the other elements that make your baby's birth the most enjoyable it can be.

Let's get started by looking at some of the common reasons for a planned and unplanned c-section:

Common reasons for a planned c-section:

- You have already had a c-section and your doctor recommends a repeat c-section.   Additionally if you had a previous surgical incision that was horizontal, whether from a c-section or some other surgery, a c-section will always be needed.  

 - You have a large baby and she may be too big to pass through the birth canal. It's not an exact science determining if a baby is too big to pass through the birth canal.  There are moms who have delivered ten pound babies that delivered vaginally just fine, however the larger the baby the more towards a c-section the doctor will lean.

- Your baby is breech or in an abnormal position - If your baby is not able to turn in the head down position a c-section will be required. 

- The mother has HIV or active Herpes - Passing through the birth canal puts your baby at risk of catching HIV or herpes.  This is a clear indication a c-section will be needed.

- You have multiple babies - If you have twins it's not guaranteed a c-section will be required but it is possible.  If can depend largely on how the first baby to be born is positioned.  If it is head down then a vaginal birth is more of a possibility.  If the baby is in the breech position it's a much tougher call.

- The mother or baby has medical concerns that make a vaginal delivery dangerous - Any concerns that affect the life or health of the mother or baby will indicate a c-section.  These concerns should be discussed in depth with your doctor.

Reasons for an unplanned c-section:

- Labor is too slow or stops - Slow or stopped labor in itself is not a reason for a c-section, however if close monitoring shows fetal distress, slow heartbeat or other problems for baby, a c-section will be needed.

- The placenta may separate from the uterine wall - Known as Placental Abruption. If you're near your due date, you'll need to deliver your baby right away and most of the time a c-section is required.

- Your cervix stops dilating or your baby stops moving down the birth canal - The baby stops moving down the birth canal and essentially gets 'stuck'. If attempts fail to get movement going again this can cause the baby's heart rate to drop. A c-section will be needed if things don't improve.  

- The Placenta covering the cervix - Called Placentia Previa, it's where Placenta blocks the ability for the baby to pass through the birth canal. It occurs in about 1 in every 250 pregnancies.

- The mother has an unexpected outbreak of herpes

 If you know you will be having a c-section you have much more time to prepare. This means finding out about what actually happens, making choices and getting ready for recovery.

Getting the unexpected news that you will need a c-section after being in labor for several hours can be a big let down.  You will find that all of a sudden your expectations change and you're left to simply follow what your doctor and hospital tell you to do.  That's what you want to avoid!

With Warmest Regards,
Elizabeth