A Calm and Informed Cesarean Birth

Rob and I welcomed Rory into the world on 6th of March. He was born via a (last minute) planned c section on advice of our obstetrician because of position and size. This was a very hard decision, and certainly not what had been the plan. Ultimately though it ended up being best for Rory and I.

Rob and I both found Calm birth breathing techniques and visualisation really helpful during Rory’s birth and played music we loved. We were supported in doing skin to skin quickly. 

I came to the decision after several conversations with my obstetrician over the space of about 10 days. Rory’s head measured >99th centile on ultrasound (acknowledging that ultrasound had error margin), was in right posterior position for last 7 weeks or so of pregnancy (acknowledging vast majority of posterior babies turn during labour), and obstetrician thought his arm was preventing him turning/engaging well. I had severe hip pain in the last few weeks of pregnancy, and it made sense to me that he was “stuck”.

My Mum had an obstructed and difficult labour with me, with similar information going into it. I wanted to avoid an emergency c section first and foremost and next avoid forceps (if that could be helped). My obstetrician felt it was more likely (than baseline rates) that instrumental delivery or emergency c section would be needed.

I found it really hard to make a decision… There were A LOT of tears. It was validating when Rory was born and head circumference was as recorded on ultrasound and he was jammed into pelvis – needed forceps at c section. I knew though that these things mightn’t be born out and had made peace with the fact that the c section might’ve been an unnecessary precaution… and that I was making the best decision with the imperfect information I had available.

The mode of birth also seemed a lot less important to me once Rory was born. It was so great hearing him cry immediately. He was robust immediately and had apgars of 9 and 9, which I know isn’t always the case with c section babies.

Things I did to make the most of c section…

Rob made a great music playlist that was played in the anaesthetic bay right up until then end of the c section when I was taken to recovery.

I told the paediatrician, obstetrician and anaesthetist that skin to skin was important to me. This meant it happened quickly after Rory was born and he stayed on my chest for several hours.

I did antenatal expressing. This made me feel more confident about breastfeeding and “in the zone” … so although I didn’t labour at all, I felt my body had started getting ready for receiving the baby. Not sure if that makes sense.

Rob and I went on a walk at the beach the morning Rory was born. We spent lots of time having hugs and telling each other lovely things about our baby.

I would’ve done this regardless of c section or vaginal birth… I kept really active. I was walking 5kms or so most days and doing Pilates 3x per week until the 39th week of pregnancy. I feel this has helped hugely with my c section recovery, abdominal separation, and stamina for breastfeeding/settling Rory at night.

I kept present by focusing on Rob. He was a huge support – just as he would’ve been for a vaginal birth. We focused on safe, calm and private in hospital and in our post-partum recovery.

He’s feeding like a champ and we are settling into a sleep deprived rhythm at home.