We support birth. All births. Plain and simple.
Many people ask, “what does doula support look like during a cesarean birth?” or “will my doula support my cesarean birth?” They may wonder because they had a cesarean with a previous baby and they need or want to have one again. Or maybe they would prefer things happening in a more controlled environment. Perhaps a cesarean wasn’t at all what they planned or wanted, and is happening due to unforeseen circumstances.
Support from your Hampton Roads Doulas birth doula is no less valuable during a cesarean; no matter how you arrived at that type of birth. We believe that all births can be challenging, and often cesarean births can require even more support from a doula especially when this was an unexpected outcome.
Picture this:
You have been told that now you will need to have your baby born in the Operating Room (OR) due to a medical concern and your original goals for this experience are no longer possible. Whether this was prior to being in labor or after hours (or days!) of labor, there is still a certain level of apprehension associated with this message.
You and your partner want what is best for everyone, yet you don’t know what to expect. But then you remember you have a doula!
Your doula will walk you through everything that you can expect before, during, and after the birth. Your doula will arrive at the hospital in the morning with you if your cesarean is scheduled, or she will talk you through your options or just listen to your disappointment if you have been laboring and now the plans have changed. She will answer any questions you have, or get your care providers to answer them if needed.
Your doula will sit with your partner or other family members while you are taken in the OR and prepped for the surgery. She will reassure them of everything that will happen during the birth, and help listen to any fears and provide comfort. Once the partner has been taken back to be with you, if your doula is not also allowed in the OR, she will help get your belongings settled into your new postpartum room. She may get your water bottle all set for once you are allowed to drink after surgery, get your toiletries settled in the bathroom, plug in your phone chargers, or even make up the pull out bed for your partner.
Once your baby has been born, your doula may be able to replace your partner beside you in the OR, while your partner goes with the baby to the nursery. If that is the case, your doula will sit next to you, hold your hand, or even wipe away happy or bittersweet tears from your face. She will wait with you while your body is repaired from birthing your baby, will listen to you talk about all your feelings, or sit in silence while you soak everything in. Whatever you need in that moment, your doula will provide to you.
Once you move to recovery, your doula will go with you, or if she wasn’t allowed in the OR at all, she will come in as soon as the staff allows. She will sit with you and continue her emotional support. She will know whether you want to talk or just lay. Sleep, or stay awake. She can facilitate getting pictures of your baby to you, or even Facetime or Skype with your partner in the nursery. If the nursery clears the baby to come see you, your partner can bring your little one into the recovery room to be with you.
Your doula can snap a couple of photos of those precious moments as a family, or she can step back and let you have your time together. She can help establish breastfeeding, if that is your desired way to feed your baby. She will support you while you recover by getting you ice chips and placing cold wash cloths on your face and chest because you’re sweating uncontrollably. She’ll grab more blankets when you feel cold and help facilitate updating your family if that’s what you’d like. She will typically wait with you until you are moved into your postpartum room, and then she may even do a food run for your partner (and for you, once the staff clears you to eat!).
Bottom line: she will support you, your partner, and your family in the ways that you need. Just as with a vaginal delivery, she will answer your questions, provide reassurance, help you emotionally process what is happening, and bring some calm in the midst of the what may feel like chaos.
Once you and your new family are settled in, have all your needs met, and questions answered, your doula will leave you to soak in every moment with your partner and new baby. She will check in on you that night or the next day with a phone call, and then come to you a day or two after you get home to help continue that transition.
At Hampton Roads Doulas, we are here to support you, no matter what route your birth takes, and whether it was planned that way or it happened at the last minute. You can feel confident in our knowledge, respect, intuition, and professionalism to carry you through these memorable times when you meet your baby for the first time.