Elli’s Positive Planned Cesarean Birth
My first pregnancy was during covid and lockdown, I didn’t know anything about the journey to motherhood or what birth really entailed. I had heard bits from my friends with kids and my mum passed down a few details of her birthing experiences she had which, to be honest back in the 80’s didn’t really centre women. Being a healthcare professional and having a fairly uncomplicated pregnancy apart from some nausea and vomiting I decided I wanted to have a home birth, I wanted to not have a medicalised birth. As it was during covid if I had opted for a hospital birth my partner would only have been allowed to stay for 1hr post the birth and only allowed in once I was in active labour. With the support of my midwife and exploring and reading about it I was really excited to create my own safe birthing environment. What was really special to me was the way my amazing partner would be able to really hold that space while I focused on bringing our baby earthside. He researched and planned alongside me to make sure we had everything in control. On my last homebirth check-up from my midwife, she felt my tummy and went silent. Something was up…
She said she thought my baby was breech which led to a whole host of attempts to try and turn her around but after yet another scan it still confirmed she was breech. After the EVC was unsuccessful the consultant openly said they didn’t think a home birth would be safe and they didn’t have a team that was used to breech births. She said I was able to try it but she thought it would end in a c-section. For a moment my world had fallen apart. I felt I had failed and was about to have the most medicalized birthing experience which I so wanted to avoid. I grieved hard for the birth I wanted where I and my partner were in complete control, suddenly we had to let go and allow someone else to take charge of bringing our daughter into the world.
A friend of mine has previously told me about the amazing work of doulas’ and I had attended a talk hosted by Tortie Rye who was supporting women in home births. Although we couldn’t afford a doula to be present at the birth I called her and ask if she would do a one off support session with us which she agreed too.
She completely reframed how to view a c-section and helped us plan an incredible experience. She talked us through the grief of not having a home birth we had planned and helped me see how I hadn’t failed and we could make the experience a special one to remember.
Because it was a planned C-Section this gave us time to think about how we could make it special to us. We wanted everything to remain as calm as possible. In my birth plan, we said we would like the lights to be dimmed where possible, such as the head end to create a calming atmosphere, and we had created a playlist that was important to us which they were happy to play. We had planned to take fairy lights in with us for the recovery room (but they got missed in the packing).
We then thought about what was important to us for the delivery. I asked where possible to have a gentle c-section which is to mimic the baby being birthed vaginally. We wanted delayed cord clamping and immediate skin to skin, if I became unwell then my partner would do skin-to-skin. We wanted my partner to do the baby’s first wash and be involved throughout the whole process.
On the day of the C-Section there was such a fun vibe. All the family was buzzing with excitement. We were due to go in the morning. It was so surreal to think there was a tiny human all cozy in my tummy and I was about to meet her.
When we were admitted, the midwives and consultant discussed our birth plan and reassured us they would do everything possible to stick to it. Which I can say they did and it really made the experience special.
When I was being taken into the theatre the anaesthetist was super lovely and asked about our birth plan and started our playlist straight away. We asked for minimal talking (aka no small chat) which was totally respected so we could get into the zone and prepare for our daughter to arrive.
The birth was really quick the whole process took only 40mins. We were given everything on our birthing plan and our baby daughter arrived safely and calmly. We were able to do skin-to-skin, Pete was able to assist in the first wash and we were able to hold our gorgeous daughter.
Once around in recovery because I hadn’t undergone a long labour I wasn’t knackered or tired, I was able to focus on everything the midwife was saying to me. We started breastfeeding straight away and I was in total awe of the whole experience. We were flooded with love and contentment, it was a really special experience. I was home within less 24hrs so we could go back to our cosy nest.
I don’t regret my decision to opt for a planned C-Section because if I had had to have an emergency C-Section and not planned for it then I think I would have been left with lots of different negative emotions. But now I look back fondly knowing I did the best and made the decision that was right for us.
