There are many reasons a mom may need to have a c section and it can be either planned or considered an emergency. But today, I’m going to be specifically talking about preparing for a scheduled c section.
But before I begin: congratulations mama! I am so excited for you to meet your son or daughter for the first time.
Talking to pregnant moms is one of my favorite things and why I started this blog!
Breech Baby
I knew I was going to have a scheduled c section early on in my third trimester because Luke was breech. His head was up, his feet down, and he was basically sitting on my bladder. You can imagine how some of my drives to work were…
For weeks, my doctor kept encouraging me that there was plenty of time for him to flip and plenty of fluids for him to do so. But he never did. By about 35 weeks, my doctor finally had the conversation with me about a scheduled c section. There were tears shed in the office initially but ultimately came to terms with it pretty quickly.
I had the option for an ECV (external cephalic version) where my doctor would physically attempt to turn the baby from the outside but I declined. I have nothing against people who go that route but for me personally, I felt like it would put too much unneeded stress on my baby. My mind had already accepted that Luke would be born via c section. It just felt right.
Doctors like to schedule c sections for when you’re about 39 weeks to try to avoid you going into labor beforehand. Otherwise, it turns into an emergency c section. My understanding is that it’s harder as they not only need to stop contractions but also deliver the baby out pronto.
Coming to Terms with It
My doctor’s office called me a few days later with the date and time of my procedure. I also received instructions via mail on when to start fasting, what time to arrive for surgery prep, where to check in at the hospital, etc.
A feeling of peace and calmness came over me once I had this information. It gave me plenty of time to pack a hospital bag, install the car seat, wrap up things at work and most importantly, go on a few last date nights with my husband.
If you’re reading this and still apprehensive about your scheduled c section, it’s totally ok. Everyone’s story and expectations about birth are so different. It’s what makes us human! There’s no denying that c sections are unknown territory for you but they’re not the end of the world. Trust me. Yes, it is major surgery and you will need more help than if you gave birth vaginally but you will recover and no one will know the difference.
Do you have any other questions about planning for your scheduled c section that I didn’t address? Drop a comment below and I’d be happy to chat!
Related: Scheduled C Section: What to Expect