Doula Support for Scheduled Cesarean

The current cesarean rate in the United States alone is at just under 33 percent, meaning that 1 in 3 pregnancies result in either a scheduled cesarean or unplanned c-birth.

Many families planning a c-section believe that:

  1. They won’t benefit from having a doula at their scheduled cesarean

  2. Doulas only support vaginal deliveries

C-sections are major surgical procedures and the majority of birthing families are (luckily) unfamiliar with extensive surgeries or having extended stays in the hospital.

A doula can provide educational support throughout pregnancy and leading up to the birth. Once the day arrives, doulas extend that support to guide you from pre-op into your transition into the postpartum recovery room.

A few weeks ago, I supported a family through their scheduled cesarean. Here’s a snapshot of what that looked like:

  • 3:15 am - Wake up to travel with family to the hospital for pre-op testing.

  • 4:30 am - Side-by-side support in triage and pre-op as parent advocated for preferences

  • 5:00 am - Massage and comfort techniques before surgery

  • 7:30 am - Emotional support for birth partner while they waited to head into the OR

  • 9:00 am - Supported birthing person through anesthesia side-effects

  • 10:00 am - Stayed in post-op while birth partner went to eat and call loved ones

  • 11:00 am - Assisted with first feeding, latch, and skin to skin

  • 1:30 pm - Transferred from post-op to postpartum room

  • 1:45 pm - Helped with first diaper change and demonstrated swaddling

  • 2:15 pm - Education on identifying feeding cues from baby, hand expressing colostrum

  • 3:00 pm - Documented pain management schedule with family and nursing staff for home and hospital

  • 4:00 pm - Picked up food for first meal after pre-op fasting, made mother’s milk tea

  • 4:30 pm - Created a game plan for family visits

  • 5:15 pm - Unpacked birth bag and organized room

  • 5:45 pm - Left the hospital

Navigating hospitals can be an intimidating and overwhelming prospect for families, even when a cesarean is planned. Every parent deserves educational, emotional, and physical support for their birth delivered with care, patience, and no judgement.

If you are considering a doula for a planned cesarean, here are some questions you may want to ask them:

  • Have you supported planned cesareans in the past? Walk me through some of the things you did to help the family prepare.

  • What are some things I need to know about postpartum recovery from a c-birth?

  • Would you be able to support me in the OR if I wanted you as a support person there?

Michelle Berninger