This is my second to last post on Cesareans. I'll write 1 more on VBAC's (vaginal birth after cesarean). I've spent a lot of time talking about how to avoid them, but in some cases, that is not always possible.
The fact is, some women are still going to face the decision of a having to have a cesarean birth. So what can a mother do to ensure that this is a positive experience?
1. If at all possible, wait for the labor to start spontaneously. When a women naturally goes into labor and her uterus begins to contract, this provides numerous benefits for both her and the baby. This will also reduce the risk of the baby being born prematurely. It is best for a mother to go through labor and contractions for awhile even if she knows she has to have a cesarean.
-The contractions of labor help prepare the baby's lungs to breathe air.
-Babies born by cesarean have a 50% chance of having lower APGAR scores. Also, the chances of them needing assistance with breathing are 5x higher. They are also much more likely to have asthma later on in childhood.
2. Create a birth plan that considers her options and preferences. Even though the birth will be surgical, the mother can still indicate who will be with her for support, whether the baby is to be with her immediately after the operation, pain relief during the operation and postpartum, and when she would like to breastfeed. If the mother wears glasses, contact lenses, or a hearing aid, she can talk to her OB about having these on when her baby is born.
3. Prepare in advance by reading books, looking on the internet, talking to other mothers who have had cesareans and watching videos of cesarean births.
4. The mother can still practice relaxation techniques. These can be used while she is waiting to go into the operating room or while the anesthesia is being administered.
5. In order to help with breastfeeding afterward, the mother could contact a lactation consultant before she has her baby to discuss some of the additional difficulties she may face afterward. She could arrange in advance to have a visit soon after the baby's birth to help with any problems.
This is taken from the book Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin:
"During the 1990s a significant number of US obstetricians switched away from the method of suturing the uterus that had been used for the previous 60 years. Instead of stitching the incision in 2 layers, they began to stitch it in only one. The uterine rupture rate in subsequent pregnancies with the older technique was less than 1%. Now women are 5x more likely to suffer with this new technique. It affects between 3-4 women out of every 100.
Another rise is a condition called placenta percreta is associated with this new method of suturing the uterus. Placenta percreta is when the placenta grows through the uterine wall and sometimes into surrounding organs. If you are facing the possibility of a cesarean (every pregnant woman pretty much) you would be wise to request double-layer suturing of the uterus."
For more information:
http://www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol14No1/csdifference.htm
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