Your guide to writing a C-Section birth plan

A birth plan is a document where you can lay out all your wishes and preferences for the day when you give birth. It’s your way of telling the medical team how you’d like things to happen.

If you are going in for a planned c-section – also known as an elective section -  then you have more control over the whole process than if you’re having a vaginal birth. So, it’s a good idea to put a detailed plan in place so you can give birth the way you want to and in an environment that puts you most at ease.

Do I need to write a birth plan if I’m having a c-section?

You don’t have to, but it is a good idea as it gives you greater control over the whole process. So, it’s a good idea to write down a plan, so that you, your medical team, and your partner all know what you’d like to happen and when.

Will I get help with writing my c-section birth plan?

Your midwife can assist you to write your c-section birth plan if you’d like a hand. This can be very helpful, as you can ask questions about the operation and find out more about what happens. It’s also a chance for your midwife to get to know you better, and understand what’s important to you in relation to the birth. You may be given a form to help you write your plan, or you may be able to write it up in your maternity notes (This is the record of your maternity journey - either digital, or a handheld record book - that you should bring to all your hospital visits). Wherever your c-section birth plan is, you must make sure you have it with you when you go into hospital.

Can I change my c-section birth plan after I’ve written it?

Yes, of course. A caesarean birth plan is a record of your wishes and preferences. And if they change, then you can alter it accordingly.

Should I think about c-section planning if I’m expecting to have a vaginal delivery?

Even if you are expecting  to have a vaginal delivery, it is a good idea to think about the possibility of a c-section and include this in your birth plan. This is because things may change towards the end of your pregnancy, or during your labour, and you could have a c-section for safety reasons. If that happens it’s good for you and your medical team to be aware of how you’d like the operation to happen from your perspective.

Will everything I’ve asked for in my c-section birth plan happen?

Your medical team will do all they can to follow your caesarean birth plan, but remember that it isn't set in stone. A c-section is a major operation and sometimes circumstances might mean that your medical team have to do things differently to how you want them to be. Their prime concern and responsibility is the health of you and your baby, so if and when they change things – which may happen very quickly – it is purely to ensure a safe birth.

What sort of things should I consider when I’m writing a c-section birth plan?

These are some of the things you should think about and try and cover in your caesarean birth plan:

• Any music you want to be played during your c-section – or if you want silence in the room
• Who you would like to have with you during the birth. Equally, write it down if you don’t want anybody with you while you have your operation.
• Whether you would like a screen across your body, so you can’t see the operation taking place, and if you’d like it removed at the point of delivery
• If you’d like someone to take pictures of the birth, or film it
• If you do or don’t want delayed cord cutting (this is when the cutting of the umbilical cord is delayed for a few minutes to enable nutrients to carry on passing through it)  
• At what point you want skin-to-skin contact with your baby

Should I have a post-delivery c-section birth plan?

A c-section is a major operation and it will take you some time to recover. Some of this period will be in hospital, but the majority of your recovery time will be spent at home. So, you should write down how you’d like things to be handled. This serves as a reminder for you and anyone who is helping you. Here are some things you could include:

• Who will be caring for any older children and taking them to nursery, school, clubs etc
• Meal plans – so you know what you’re eating and when and who will be cooking
• Any people you’d like to see during the recovery period, such as family, friends and members of any support groups you belong to
• Details and times of any follow-up appointments you have booked in with your midwife or doctor