What happens during a Belly Birth!?
Belly Birth / Caesarian Section - What Happens & How to Prep
Knowing what a belly birth entails can remove fear and anxiety and help you prepare positively for meeting your baby. Caesarian sections can absolutely be empowering and positive ways to welcome your baby into the world. Here’s what you need to know to help this be the case!
We want this experience to be woman/family-centric and that you are listened to and treated with respect with all your decisions as you welcome your baby. It’s important to think about all your options, discuss this with your care-givers and that you are listened to and supported.
Ask about Gentle Caesarian when discussing options with your midwife and obstetrician and see what they can facilitate from playing your favourite tunes from your birth playlist in the theatre to delayed cord clamping; lots is possible!
You can still use your Yoga Birth Breathing and Relaxation Practices to stay calm. Just take big slow deep breaths to self-regulate.
Another good tip is to talk to your baby and let them know what is happening before and during the procedure. They are full conscious beings, who might have been expecting another kind of entrance into the world(!!), so even if it’s just out of politeness, talk it through with them so they know on some level what your birth plan is.
You will be asked to have ‘nil by mouth’ which basically means no food from when you go to bed the night before. Do pack snacks & drinks for your birth partner as they will need something to keep them going and have your fav treats ready for later on… you’ll be hungry then!
Usually you are invited in for 7am so there is time to relax while everyone gets ready.
Your consultant obstetrician will come to discuss everything through with you, introduce you to the team and midwife. They will run through what will happen and when your belly birth is likely to happen and they will ask if you have any questions at all.
It might be an idea to ask about the following:
gentle c-sections
music
monitors on your back instead of your chest
arms be free
your gown be open so you can slide it down and hold you baby in skin-to-skin and breastfeeding straight away (partner may need to assist as your arms might be shakey (shock and the drugs)
When being prepped for surgery, a sample of your blood may be taken and checked for anemia and your blood group. Your pubic hair may be shaved for the incision and then swabbed with an orange antiseptic liquid.
You will be given a gown & compression stockings to wear and your birthing partner will scrub up and be given theatre clothes to wear. It might involve wearing a mask, removing jewellery, hair clips, nail varnish and glasses or contacts.
When you get into theatre, you’ll notice its busy with at least 8-10 people including midwives for you and the baby, obstetrician, surgical assistants, anaesthetist, nurses and paediatricians. The team do a resister - usually twice - to check everyone needed is there and to introduce them to you.
It’s also bright with a big ring of lights over the bed.
You have several pain relief options - general (sleep) / spinal block or an epidural (usually from being in labour) means you can be awake.
A spinal is the most common anaesthetic for women giving birth who want to be awake for the procedure when it is an elective belly birth. It involves an injection of local anaesthetic and strong pain killers into a bag of fluid that gives sensation to the tummy and back; with a very fine needle.
You will be asked to sit very still curling your back so they can find the right space to insert the needle. You’ll feel a cold cleaning solution which will be sprayed, then some prodding, then a numbing sensation.
Once the anaesthetic starts to work, a catheter will be inserted.
You may feel sensations and rummaging or tugging, but not pain during the actual op. Cold spray will check your pain responses before surgery starts. If you feel tingling going down your leg this is nothing to worry about but do tell the anesthetist about this.
If you prefer to be asleep or if mum becomes unwell, then it’s a General Anesthetic - birth partners will be asked to wait in another room and will look after the baby with your midwife until you are awake.
Once it starts, your bottom and legs will feel warm, like you are sitting on a heated car seat. A catheter will be inserted and some antibiotics administered to help prevent wound infections.
If you feel sick, let them know as as more medicine can be given to help with this.
Usually your gown acts as a screen for the procedure, but if you’d like to see whats happening ask for a clear one or for it to be lowered. The surgeon usually lifts the baby out but again if this is something you’d like to help with or do, please state this as your preference beforehand.
If you do not already know the sex of your baby, you may prefer to find out yourself so state this in your birth wish list.
You might be able to see the reflection of everything happening in the surgical lamp or your surgeons goggles - so if you’d like to look, look and if not don’t - look at your birth partner instead!
You should be able to have skin to skin - lower down the top of your gown and have your birth partner hold the baby across your chest. Enjoy this magical moment as you meet your baby!!
Medicine through the drip will stop bleeding from the womb and additional anti inflammatories will reduce pain.
You may request delayed cord clamping (you could even go for a lotus birth keeping the placenta and cord intact until you are ready to cut it later on) and delayed weighing and measuring in order to have that vital “golden hour” which promotes prolactin, regulates baby’s breathing and heart rate, and deepens the bond between you both.
You could ask for your birth partner to be present, or birth photographer if you’re having one, or birth doula. Usually 1 person is allowed into theatre with you, occasionally two but you might need to push for it.
You can also ask for a vaginal swab to seed baby with your microbiome. This is a fascinating idea. I’d suggest you watch the docu-film microbiome and listen to our podcast with Toni Harmen which is all about this.
Once you have had your baby, the surgeon will stick you back up again - this can take 3045mins. Just relax and enjoy meeting your baby.
After this you will be taken into the recovery room for at least 30mins to 4-6hours whilst observations are taken. You can have something to eat and be given help to latch the baby to the breast. Once you are stable, you are then transferred to the postnatal ward.
After effects - It takes around 6-8 hrs for feeling to come back. It is common to have itching or pins and needles for 24hrs after a spinal/epidural - and meds are available to help with this. You may have a small dressing on your back when your spinal was.
You will be encouraged to get up and move around, maybe even later that day. At some point your drip and catheter will be removed too.
Once baby is feeding and you are comfortable on your pain meds, you should be planning to go home - for many people you may be in hospital for around 2-4 days and recovery will take several weeks - 8 weeks.
Your anaesthetist may check on you the day after - if you are worried, have a headache or feeling or strength doesn’t feel right, please tell your midwife/anaesthetist.
Additional meds or iron tablets will be discussed with you and you’ll be able to contact your midwife once home if you need to ask anything at all.
The c-section wound dressing will be in place for at least 24hrs - then every day gently clean and dry it - a shower is ok but do not sit in the bath until after at least 3 weeks and when your care-provider has given you the ok.
Wear loose, comfy clothes and cotton underwear (pads for bleeding). Take pain killers if it is sore (paracetamol or ibuprofen but not aspirin) - and watch out for signs of infection (red, swelling, puss, smelly).
Non-dissolvable stitches or stapes will usually be taken out by your midwife after 5-7days.
The wound will form a scar usually around 10cms long. This should fade over time however I also recommend myofascial scar tissue massage to help promote healing, reduce numbness and overhang.
Stay mobile and gently active perhaps a short daily walk for example to reduce the risk of blood clots but do not over exert yourself.
For around 6-8 weeks you may not be able to drive, exercise, carry anything heavier than your baby or have sex; only start with these when you feel comfortable and ready. If unsure check in with your midwife.
You will also have an appointment called a 6 week check with your GP. Ask them to check for separated tummy muscles and let them know how you feel in your pelvic floor. I would also highly recommend you also book a women’s health physio appointment to have a thorough postnatal once over and be given specific exercises to help with your recovery.
When to get medical advice:
Contact your midwife or a GP straight away if you have any of the following symptoms after a caesarean:
severe pain
leaking urine
pain when peeing
heavy vaginal bleeding
your wound becomes more red, painful and swollen
a discharge of pus or foul-smelling fluid from your wound
a cough or shortness of breath
swelling or pain in your lower leg
These symptoms may be the sign of an infection or blood clot, which should be treated as soon as possible.
A c-section doesn’t have to mean resignation to a medical, clinical birth. It can still be positive, memorable and magical! Just remember it is your body and your choice and always use the BRAIN process to assess risks vs. benefits to make you sure you are really making your own best informed decisions along the way. Oh and just because it’s procedure/policy/protocol doesn’t make it the law; you have birth and human rights in this space so if there is something you want, negotiate and advocate for yourself. You got this!
We hope this helps you! Good luck with making all your decisions and may your belly birth be a postive one!