April marks Caesarean Awareness Month, and after spending most of my recent hospital shifts caring for women recovering from Caesareans, one thing is absolutely clear: a Caesarean is not the easy way out.

It is major abdominal surgery. It takes strength to go through — and even more to recover from — both physically and emotionally. And if you’ve had a Caesarean, you did not fail.

Thankfully, the narrative around Caesarean birth is shifting. More and more, we’re recognising that how you feel about your birth matters — and that feeling supported, informed and involved in the process makes a real difference.

Whether you’re planning a Caesarean, preparing for birth with an open mind, or processing a previous experience, I want you to know:
You still have options.

And you definitely still need a birth plan.

Why a Birth Plan Still Matters — Even for a Caesarean

I’m a big believer in the power of a birth plan. Not because it’s about controlling every moment, but because it invites you to:

Get clear on what you want and need
Open up important conversations with your care provider and support team
Feel involved and in control, even when things shift from the original plan

Research shows that women who have a birth plan often report more positive birth experiences and that’s because they’ve been part of the decision-making and felt more in control.

Things to Consider for Your Caesarean Birth Plan

Not all of these options will be available in every setting, and some may depend on whether your Caesarean is planned or emergency. But they are definitely worth discussing ahead of time with your care provider:

Talked through or distracted?
Would you like to be talked through where the surgical team is up to — or would you rather be distracted?
Tools to stay calm & feel safe
What have you got in your toolkit to stay calm during the Caesarean.. Can you take your headphones with a playlist, or guided meditation..or can you have a chat to your partner about words or phrases that might help remind you that you are safe? You could also add in some breathing tools or gentle touch from your partner.

Delayed cord clamping
Ask about the possibility of waiting at least 60 seconds after baby is born before cutting the cord — this helps increase babies haemaglobin (oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells) as well as iron stores.
Skin-to-skin in theatre
Would you like immediate skin-to-skin with your baby if all is well? Ask about placing ECG leads on your back to make this easier.
See your baby being born
Would you like the drape to be lowered so you can watch your baby being born? This can be possible but without seeing ALLL the things you might not want to, some hosptiatls also have clear drapes if you’d like to be more involved - you might also like to look into Maternal Assisted Caesareans.
Announcing baby’s sex
Would you or your partner like to be the one to announce/discover the baby’s gender? You can ask or have your midwife ask for the team to reign in their excitement so you can discover it for yourselves if you’re having a surprise.
Where baby goes after birth & in case of seperation
Can baby stay with you in theatre or recovery? Or with your partner if you’re not feeling up to it? What will you do if you need to be separated? Will your partner go with baby? Most Hospitals aim to keep mum and babies together, but it’s good to talk through and learn about this before the big day to make sure there aren’t any surprises around this.

Every little detail adds up to help make the birth feel more yours. And when we feel informed and included, it’s protective — not just physically, but emotionally, too.

A Gentle Reminder

Whether you’ve had a Caesarean before or are preparing for one ahead, this is your birth. There is no one “right way” — only what feels right for you, your body and your baby.

Want personalised support as you plan your birth?

Through my in-person & online birth classes I support women and birthing people to feel confident, informed, and connected — however their birth unfolds.

You’ll get evidence-based education, emotional support, and hands-on guidance from a midwife who gets it. We also talk through how to create a Caesarean birth plan, how to prepare for the unexpected, and what real, respectful support looks like — in hospital and beyond.

→ Explore my offerings here
→ Book your spot in the next Your Online Birth Class

About the author:
Lauretta is a clinical midwife, mum, Birth educator with a passion for holistic, heart-led birth support. She blends evidence-based information with warm, honest guidance so women and birthing people feel confident, capable and deeply supported.

Plus, in person classes are back!

Dates are up here starting from May 10th @ bodybegood.
Join me for a day of getting both yours and your partner’s mindset in a positive space, plus all the other important bits to understand your body and have tools to work with labour, however it plays out.

Book here

*Information shared is of a general nature only and is not medical advice — please see your own care provider for specific and individualised information and advice. All personal stories & photos shared with permission.

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