Birth can be positive and empowering however and wherever it happens, yet some women can feel disappointed, and that they’ve failed, if they have a caesarean. This can lead to post-natal depression, difficulty with bonding, and struggles with breastfeeding. There are many reasons for caesarean birth, very few of which are emergencies. Most c-sections are unplanned and happen as a result of labour not progressing (there can be a variety of different reasons for this). Some caesareans are planned during pregnancy and there is likely to be a medical need in these instances.
When I was pregnant for the first time, I was anxious about giving birth and unaware of the importance of preparation. My son ended up being born via unplanned caesarean and I felt very much swept away by the whole process, asking very few questions. Following my first experience of birth, I soon realised how unprepared I was. When I fell pregnant with my daughter around 2 and a half years later, I wanted to go into labour feeling more positive and more prepared, and it is through hypnobirthing that I learnt about the ‘gentle caesarean’.
During pregnancy, it is important to consider preferences for varying scenarios, including caesarean birth. Knowledge is power! If you are educated and understand your options, you will feel able to take a more active role in your baby’s birth. Preparation before birth is essential. Feeling informed and armed with tools and techniques is vital to help you stay calm and focused.
What is a gentle caesarean?
A gentle caesarean (also known as a ‘natural’ caesarean) is, essentially, a caesarean birth which maintains as many aspects of a vaginal birth as possible.
- When a baby is born vaginally, it picks up mum’s ‘friendly’ bacteria as it passes through the birth canal and moves out into the world. This is known as ‘seeding the microbiome’. These bacteria help to colonise the gut and develop baby’s immune system. Immediate skin-to-skin can also support the development of the baby’s own microbiome as well as encourage the natural bonding process. You may ask for your gown to be on backwards and for electrodes to be on your shoulders or back so that skin-to-skin time can happen straight away, even as you are being stitched up.
- As a baby descends through the birth canal in a vaginal birth, its lungs are massaged naturally. This helps to remove any mucous in his or her chest. To enable a similar manipulation during a caesaean birth, you can ask for baby to be born slowly. Incredibly, if you are having an unplanned caesarean following a spontaneous labour, your uterine surges can actually help to push baby out through the incision. This results in a gentle massaging and a calmer entrance into the world.
Other things you may like to consider asking for include:
- Listening to a relaxation script before theatre.
- Low lighting, where possible.
- Playing an audio while baby is being born to help create a calm and relaxed environment.
- Lowering the curtain or having no curtain so you can watch baby being born.
- Asking for optimal cord clamping – this allows baby to receive all of the blood still in the cord and placenta upon birth.
- Birth partner to cut cord and announce baby’s sex (if you do not already know it).
How can I make a gentle caesarean birth possible?
Discuss your birth preferences with your medical caregivers and write them down. Talk with your birth partner(s) beforehand as they will be your biggest advocate and support during labour and birth. Nobody can predict the journey your birth will take. Go into labour feeling educated, informed and prepared so you can make decisions that are right for you and your baby on the day.
Many people believe hypnobirthing is just for natural, vaginal births but hypnobirthing can help you prepare for induced births and caesarean births too. Hypnobirthing provides you with tools and techniques to support every birth, wherever and however it takes place. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.
