How to Prepare for A C-Section
Despite our best laid birth plans, sometimes a vaginal delivery isn’t in the cards. Maybe your baby is breech and no amount of moxa can turn him. Or may be you have placenta previa or some other condition that makes a cesarean your only choice for a safe delivery. You can still have an empowered and dreamy birth, it just takes some tweaking to your birth plan and slightly different preparation and planning for postpartum.
Know your options
If you were dreaming of a natural, family-centered delivery, you can still have that with a cesarean. If you are interested, ask about your options for a “gentle” or “family-centered” cesarean, including bringing music to the OR, using a clear drape so you can see your baby being born, bringing your baby to your chest immediately after delivery for skin-to-skin in the OR, delaying cord clamping or other newborn procedures until you’ve had a chance to hold and breastfeed your baby. Read up on your options and discuss them in advance with your provider so that you can feel confident and comfortable going into your delivery.
Get in the right headspace
Listen to guided meditations and visualizations that help you to make a mental adjustment if you were initially planning on a vaginal delivery and mindfully prepare you for calm and confident c-section. You can find audio tracks for a planned c-section here https://www.mother.ly/meditations-from-the-motherly-guide-to-becoming-mama-redefining-the-pregnancy-birth-and-postpartum-journey .
Change your perspective
If you’ve been planning a natural vaginal birth, a c-section can feel like a major disappointment. However, you can still have a memorable and empowering belly birth with the right planning and a shift in attitude. This is one of the first big acts of selfless surrender that you make as a mother. There is power in knowing you have intentionally made a decision for the benefit of your child. There is no shame in surrender. Accepting a medically necessary cesarean is an incredible selfless gift to your baby and it takes strength to make this choice. Your scar is like a badge of honor to reminder of this selfless act, wear it proudly!
Connect with others
Find a community like The Birth Lounge where you can ask questions, as for positive c-section birth stories, and receive support from women who have been where you are or are planning their births alongside you. Bonus you’ll have them on the other side to discuss postpartum care and recovery.
Get Acupuncture
Maybe you’ve already tried acupuncture and moxibustion to turn your breech baby and she’s still breech (we typically find that if they don’t turn, there’s a good reason and a cesarean may be the safest delivery option for you and your baby). But just because you’re no longer preparing for a vaginal delivery, doesn't mean acupuncture can’t help. Weekly acupuncture in the month leading up to your delivery can help calm the mind and manage the effects of stress and anxiety. It can also help prepare your body for a smooth delivery and efficient recovery. We also recommend moxibustion postpartum to help warm the uterus, help it contract back to its original size, and heal your scar and prevent excessive scar tissue from forming.
Next week we will cover Postpartum Care after a Cesarean so stay tuned for our favorite recommendations and tools for a smooth and efficient recovery!