Hello, my name is Brenda Minica. I am a San Antonio doula certified with Childbirth International.

Having had seven children of my own I have "been there" and I know how helpful a little encouragement and the right information can be. Even if you don't need a doula in San Antonio, TX right now I would love to help you in whatever way I can!

So please e-Mail me, or connect with me on Twitter or my Facebook group if I can be of service.

With love, Brenda


Apr
28
2009
0

Recovering from a Cesarean Birth

Recovering From a Cesarean Birth: Tips on Healing

Cesarean birth is major abdominal surgery. New mothers need and deserve to have extra support during this special time of birth and healing. Women who have experienced either a planned or an unplanned cesarean section react to the surgery in very individual ways. Some women physically heal very quickly; others report that recovery took several weeks or even months. Avoid putting time limits on yourself. Emotionally, women’s feelings about their cesarean sections vary in range from acceptance, to disappointment, to devastation. Some women need as much emotional support as physical support for a healthy recovery. Each woman heals and grows into her new role of motherhood at her own pace. In time, you will regain your energy level and sense of well being.

To Relieve Pain and Assist Physical Healing:

At hospital:

* Ask for physical assistance, and keep nurses’ call button within easy reach.
* Take pain medication as needed for comfort. Try to avoid pain medications containing codeine as they cause constipation, making it hard to void after cesarean surgery.
* If possible, obtain a private room so that a family member may remain with you.
* Use pillows to support your abdomen when turning, standing, coughing, and when feeding the baby.
* Rest as much as possible and limit visitors. Sleep when baby sleeps.
* Rock in a rocking chair as soon as possible after surgery to speed recovery and reduce gas.
* Take short walks.
* Eat nutritious food and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid cold and carbonated beverages.
* The surgery will slow down your digestive tract, to help with constipation, try an over-the-counter stool softener, NOT a laxative.
* Each time you stand after the surgery stretch up to uncramp stomach muscles and reduce adhesions.

At home:

* Have several diapering stations so you can change baby easily.
* Let others do household chores like cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
* Check the incision daily, or have someone check it for redness, which can be a sign of infection.
* Have a list to things that need done, so when people ask, you can remember what needs done.
* Take care of yourself and your baby only.
* Remember not to lift anything heavier than your baby.
* Stay in your pajamas, so people remember you are recovering from birth and surgery.
* On the other hand, sometimes taking a shower and getting dressed really does wonders psychologically. Even in the hospital, it can help to put on your OWN clothes.
* Keep the baby near you at night so you do not have to get up.
* Have a basket that you can carry easily with nutritious snacks, fingernail clippers, lotion, a book, and other little necessary things in it.
* Eat well and drink water freely. Have a pitcher of water or juice near you.
* If you have other children, secure assistance in caring for them from family and friends.
* Consider hiring a postpartum doula.
* Increase activity gradually.

To Promote Emotional Healing:

* Keep your baby near you as much as possible and get to know your new baby.
* Breastfeed your baby to promote bonding, and release beneficial mothering hormones.
* Share your feelings with others and talk about your experience as much as you feel necessary.
* It is normal to experience a wide range of emotions including relief, happiness, sadness, anger, and feelings of loss and failure.
* Write your baby’s birth story.
* Write letters to the hospital and your doctor, explaining what you did and did not like about your birth- you can mail them, or not, but it is beneficial to write your thoughts down.
* Seek support from available resources including breastfeeding, parental, and cesarean support groups.

Read books on natural childbirth, cesarean birth, and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). There are many varied reasons why a birth may have ended in a cesarean section. If you plan to have any more children, it is important for you to know that it is very likely you can have a vaginal birth next time. When you are ready to learn about VBAC, ICAN can help you find the information and support you need.

This may be copied and distributed with retained copyright.
© International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved

 Mail this post
Written by admin in: Cesarean/VBAC | Tags: , , , , ,
Mar
04
2009
0

Cesarean Fact Sheet

*Note from Brenda: The cesarean rate in Texas for 2006 was 33.2% and is much higher in certain hospitals in our area. This is an issue that every pregnant woman needs to be informed about.

Cesarean Fact Sheet

 

  • These facts are presented by the International Cesarean Awareness Network with the hope that parents, childbirth educators, doulas, nurses, midwives and doctors together can effectively reduce the rate of unnecessary cesarean sections and their effects.
  • A cesarean (si-‘zar-E-an) section is major abdominal surgery used for the delivery of an infant through an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus. The incision may be made across the bottom of the abdomen above the pubic area (transverse) or in rare instances, in a line from the belly button to the pubic area (vertical). Learn More: Cesarean section – what happens during delivery.
  • When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a lifesaving procedure for both mother and baby.1 However, psychological outcomes such as negative feelings, fear, guilt, anger and postpartum depression are common consequences of both emergent and elective cesarean sections.2,3,4 A cesarean section is only indicated in the following situations:

 

  • Complete placenta previa at term
  • Transverse lie at complete dilation
  • Prolapsed cord
  • Abrupted placenta
  • Eclampsia or HELLP with failed induction of labor
  • Large uterine tumor that blocks the cervix at complete dilation (Most fibroids will move upwards as the cervix opens, moving it out of baby’s path.)
  • True fetal distress confirmed with a fetal scalp sampling or biophysical profile
  • True absolute cephalopelvic disproportion or CPD (baby too large for pelvis). This is extremely rare and only associated with a pelvic deformity (or an incorrectly healed pelvic break). Fetal positioning during labour and maternal positioning during second stage, most notably when women are in a semi-sitting position, cause most CPD diagnosed in current obstetrics.5
  • Initial outbreak of active herpes at the onset of labor
  • Uterine rupture

 

  • Many reasons given for cesarean, especially prior to labour, can and should be questioned. This includes macrosomia (large baby),6,7,8 maternal age,9 and parity,10 assisted reproductive technology,11 CPD,12 dystocia, failure to progress, breech,13,14 fetal distress or even prolonged second stage.15 There are very few true indications for a cesarean section in which the risks of surgery will outweigh the risks of vaginal birth.16
  • The cesarean section rate remains at an alarmingly higher rate in many industrialized countries than the 10-15% average recommended by the World Health Organization, causing unnecessary risk to both mother and baby.17 Healthy People 2010 recommends a reduction in cesarean births in the US to 15% by 2010.18
  • A cesarean poses documented medical risks to the mother’s health. These risks include infection,19 blood loss and hemorrhage,20 hysterectomy,21,22 transfusions,23 bladder and bowel injury,24,25 incisional endometriosis,26,27 heart and lung complications,28 blood clots in the legs,29 anesthesia complications,30 and rehospitalization due to surgical complications,31 rate of establishment and ongoing breastfeeding is reduced,32 and psychological well-being compromised and increased rate emotional trauma.33 Potential chronic complications from scar tissue adhesions include pelvic pain, bowel problems, and pain during sexual intercourse.34 Scar tissue makes subsequent cesareans more difficult to perform, increasing the risk of injury to other organs and the risk of chronic problems from adhesions.35 One-half of all women who have undergone a cesarean section suffer complications, and the mortality rate is at least two to four times that of women with vaginal births. Approximately 180 women die annually in the United States from elective repeat cesareans alone.
  • Each successive cesarean greatly increases the risk of developing placenta previa, placenta accreta and placental abruption in subsequent pregnancies.36,37,38 Both of these complications pose life-threatening risks to mother and baby. Cesareans also increase the odds of secondary infertility, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy in subsequent pregnancies.39,40
  • A cesarean poses documented medical risks to the baby’s health.41 These risks include respiratory distress syndrome (RDS),42,43,44,45 iatrogenic prematurity (when surgery is performed because of an error in determining the due date), 46,47 persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH),48 and surgery-related fetal injuries such as lacerations.49,50 Preliminary studies also have found cesarean delivery significantly alters the capability of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) to produce cytokines.51 An elective cesarean section significantly increases the risk to the infant of premature birth and respiratory distress syndrome, both of which are associated with multiple complications, intensive care and burdensome financial cost. Even with mature babies, the absence of labor increases the risk of breathing problems and other complications. Far from doing better, even premature and at risk babies born by cesarean fare worse than those born vaginally.
  • Cesareans can delay the opportunity for early mother-newborn interaction, breastfeeding, and the establishment of family bonds.52,53,54
  • Cesarean rates are influenced by nonmedical factors. These include: individual philosophy and training, convenience of doctor or patient, the patient’s socioeconomic status, peer pressure, fear of litigation, and financial gain.55,56,57
  • In the United States, obstetricians offer defensive medicine as an excuse for the astronomical and sharply rising U.S. cesarean rate. Deliberately performing unnecessary surgery in the belief it avoids lawsuits is indefensible. That many obstetricians seem oblivious to the profound violation of ethical principles is shocking.58,59
  • Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) is safer for both mother and infant, in most cases, than is routine elective cesarean, which is major surgery.60,61,62,63,64,65,66 Learn More in our VBAC Section.
  • The risk to your infant from the very low incidence of uterine rupture (less than 1%) after a prior cesarean is much less than the risk to your infant from respiratory distress as a result of a scheduled cesarean.67,68,69,70

 

The International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) founded as Cesarean Prevention Movement in 1982, has chapters, individuals, an international newsletter (the Clarion), email line and website ready to give you support and information. For more information, please call               1-800-686-ICAN        or visit http://www.ican-online.org/.

 

 

References:

1. Wagner M. Choosing Cesarean Section. Lancet 2000; 356: 1677-80.
2. Ryding, Elsa Lena, Wijma, Klaas & Wijma, Barbro. Experiences of Emergency Cesarean Section: A Phenomenological Study of 53 Women. Birth 1998; 25 (4), 246-251.
3. Soet, Johanna E., Brack, Gregory A. & DiIorio, Colleen. Prevalence and Predictors of Women’s Experience of Psychological Trauma During Childbirth. Birth 2003; 30 (1), 36-46.
4. Koo, Vincent, Lynch, Janine & Cooper, Stephen. Risk of postnatal depression after emergency delivery. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research 2003; 29 (4), 246-250.
5. Gupta J, Glanville J, Johnson N, et al. The effect of squatting on pelvic dimensions. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1991;42: 19-22.
6. Parry S, Severs CP, Sehdev HM, Macones GA, White LM, Morgan MA. Ultrasonographic Prediction of Fetal Macrosomia: Association with Cesarean Delivery. J Reprod Med 2000;45:17-22.
7. Haram, Kjell, Pirohonen; Jouko, Bergsjo. Suspected big baby: a difficult clinical problem in obstetrics. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2002; 81 (3), 185-194.
8. Sandmire, Herbert F. & Woolley, Robert J. IN THE LITERATURE Macrosomia: Can We Prevent Big Problems with Big Babies? Birth 25 1998; (4), 263-267.
9. Kozinszky, Zoltán, Orvos, Hajnalka, Zoboki, Tünde, Katona, Márta, Wayda, Kornelia, Pál, Attilla, Kovács, László. Risk factors for cesarean section of primiparous women aged over 35 years. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2002; 81 (4), 313-316.
10. Qublan, Hussein, Alghoweri, Ahmad, Al-Taani, Mohammad, Abu-Khait, Sami, Abu-Salem, Areej & Merhej, Ahmad. Cesarean section rate: The effect of age and parity. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2002; 28 (1), 22-25.
11. Kozinszky, Zoltán, Zádori, János, Orvos, Hajnalka, Katona, Márta, Pál, Attila & Kovács, László. Obstetric and neonatal risk of pregnancies after assisted reproductive technology: a matched control study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2003; 82 (9), 850-856.
12. Brabin, Loretta, Verhoeff, Francine, Brabin, Bernard. Maternal height, birthweight and cephalo pelvic disproportion in urban Nigeria and rural Malawi. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2002; 81 (6), 502-507.
13. Usta, Ihab M., Nassar, Anwar H., Khabbaz, Antoun Y. & Abu Musa, Antoine A. Undiagnosed term breech: Impact on mode of delivery and neonatal outcome. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2003; 82 (9), 841-844.
14. Keirse, Marc J.N.C. Evidence-Based Childbirth Only For Breech Babies? .Birth 2002; 29 (1), 55-59.
15. Janni, Wolfgang, Schiessl, Barbara, Peshcers, Ursula, Huber, Sandra, Strobl, Barbara, Hantschmann, Peer, Uhlmann, Natalie, Dimpfl, Thomas, Rammel, Gerhard & Kainer, Franz.. The prognostic impact of a prolonged second stage of labor on maternal and fetal outcome. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2002; 81 (3), 214-221.
16. Wagner M. Choosing Cesarean Section. Lancet 2000;356: 1677-80.
17. World Health Organization. Appropriate technology for birth. Lancet 1985; 2:436-7.
18. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010. 2nd ed. With Understanding and Improving Health and Objectives for Improving Health. 2 vols. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000.Objective 16-9.
19. Henderson EJ & Love EJ. Incidence of hospital-acquired infections associated with cesarean section. J Hosp Infect 1995; 29: 245-255.
20. van Ham MA, van Dongen PW & Mulder J. Maternal consequences of caesarean section. A retrospective study of intra-operative and postoperative maternal complications of caesarean section during a 10-year period. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1997; 74: 1-6.
21. Engelsen, Ingeborg Bøe, Albrechtsen, Susanne & Iversen, Ole Erik. Peripartum hysterectomy-incidence and maternal morbidity. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2001 80 (5), 409-412.
22. Bergholt, Thomas, Stenderup, Jens Karl, Vedsted-Jakobsen, Agnete, Helm, Peter & Lenstrup, Carsten. Intraoperative surgical complication during cesarean section: an observational study of the incidence and risk factors. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 2003; 82 (3), 251-256.
23. Naef RW III, Washburne JF, Martin RW et al. Hemorrhage associated with cesarean delivery: When is transfusion needed? J Perinatol 1995; 15: 32-35.
24. Eisenkop SM, Richman R, Platt LD & Paul RH. Urinary tract injury during cesarean section. Obstet Gynecol 1982; 60: 591-596.
25. Davis JD. Management of injuries to the urinary and gastrointestinal tract during cesarean section. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 1999; 26: 469-480.
26. Wolf Y, Haddad R, Werbin N, Skornick Y, Kaplan O. Endometriosis in abdominal scars: A diagnostic pitfall. Am Surg 1996; 62(12):1042-4.
27. Wolf GC, Singh KB. Cesarean scar endometriosis: A review. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1989; 44(2):89-95.
28. Lydon-Rochelle M, Holt VL, Martin DP, Easterling TR. Association between method of delivery and maternal rehospitalization. J Amer Med Assoc 2000; 283(18):2411-2416.
29. Lydon-Rochelle M, Holt VL, Martin DP, Easterling TR. Association between method of delivery and maternal rehospitalization. J Amer Med Assoc 2000; 283(18):2411-2416.
30. Kawashima, Y., Takahashi, S., Suzuki, M., Morita, K., Irita, K., Iwao, Y., Seo, N., Tsuzaki, K., Dohi, S., Kobayashi, T., Goto, Y., Suzuki, G., Fujii, A., Suzuki, H., Yokoyama, K. & Kugimiya, T. Anesthesia-related mortality and morbidity over a 5-year period in 2,363,038 patients in Japan. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 2003; 47 (7), 809-817.
31. Lydon-Rochelle M, Holt VL, Martin DP, Easterling TR. Association between method of delivery and maternal rehospitalization. J Amer Med Assoc 2000; 283(18):2411-2416.
32. Lydon-Rochelle MT, Holt VL, Martin DP. Delivery method and self-reported postpartum general health status among primiparous women. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2001 Jul;15(3):241-2.
33. Ryding, Elsa Lena, Wijma, Klaas & Wijma, Barbro. Experiences of Emergency Cesarean Section: A Phenomenological Study of 53 Women. Birth 1998; 25 (4), 246-251.
34. Hesham Al-Inany. Intrauterine adhesions; An update. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 1998; Vol. 80, 11: 986-993.
35. Almeida EC, Nogueira AA, Candido dos Reis FJ, Rosa e Silva JC. Cesarean section as a cause of chronic pelvic pain. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2002 Nov;79(2):101-4.
36. Zaideh, SM et al. Placenta praevia and accreta: Analysis of a two-year experience. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1998; 46(2):96-8.
37. Ananth, CV et al. The association of placenta previa with history of cesarean delivery and abortion: A meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 177(5):1071-78.
38. Miller DA, Chollet JA & Goodwin TM. Clinical risk factors for placenta previa-placenta accreta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 177: 210-214.
39. Hemminki, E and Merilainen, J. Long-term effects of cesarean sections: Ectopic pregnancies and placental problems. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996; 174(5):1569-74.
40. Hall MH, Campbell DM, Fraser C & Lemon J. Mode of delivery and future fertility. Brit J Obstet Gynecol 1989; 96: 1297-1303.
41. Wagner M. Choosing Cesarean Section. Lancet 2000;356: 1677-80.
42. Morrison JJ, Rennie JM, Milton PJ. Neonatal respiratory morbidity and mode of delivery at term: Influence of timing of elective caesarean section. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1995; 102:101-6.
43. Hales KA, Morgan MA, Thurnau GR. Influence of labor and route of delivery on the frequency of respiratory morbidity in term neonates. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1993; 43(1):35-40.
44. Levine EM, Ghai V, Barton JJ, Strom CM. Mode of delivery and risk of respiratory diseases in newborns. Obstet Gynecol 2001;97(3):439-42.
45. Parilla BV, Dooley SL, Jansen RD, and Socol ML. Iatrogenic respiratory distress syndrome following elective repeat cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol 1993; 81(3):392-5.
46. Lydon-Rochelle MT, Holt VL, Martin DP. Delivery method and self-reported postpartum general health status among primiparous women. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;15(3):241-2.
47. Lydon-Rochelle M, Holt VL, Martin DP, Easterling TR. Association between method of delivery and maternal rehospitalization. J Amer Med Assoc 2000; 283(18):2411-2416.
48. Levine EM, Ghai V, Barton JJ, Strom CM. Mode of delivery and risk of respiratory diseases in newborns. Obstet Gynecol 2001; 97:439–42.
49. Smith J, Hernandez C, Wax J 1997. Fetal laceration injury at cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol 90:344-6.
50. Fawcett J, Pollio N & Tully A. Women’s perceptions of cesarean and vaginal delivery: Another look. Res Nurs Health 1992; 15: 439-446
51. Brown, Mark A., Rad, Parmis Y. & Halonen, Marilyn J. (2003) Method of birth alters interferon-gamma and interleukin-12 production by cord blood mononuclear cells. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 14 (2), 106-111.
52. Soet, Johanna E., Brack, Gregory A. & DiIorio, Colle en. Prevalence and Predictors of Women’s Experience of Psychological Trauma During Childbirth. Birth 2003; 30 (1), 36-46.
53. Dahlberg, Karin, Berg, Marie & Lundgren, Ingela. Commentary: Studying Maternal Experiences of Childbirth. Birth 1999; 26 (4), 215-217.
54. Rowe-Murray, Heather J. & Fisher, Jane R.W. Baby Friendly Hospital Practices: Cesarean Section is a Persistent Barrier to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding. Birth 2002; 29 (2), 124-131.
55. Sleutel, Martha R. Intrapartum Nursing Care: A Case Study of Supportive Interventions and Ethical Conflicts. Birth 2000; 27 (1), 38-45.
56. FIGO Committee for the Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction and Women’s Health. Ethical aspects regarding cesarean delivery for non-medical reasons. Int J Obs & Gynae;64:317-322, 1999
57. Beilin, Y., Friedman, F., Andres, L. A., Hossain, S. & Bodian, C. A. The effect of the obstetrician group and epidural analgesia on the risk for cesarean delivery in nulliparous women. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 2000; 44 (8), 959-964.
58. Greene, M.F. (2001).Vaginal delivery after cesarean section-is the risk acceptable? N Eng J Med 345:54-5.
59. Wagner M. Choosing Cesarean Section. Lancet 2000;356: 1677-80.
60. Lydon-Rochelle M, Holt VL, Easterling TR, Martin DP. Risk of uterine rupture during labor among women with prior cesarean delivery. N Engl J Med 2001;345:3-8.
61. Mozerkewich, EL and Hutton EK.Elective repeat cesarean delivery versus trial of labor: A meta-analysis of the literature from 1989 to 1999. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000 Nov.; Vol. 183, 1187-1197.
62. Gregory KD, Korst, LM, Cane P, Platt, LD, Kahn, K. Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and Uterine Rupture Rates in California. Obstet Gynecol 1999 Dec; Vol.94, 985-989.
63. Rageth JC, Juzi C, Grossenbacher, H. Delivery After Previous Cesarean: A Risk Evaluation. Obstet Gynecol 1999 Mar; 93: 332-337.
64. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (1999). Vaginal birth after previous cesarean delivery. ACOG Practice Bulletin, No. 5. Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
65. Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Vaginal Birth after Previous Caesarean Birth. SOGC Clinical Practice Guidelines Policy Statement No. 68. JSOGC 1997;19:1425-28.
66. Mozurkewich. VBAC Safer than You Think. ObG Management 2002; 14:56.
67. Morrison JJ, Rennie JM, Milton PJ. Neonatal respiratory morbidity and mode of delivery at term: Influence of timing of elective caesarean section. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1995; 102:101-6.
68. Hales KA, Morgan MA, Thurnau GR. Influence of labor and route of delivery on the frequency of respiratory morbidity in term neonates. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1993; 43(1):35-40.
69. Levine EM, Ghai V, Barton JJ, Strom CM. Mode of delivery and risk of respiratory diseases in newborns. Obstet Gynecol 2001;97(3):439-42.
70. Parilla BV, Dooley SL, Jansen RD, and Socol ML. Iatrogenic respiratory distress syndrome following elective repeat cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol 1993; 81(3):392-5.

 

This may be copied and distributed with retained copyright.
© International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 Mail this post
Written by admin in: Cesarean/VBAC | Tags: , , ,


Doula San Antonio - San Antonio Doula