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Answer
I believe everyone should have a doula - especially during a cesarean
section. When you consider that one of the doula's primary jobs is to
preserve positive memories of your birth, thus promoting higher
self-esteem, it stands to reason that moms undergoing a cesarean are
especially in need of doulas.
If you were to have a cesarean, your doula might be useful to you in
many ways. First, if your cesarean was not planned - meaning that at
some point during labor a c-section was recommended - your doula should
be able to guide you in asking questions that will help you gather
necessary information about the reasons your caregiver recommends a
cesarean, the risks and benefits relative to your particular situation
and any alternatives you may have. Hopefully she will then facilitate
you having time alone with your partner so you may process that
information and come to a decision without feeling pressured. Couples
who have a chance to process a cesarean recommendation in this way are
more likely to believe that they made an informed decision rather than
an uninformed one and are, therefore, more likely to be satisfied with
a surgical outcome.
Other ways in which a doula might help with a cesarean section, planned
or unplanned, include:
- Assisting in relaxation during the administration of the spinal or
epidural (this is most likely allowed by the anesthesiologist if the
doula has experience in this area);
- Video taping or photographing the birth (if allowed in your
particular hospital);
- Facilitating closeness between mom and baby by asking the
anesthesiologist if mom's hand may be left unrestrained to touch the
baby when it is brought to her, and by helping to snuggle the baby near
her cheek as she and her partner offer greetings.
There are yet other ways - as you see the list goes on and on - if, as
in many hospitals, the baby and father must leave the operating room for a
mandatory nursery trip before the surgery is finished, the doula can sit by
the mother's head and offer companionship during the long time of
stitching. This is often a lonely time for the mother who has only seen her
baby for a few moments and has likely not yet held him or her. A doula's
presence can be very comforting.
Finally, after surgery, a doula can serve as a go-between for dad in
the nursery and mom in recovery, or between mother and partner in
recovery and baby alone in the nursery. Hearing positive news about her
baby is likely to affect the mother positively during her recovery
period. If the baby is not doing well, a doula can do her best to
support the couple emotionally and buffer the situation as much as
possible. And, as mom's anesthesia is wearing off (often, in my
experience, before the post-op pain medications are available), the
doula can assist in breathing and relaxation, just as she might during
labor. And, last, but not least, the doula can assist in initial
breastfeeding just as after a vaginal birth.
Though it is possible your caregiver may initially be resistant to the
idea of a doula in surgery with you and your partner, you may be able
to convince him or her of the possible benefits to you - especially if
you work with a doula who attended at least a few. And this may not be
as far fetched as it may seem. I know of at least one practice in which
there are doulas who specialize in cesarean.
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