Options for a planned Caesarean birth
- Matilda Strang
- Apr 10, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 11, 2023
Caesarean births are rooted in the mythic. Some of the Greek gods were said to have arrived by caesarean, including Adonis (god of beauty and desire), Asclepius (god of healing), and Dionysus (god of fertility and wine). There are likewise references to caesarean births in ancient Hindu, Egyptian, Roman and other European Folklore.
-Michelle Millar Fisher and Amber Winick, Designing Motherhood, Things That Make and Break our Births (2021)
Worldwide caesarean section rates have risen from around 7% in 1990 to 21% today, and are projected to continue increasing over this current decade. If this trend continues, by 2030 the highest rates are likely to be in Eastern Asia (63%), Latin America and the Caribbean (54%), Western Asia (50%), Northern Africa (48%) Southern Europe (47%) and Australia and New Zealand (45%).
A birthing person has a right to make every single decision about their birth, including whether they chose to give birth by caesarean or not. However in some cases, an over medicalised birth can cause more harm than good.
Thankfully there are ways to enable a caesarean birth to be an empowering and positive experience, which normally begins with informing yourself on how to create a gentle and relaxed atmosphere during the birth. As a doula I can signpost you to recent research, books and articles which will help develop your knowledge and awareness of what a caesarean birth is, and what kind of experience it can be. Below are also some ideas for making the experience your own:
> The electrocardiogram (ECG) leads can be positioned on the back instead of the chest, so as not to interfere with skin-to-skin after the baby is born.
> The intravenous line can be placed in the non-dominant arm.
> The pulse oximeter (used to measure the oxygen level in your blood) can be positioned on the foot to keep hands free.
> Option of playing music in the theatre, and/or dimming the lights.
> After the incision is made, there is the option for the birthing person and birth partner to observe the birth, or a member of the surgical team can provide a commentary of what is happening.
> As the baby's head enters or is gently lifted from the abdominal incision, the surgeon can then be 'hands-off', allowing for the baby to adjust (breathing air though its mouth and nose), before easing the baby's shoulders out, along with the rest of its body, and then placing the baby on the parent's chest for skin-to-skin.
> There can be a delay cord clamping, and the baby can be wrapped in a towel instead of being washed and dressed straight away. You can also request that should the baby be taken away from the birthing parent, that the baby is kept in their line of sight as much as possible.
> Most midwifery tasks can be accomplished with the baby on the parent’s chest.
> When the surgery is finished and the parent is transferred to a bed, the baby can be weighed before being given to the birth partner for skin-to-skin and then returned to the birthing parent for further skin-to-skin.
Further references
***Please note, preparation for postnatal recovery after a caesarean birth is just as important! Perhaps that is a separate blog post :)
