Whether your C-section is planned or unexpected, it can help to know your options ahead of time. Birth is unpredictable, and while we can never guarantee exactly how it will unfold, feeling informed can help you feel calmer and supported.
Cesarean birth is still birth, and it deserves to be treated with respect. There is nothing to be ashamed of if your baby is born by C-section. You are still bringing your baby into the world, and your experience still matters.
The U.S. cesarean delivery rate was 32.4% in 2024, which means about 1 in 3 babies are born by C-section.1 Here are practical tips to help you prepare for a more positive cesarean birth experience before, during, and after surgery.
Key Takeaways
- Cesarean birth is still birth, and it can still be meaningful and supported.
- Asking questions ahead of time can help you understand your C-section options.
- Some preferences, like music, photos, screen lowering, skin-to-skin, and partner involvement, may be possible depending on your hospital and medical situation.
- Recovery support matters, especially because a C-section is major abdominal surgery.
- Every hospital and birth situation is different, so talk with your provider about what is safe and available for you.
What to Do Before Your C-Section
Preparing ahead of time can help you feel calmer and more in control on the day of your baby’s birth.
1. Be an Active Participant
Just as you would educate yourself about your choices for a vaginal birth, you should do the same with a C-section. You may think there aren’t many options available, but there are! This is your birth, your body, and your baby. The more involved you are in making informed decisions that affect your birth experience, the more likely you will have a satisfying birth, even if it’s not what you expected or planned.3
Related: Questions to Ask When Planning a C-Section
2. Learn To Relax
Birth has a strong mental and emotional component.5 Feeling informed, supported, and as relaxed as possible can positively influence your experience, whether you’re having a vaginal birth or a C-section.
You can incorporate relaxation into your cesarean birth in many different ways. For example, you could bring essential oils, meditate, focus on your breathing and visualizations, and play music, among other options. All these tools are effective in calming anxieties.6,7,8
Related: Breathing Techniques for Labor and How They Help
3. Hire a Doula
Most people may think that doulas are only helpful to families having vaginal births. In reality, doulas can also be incredibly helpful during a cesarean birth. Doulas can comfort, distract, and calm uncertain or nervous couples, as well as explain and answer questions. They can be a calming presence and stay with you throughout the pre-op, surgery, and post-op periods.4 Doctors and nurses are busy doing their critical jobs, so they won’t necessarily have the time to explain each detail and calm your fears. A doula can do that!
For most planned and discussed (non-emergency) C-sections, your doula should be allowed in the operating room (OR) with you and your partner. To be safe, tell your OB that you would like your doula to be in the operating room with you and your partner, and how important it is for her to be there. Your provider can let you know what is allowed based on hospital policy and your medical situation.
Related: Can You Hire a Doula for a C-Section?
4. Pamper Yourself Before Birth
Before the big day, take the time to treat yourself! Get a manicure and pedicure with your girlfriends, get a blowout, or have an amazing dinner with your partner the night before your baby’s birth. Before walking into the hospital, you should feel relaxed, loved, and ready to meet your baby. This is your day, so make it special!
What to Do During Your C-Section
Once you arrive at the hospital, these practical tips can help make your cesarean experience feel more personal, supported, and empowering.
Every C-section is different. Some preferences may depend on your hospital’s policies, your provider’s recommendations, and how you and your baby are doing in the moment.
1. Introduce Yourself to the Birth Team
When you arrive at the hospital and are preparing for surgery, ask to meet each person in the OR before the surgery begins. Having this time to meet everyone by name and understand their role during your baby’s birth is an easy and beautiful way to humanize this (usually) clinical experience.
C-sections are performed daily, so this small practice can create a connection and remind the staff that you aren’t just another surgery. You are a woman preparing to meet your baby and have a meaningful birth experience. Meeting the people around you will make you feel a little more relaxed and safer, knowing that you and your baby are in their care.
Related: Emergency C-Sections: Causes, Risks, and Recovery
2. Ask About the Bladder Catheter
Most of the time, the hospital staff will wait to insert the bladder catheter after the epidural or spinal is placed, but you should ask for this just to be safe. This ensures your lower abdomen will be numb, so you won’t be uncomfortable or in pain when the bladder catheter is inserted.
3. Ask To Have Your Arms Free
Many women don’t know that the medical staff may strap down both of your arms flat beside you when you’re having a C-section. With the medications you’re given, you could have the shakes or lift your arms and hit the sanitized screen. Some doctors take precautions and strap down their patients’ arms to prevent any of that from happening. If you’re uncomfortable with this, you can ask to have your arms free or at least have one free.
4. Play Music
Did you know you can create a playlist for your C-section? That’s right! I recommend picking different songs to play before, during, and immediately after surgery. Most people prefer calm or happy music. I’ve heard some interesting playlists, though. Music is a great distraction, and it can help set the mood and energy in the room during your baby’s birth. (Note: You may have to bring/wear your earbuds if you can’t have the music played out loud.)
Related: Best Songs for Your Birth Playlist
5. Pray, Meditate, or Use Affirmations
Pre-op is usually the time when women become the most anxious and nervous. So, before things begin, take a moment with your partner to pray or read some positive birth affirmations or mantras. This can help calm your mind.7,9
6. Take Pictures
I’m all about capturing this special time in your lives! You can never relive those first precious moments again, so having those photos is priceless. You can hire a birth photographer or ask your doula to help you with pictures. Having a designated person (besides your partner) capture the emotions and love of both of you as you welcome your child into the world is an incredible gift.
Related: The Power of Birth Photography
7. Decide Whether You Want a Play-by-Play
Some women find it helpful and reassuring to know what’s happening during their C-section. Others don’t want to know all the details. Consider this and decide whether you want a play-by-play of what’s happening.
Most people don’t prefer play-by-play since (sometimes) the medical staff can talk about other things that aren’t so warm and fuzzy (like what they did that weekend, what other surgeries they have scheduled for the day, their last golf game, etc.). Remember, this surgery is routine for them.
It’s okay to ask them beforehand to explain what’s happening to your body and baby throughout the procedure. In these moments, it’s all about you!
8. Ask About Lowering the Screen
I’m not talking about seeing the surgery. I’m talking about seeing your baby be born once they’re lifted up. You don’t want them to immediately whisk your baby to the warmer unless absolutely necessary. If you would like to see your baby as they are born, ask whether the screen can be lowered at the right moment.
9. Have Your Partner Participate
Your partner can still participate in the C-section. They can talk to you, keep you calm when your nerves are heightened, hold your hand, announce the gender of the baby once the baby is born (if you don’t know it already), and cut the cord.
If your partner wants to cut the cord, the doctor will typically cut it first, but leave the cord long so that your partner can do a ceremonial cut closer to baby’s belly.
Make sure you remind your OB about these preferences on your birthing day. These choices may be something you want to add to your cesarean birth plan!
Related: C-Section Birth Plan: What To Include and How To Prepare
10. Ask About Skin-to-Skin
It has been proven that there are numerous benefits to immediate skin-to-skin contact for both the mother and baby.2 As long as you and your baby are doing well and are healthy, the nurse can help place your baby on your chest after delivery so you can see, smell, snuggle, speak to, and breastfeed your little one. Depending on your hospital’s policies and how you and your baby are doing, some newborn assessments may be performed while baby remains skin-to-skin.
11. Ask About Stitches, Staples, or Dermabond
You want to know what your doctor typically uses during a C-section repair. For example, some doctors use stitches, others use staples, and some use Dermabond. Do some research to determine which you prefer, and discuss this with your doctor beforehand.
What to Do After Your C-Section
Recovery takes time, and having the right support makes a big difference. Here are ways to care for yourself and stay comfortable in the days and weeks after birth.
1. Keep Your Baby With You if Possible
If possible, ask your doctor to keep your baby with you immediately after they’re born during the repair. It’s best if baby can stay with you in the operating room, go with you to your recovery room, and go with you to your postpartum room. In my experience, when women are separated from their babies and partner, they become upset, anxious, worried, and unsatisfied with their birth experience. If your baby and partner must go to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), have someone stay with you to keep you company and keep you calm.
Related: C-Section Recovery: Week-by-Week Guide for Healing After Birth
2. Get Breastfeeding Help
The medication(s) used to keep you numb during your C-section can block the rush of oxytocin, the “love hormone” that women usually experience after vaginal birth.2,13,15 This is why immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding are essential following a cesarean birth.16 However, breastfeeding can be challenging right after cesarean surgery.15 Ask your doula or one of the nurses with breastfeeding knowledge/experience if they can help you find ways to stay comfortable while getting a good latch.
Related: Tips for Breastfeeding After a C-Section
3. Rest, Then Move Slowly
You just had a baby (and surgery), so you must get as much rest as possible in the hospital. Try to rest whenever you have the opportunity. You also want to start moving slowly as soon as the anesthesia wears off. Move your legs, and once you’re allowed, start walking around to help prevent blood clots. Motion helps get your bowels moving, aids your recovery, and helps eliminate gas after your abdominal surgery.14 Just make sure you don’t overdo it and push yourself too hard!
4. Have Extra Help at Home
After giving birth, all mothers (especially mothers who had C-sections) should have extra support and help at home. You just had major abdominal surgery!10 Now, you’re supposed to heal and recover while handling the demands of caring for a newborn.
You also aren’t allowed to lift anything heavier than your baby, walk up flights of stairs, or drive a car.11,12 These are reasons why you need extra help. Whether it’s your family, some friends, your partner, or a trained postpartum doula, having an extra set of hands to help you take care of yourself, help with the baby, and help around the house is the best gift of all.
A C-section may not be what you expected, but it can still be a meaningful and supported birth experience. The more you understand your options, the easier it can be to speak up, ask questions, and feel included in your care.
Some preferences may need to change depending on your health, your baby’s health, or your provider’s recommendations, and that is okay. What matters most is that you feel respected, supported, and cared for as you welcome your baby. Wishing you a beautiful birthing day, mama.
