Arvizu: 5 Ways to Make Your C-Section More Family Centered
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Below we share five ways you can advocate for a more ‘family centered’ or ‘gentle’ Cesarean:
1. Two Support People in Operating Room
The space in the OR is tight and usually mom is only allowed to have one support person with her, but asking to have your partner and one other support person, such as a doula, can greatly improve the overall experience. That one extra person can take photos, comfort both mom and dad, remind medical staff of your birth wishes such as delayed cord cutting and stay with mom if dad goes with baby to the nursery.
2. Leave Your Chest and Arms Free
Ask if the EKG monitor can be placed on your back leaving your chest free to do skin to skin with baby. You can also ask to have the IV and blood pressure cuff on your non-dominant arm, leaving your dominant arm free to touch your baby.
3. Play Music in the Background
Playing music in the background can help relax you before and during the surgery as well as set the mood for when your baby arrives earth side. Randi listened to ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ as her third son was born.
4. Lower the Curtain
Typically, during a C Section, there’s a big blue drape that blocks mom’s view of the birth. Asking to lower the curtain allows you to see your baby being born, which can help with bonding and feeling connected to the birth of your baby.
5. Immediate Skin to Skin
As long as baby is healthy, ask if the baby’s tests can be done while he is on your chest. Skin to skin helps regulate baby’s temperature, his breathing and mom’s hormones that encourage breastfeeding.
Randi will also be teaching a Cesarean Birthing class at Wild Orchid Baby this month. It covers everything you need to know to prepare for and heal from a C-Section. For more information, clikc here: Wild Orchid Baby Cesarean Birthing Class.
Erin Arvizu is the owner of Wild Orchid Baby at 490 Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. If you need help exploring your birth options, stop by and chat with local birth professionals and childbirth educators.
Related Articles
- Arvizu: Should All Breech Babies Be C-Sections?
- Arvizu: The Risks and Benefits of The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
- Arvizu: Do You Want Your Epidural Now?
- Modern Manners + Etiquette: Baby Etiquette, Facebook Firing + More
- Leonardo Angiulo: Exactly What Happens After She Has Your Baby
- Newport Manners & Etiquette: Making Way for Baby
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It