How To Have a Positive Caesarean Birth With Hypnobirthing
Birthing your baby by planned caesarean and want a positive birth experience that feels empowering? Here are some suggestions for how to prepare for your c-section, a sample birth plan, and some tips on how to aid recovery after a caesarean.
Preparing for Your Caesarean Birth with Hypnobirthing Techniques
Firstly, write and use some affirmations specifically for your caesarean, to help relax and relieve fear.
Listen to the track on your Hypnobirthing Album for caesarean birth every day if possible. Here’s a free 10-minute audio track for you to listen to if you don’t have the album.
Practice the breathing techniques alone and with your partner - these will be invaluable in the morning before birth and in theatre
Listen to the 'safe place' track on the album - this is very useful in theatre also to take you away if you feel overwhelmed or nervous
Think about the hour after birth in recovery - what would you like it to be like? This can make a real difference to how you experience the birth
Make a caesarean birth plan even if it's quite short with just a few key points like below, you can find some longer examples here.
Sample: Caesarean Birth Plan Choices
Music in theatre.
Write a short letter to the team who is providing your care that is read out by the anaesthetist at the beginning to set the mood/ tone.
Turn the gown so it opens at the front after the spinal is cited.
Ask for the cannula in my non-dominant arm/hand.
Sticky pads on my back, not chest so they don’t stick into the baby during skin to skin.
Birth partner to keep me calm with slow breathing, lavender on a tissue, relaxing touch.
Screen lowered/ not lowered as the baby is born.
Delayed cord clamping of 1 minute.
Skin to skin in theatre with myself/ partner.
We would prefer to delay the first checks on the baby until we have had 1-2 hours of skin to skin.
Recovery after Caesarean Birth
You can begin your scar massage two weeks after the birth when the scab has fallen off, here is an excellent video about healing after caesarean birth.
Warmest wishes to you all, Nissa xx