I had a planned c-section at Sibley a few years ago and the nurse asked of I had a birth plan while I was in the pre- or room.

I did not, but since they asked, I am assuming it must be common enough and they must be willing to accommodate when possible.

Yes, I had a gentle c section at GW. I knew ahead of time I would need a c section, so I did some research into gentle c sections, put together a birth plan, and shared it with Dr. Bathgate around 36 weeks. She let me know which parts of the birth plan she could agree to and which she couldn't. On the day of my daughter's birth, the team all had copies of the revised birth plan and reviewed it with me before surgery. It was a wonderful experience and I was grateful to Dr. Bathgate and her team for placing the health/safety of my DD and me first and allowing me to have many of the accommodations I requested, including immediate skin to skin and nursing. Couldnt have been more satisfied.

Anonymous wrote:I had a c-section at VHC a couple years ago and they did not strap my arms down. I just laid them out on the arm rests. Also I think they did a lot of the baby testing on the room with us. I didn't do skin to skin right away but started nursing in the recovery room about 45 minutes after the surgery. They (twins) nursed without any issues. If you go on the hospital tour you can probably ask some of these questions.

OP again, and thanks! I did the hospital tour there already and none of what I want appears to be "standard" but they said the practices vary depending on who you're with. Not helpful at all, really, but not surprising given that the tour people can't really make a binding call one way or the other.

I had a c-section at VHC a couple years ago and they did not strap my arms down. I just laid them out on the arm rests. Also I think they did a lot of the baby testing on the room with us. I didn't do skin to skin right away but started nursing in the recovery room about 45 minutes after the surgery. They (twins) nursed without any issues. If you go on the hospital tour you can probably ask some of these questions.

Anonymous wrote:Google "gentle c-section" or "gentle cesarean."

I don't know much about it, but the last time I was in my OB's office there was a bit about it on their waiting room video loop. Sounds like it's worth bringing up to me and seeing what your hospital/OB can accommodate.

OP here. The issue is that it doesn't seem like there is any way of knowing what the hospital will accommodate until I get there on the issues that concern me since it all seems to be up to the people working on that day. That level of uncertainty isn't helping my anxiety at all.

Does anyone have any experience getting anywhere with a plan or with Sibley in particular on issues like being strapped down, not being separated from DH, etc.?

Has anyone had a gentle c section at GW?

Google "gentle c-section" or "gentle cesarean."

I don't know much about it, but the last time I was in my OB's office there was a bit about it on their waiting room video loop. Sounds like it's worth bringing up to me and seeing what your hospital/OB can accommodate.

Having had a csection once before and having one planned in about a month, I am planning to ask my OB about any skin to skin or just being able to touch the baby in the OR and anything we can do so I am less out of it than last time (being up all night in labor and having a fever had something to do with my mental state, I am sure, but I still plan to discuss it).

Honestly, possibly the best thing I might do is get a massage the day before, but we will see if that works out!

Read and listen here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/09/390977656/the-gentle-cesarean-more-like-a-birth-than-an-operation

Anonymous wrote:My childbirth class instructor told us to make one. Except, it's more of, " I would like my partner to be allowed in the room
If possible,"'or "I would like baby placed on chest for skin to skin if possible." Stuff like that. There's also stuff about in the event of an emergency your wishes on saving mother or child. DH may not be in a state to make that call, so it's nice if your wishes are already in writing just in case.

Gulp!

My childbirth class instructor told us to make one. Except, it's more of, " I would like my partner to be allowed in the room
If possible,"'or "I would like baby placed on chest for skin to skin if possible." Stuff like that. There's also stuff about in the event of an emergency your wishes on saving mother or child. DH may not be in a state to make that call, so it's nice if your wishes are already in writing just in case.

I can't speak to Sibley, but I spoke at length with my OB when it looked like I might need a c-section for medical reasons. I wanted it to be as zen as possible (and it was!). I'd also met with a doula who lent me a book about natural childbirth that, somewhat surprisingly to me, had a section about c-sections in it. For me what was important was as little medication as possible (e.g., no anti-nausea meds because they make me more out of it), being able to have skin-to-skin in the OR (for which they unstrapped one arm), having all tests done in the OR if possible (wasn't an issue since they already did that at my hospital) and some other things that I'm forgetting now. I didn't have any music playing, although I've heard of others doing that. I remember it being peaceful and calm, and I can still recall the conversations I had with the anesthesiologist and the OB before my baby arrived. I was very glad that I'd discussed it all with my OB beforehand (and pressed her on a few things). Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:Oh boy. This is a significant surgery ans they have procedures in place for your protection. So no. I wouldn't go into an OR expecting to make birth plan requests.

Nothing I would request is something that I haven't read more than 20 times that people haven't had to do and that is only a "procedure" in certain hospitals. Way to ignore the examples given and be snotty though.

Oh boy. This is a significant surgery ans they have procedures in place for your protection. So no. I wouldn't go into an OR expecting to make birth plan requests.

Is there such a thing as a C-section birth plan? In other words, if I do require a section, can I have a list of things I do and don't want, or am I just stuck with the whims of the people in the room? For example, as I raised on the other thread, I feel like being strapped down is going to freak me out and give me nightmares, and I solemnly promise not to grope at the divider or rip out my IV. Can I request not to be and expect them to abide by it? Can I request that they do most of the baby testing in my line of sight so that DH can stay with me while I'm stitched up?

My OB implied that a consult with the hospital people wasn't likely to be worth much since I'm stuck with who I'm stuck with on the day, which made it sound very inflexible. I'll be at Sibley if that makes a difference.