Birth Preferences: Cesarean

Written By Magdalena Eschenberg

Read: Evidence on: Skin to Skin After Cesarean

Watch at least one video of a cesarean birth here. 

Options you have in a non-emergent cesarean: 

  • Support person in operating room

  • No arm restraints 

  • Procedure explained as it is happening 

  • Birth focused conversation from staff in operating room 

  • Staff introduce themselves before beginning procedure

  • Music of choice 

  • Gentle cesarean: baby born slowly through incision to mimic the vaginal “squeeze” and provide a slower entry to the outside world (information in linked page above).

  • Delayed cord clamping (Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa’s standard is 90 seconds for cesareans when baby is transitioning well).

  • Lowered drape as baby is born 

  • Clear drape 

  • Skin-to-skin in OR 

  • Help initiating breastfeeding in OR if baby begins cueing to feed 

Magdalena Eschenberg
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Entering the Third Trimester: Prep for Cesarean Birth