Doula Support for Cesarean Births
It’s Cesarean Birth Awareness month! This year’s theme is Birth Matters. ICAN states, “Though different choices and outcomes exist, each person’s birth experiences is important, their birth matters.” I truly believe all forms of birth deserve doula support and I wanted to take a moment today to go over the different ways doulas can support you during cesarean births. If I was your doula, the first thing we would do is have a prenatal visit where I come to you in person and we create your Cesarean birth plan together so you know all of your options and can decide on what you want to take place in the OR during your birth experience. This is one way your doula can emotionally and mentally support you for your c-section. Every hospital has different policies for who is allowed back in the OR. Currently Bergan Mercy and UNMC are the only two hospitals in the area that allow doulas back for support. Let’s look at how doula support plays out during these births. I’ve included pictures of Cesarean births I have supported as a doula throughout this blog as well.
At a planned or scheduled Cesarean birth, you will arrive at L&D and be taken into a triage room where you and baby will be monitored before your c-section begins. An IV port will be started and they may run IV fluids as well. You will also be asked to change into a birth gown so the anesthesiologist has access to your back to place the spinal block. During this process your doula is able to be in the triage room supporting you emotionally through the intake process.
When the OR is ready, you will walk or be wheeled back to the OR. You will be asked to sit in the “shrimp” position hunched over, curling around your belly so the anesthesiologist has great access to your back to give you your spinal block. Your doula can usually be in the room to give you emotional support throughout this process, though some ORs require doulas to wait in the hallway until after the spinal block is placed. Once the spinal block is placed you will lay down on your back and the drape will be placed. You have the option in most ORs to choose a clear curtain or a blue curtain. The clear curtain allows you to see more of the cesarean taking place and allows you to see the moment your baby is born through the curtain. Then the rest of the OR will get in place and your OB will begin the c-section. Your doula and support person will stay by your head during the surgery providing you emotional support. I also take pictures during the c-section so you can look back and see what was happening.
During your cesarean birth several layers of your body are cut open. Your surgeon will go through your skin, fat, fascia, separate your abdominal muscles, parietal peritoneum, uterus, and amniotic sac to reach your baby and your placenta. During this time your support person and doula will remain by your side. Then your baby will be born and traditionally your OB will lift the baby up so you can see them over the curtain. From there your baby will either go directly onto your chest for skin to skin or be taken to the baby warmer for stimulation. Your doula can take pictures of all these moments and continue supporting you emotionally. In the event that your baby would need to go to the NICU, your doula can stay with you while your birth partner goes with the baby or vice versa.
Once your baby is stimulated or on your chest you will have blankets to cover and keep baby warm while your OB stitches you up. Once the cesarean is complete, you will be transferred to a different hospital bed and taken into a recovery room where you will stay for about two hours. During that recovery time you will be given liquids and some food. You will also have fundal massages while a nurse checks your postpartum bleeding about every fifteen minutes. During this recovery time you can do skin to skin with baby and facilitate nursing if you choose to do so, which your doula can assist you with. After the two hours is up if recovery is going well you will be taken to the postpartum floor for a few days while you recover. It’s typical for your doula to leave at this time to allow you to rest and recover.
As you can see, there are many things your doula can do throughout your planned or scheduled cesarean birth to support you and your birth partner. If you are giving birth this year and considering doula support reach out to me today at hello@thebirthchronicles.co or call me at (913) 705-0017.
