Planned C-section

A few months ago I got a new schedule at work which means I attend births again, this time at planned c-sections. Some people around me were surprised that I chose to do this, they said it’s far from what I want to do as a midwife. This is both true and not true. I didn’t become a midwife to stand in a sterile environment and see how a surgeon cuts open another person, that is true. I did however become a midwife who wants parents to have a good birth experience. One of my mottos is “There’s no wrong way to give birth.” and I really believe that. I do think we perform too many c-sections in Sweden as a whole, the WHO recommends about 10% and Sweden is at around 19%. A c-section is major abdominal surgery and shouldn’t be taken lightly, it involves risks for both the person giving birth and the baby. All surgery involves risk, let’s not pretend this is a risk free way to give birth. But life is full of risks, and sometimes you have to weigh the pros and cons. 

My second birth was an unplanned c-section and this taught me a lot about c-section birth. It isn’t my personal preference, but I understand that humans have different options, needs and wants.

So for me it’s not about judging people’s choice, instead I want to do what I can to make the birth experience as pleasant as possible and create a memory of birth that is positive. People have planned c-sections for a number of reasons, breech position, fear of vaginal birth, a previous traumatic birth experience, two or more previous c-sections, multiple babies (twins or triplets), etc.

One thing I wish that more parents to be did as preparations for the birth of their baby via c-section is to write a birth plan or birth preferences, just like families aiming for a vaginal birth do.

There are still things you can have an opinion on and request at a c-section birth, for an example which music you want to listen to, if you want to breastfeed or not, if you want to have baby skin to skin as soon as possible (this is recommended), if you want to do a vaginal swab to give baby the vaginal bacteria, if you want help taking pictures, if you want to see the placenta or maybe bring it home, etc. There are a lot of things you can consider and ask for to feel more included in the birth, even empowered. I dream of one day someone asking for a mother assisted c-section and the doctors agreeing to it. 

In my e-book I have written a bit more about how to write birth preferences for a c-section, it you want a copy send me an e-mail!