Birth

Welcoming your baby into the world is a special and transformative experience.

Vaginal Birth

Vaginal birth is the most common way to birth a baby. During a vaginal birth, your cervix (entrance to your womb) thins and opens and your uterus (womb) contracts to push your baby out of your vagina (birth canal). The National Childbirth Trust has helpful tips about how to encourage a straightforward vaginal birth: https://www.nct.org.uk/labour-birth/different-types-birth/vaginal-birth/tips-encouraging-straightforward-birth-during-labour

Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)

A vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) is when you give birth vaginally, after having had a caesarean birth previously. Vaginal birth includes a straightforward vaginal delivery and a birth assisted by forceps or ventouse. An information guide from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists can be found here: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/birth-after-previous-caesarean/

Assisted Vaginal Birth with Ventouse or Forceps

An assisted vaginal birth is where a doctor uses specially designed instruments to help deliver your baby during the last part of labour. A ventouse (vacuum extractor) is an instrument that uses suction to attach a plastic cup on to your baby’s head. Forceps are smooth metal instruments that look like large spoons or tongs. They are curved to fit around your baby’s head. Forceps and ventouse will only be used to help you birth your baby if they are the safest method of delivery for you and your baby. An information guide from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists can be found here: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/assisted-vaginal-birth-ventouse-or-forceps/

Caesarean Birth

A caesarean birth (sometimes called a caesarean section or C-section) is an operation to birth your baby through a cut made in your abdomen (tummy) and uterus (womb).

For some, a caesarean is the safest birth option. Sometimes these are planned, and scheduled for a given date, and sometimes these are unplanned. In both cases, we have a team of specialist doctors and staff to keep you comfortable, calm, and safe throughout. If a caesarean birth is the safest option for you and your baby, we can still help you have a positive birth experience. In most cases, we support delayed cord clamping and encourage parents to have skin-to-skin cuddles with their baby in theatre, if this is what you would like. We can also play music of your choice and allow you or your birth partner to trim the umbilical cord.

Daisy Team

For those having a planned caesarean birth, our Daisy Team is a dedicated group of midwives who will look after you during the birth of your baby.

Pre-op appointment

You will meet your Daisy Team midwife at your pre-op appointment at the at the hospital, a few days before your caesarean birth.

Please bring with you your hospital notes, a urine sample, and any questions that you may have.

The purpose of this visit is to complete all the necessary checks and tests prior to your procedure. This will include checking your consent form, your observations, performing some blood tests and a Covid-19 screen and measuring you for anti-embolic stockings that help prevent blood clots. You will also be given some medication, an antacid tablet, to take home.

Please allow around 30-45mins for the appointment (as minimum).

The day before your planned caesarean birth

Please remove your nail varnish and jewellery prior to your caesarean section. Wedding bands can be kept on, but they will be covered with tape.

At your pre-op appointment you will be given the time you need to stop eating. If you are having your caesarean in the morning, this is usually around midnight, the night before your operation. If you are having your caesarean in the afternoon, this is usually around 6am on the day of your operation. You can drink water until two hours before your procedure.

You will be given instructions about what time to take the antacid tablets you were given at your pre-op appointment.

Make sure any playlists, mood lighting/battery-operated candles, comfort aids such as feeding pillows are packed and ready to bring with you.

The morning of your planned caesarean birth

You need to present yourself to the main Maternity Reception in the Women & Children’s Building. You will then be directed to Ward 32. Please be on the Ward by 7:30am on the day of your operation, allow time for parking.

You will be welcomed on to the ward by a midwife from the daisy team.
Your midwife will take you to your room where you will be given:
A gown to wear and a bikini line shave, if needed.
Anti-embolic stockings (which help reduce the risk of blood clots)
Your birthing partner will be given theatre clothes
The midwife will check that you and & baby are well.

You will meet the medical staff before your operation & you will have an opportunity to ask any questions.

Caesarean section

When it is time for your caesarean birth, one of the Daisy team midwives will walk you over to theatre in the main hospital. You may bring a phone to take photographs (please note, filming of the birth is not possible, only once baby is born), a playlist (we have a Bluetooth speaker for your use) and any additional aids (please discuss with your midwife prior to this).

Following your caesarean birth, you will be cared for on the Postnatal ward.

?Create COCH version of this photobook https://www.frimleyhealthandcare.org.uk/media/2475/having-your-baby-by-elective-caesarean-section-at-frimley-park-hospital.pdf