Doulas are professionals educated to physically, emotionally, and informationally support a pregnant person and her partner during labor, birth, and, in the case of postpartum doulas, the postpartum period. Though doulas often have basic safety training, they leave the medical care to the doctors, midwives, and nurses assisting a birth. It's a common misconception that doulas only use individuals who want to have unmedicated or vaginal births. The truth is that, whatever the type of birth you have, a doula can be a great person to have around. Read on to explore the methods that a doula will help you if you're using a cesarean (surgical) birth.

Often, you realize in advance whether your baby will be born via cesarean section since you as well as your care provider have decided that this option is good for you. Perhaps, your baby is breech or you have experienced a previous child via surgical birth. Or perhaps something happened during the course of your labor that designed a surgical birth the safest choice. Whatever the reason that the C-section makes the most sense, you may be wondering whether a doula has any benefits for you. Apparently , getting a doula in advance of your C-section can help with:

• Accompanying you into surgery: this kind of assistance depends upon the policies of the hospital. Sometimes only one support person is allowed into surgery and it makes the most sense to select your partner. But may several support individual is permitted, in which case a doula, who are able to explain things because they are happening and perhaps take photos, is a superb option. Additionally, in case your partner is someone who faints in the sight of blood, it may be prudent for the doula to come with you into surgery instead of your partner.
• Support throughout a change of plans: it's possible that your baby might be born needing health care that needs her or him to be taken from the operating room quickly to go to the additional care nursery. Your lover could then accompany the baby, while your doula stays along with you through the end of the surgery and opt for you in to the recovery room.
• C-section preparation: due to their training and experience, doulas have in all probability knowledge about cesarean birth. If you're planning a C-section and don’t understand what to expect, your doula can take you step-by-step through it during a prenatal meeting, in addition to assist you to write down your preferences based on how your birth will go. Some hospitals offer gentle or family-centered cesarean births, on which your doula can advise you.
• Single parenting: if you are going to parent solo, it may be useful to possess a doula along with you as a familiar and warm support person during your birth experience. Doulas could be especially helpful throughout a cesarean birth to hold your baby so that you can see him or her right after birth, facilitate skin-to-skin in the operating room, or take photos.
• Processing your birth before and after the fact: you may feel great regarding your scheduled c-section, or perhaps you don’t. Either way is normal and acceptable, but often societal or family pressures can bring about your outlook. A doula might help invest the opinions you have heard in perspective and normalize your emotions and expectations. After your birth, it can also be lovely to speak using your knowledge about another person who had been next to you. If you are facing an unplanned c-section, your doula can discuss benefits and risks along with you in the moment, in addition to assist you to process your feelings afterwards. A great doula will provide non-judgmental support, and studies have shown that having continuous support on your labor and delivery can contribute to how satisfied you to feel about your birth experience.
• Immediate postpartum care and initiation of breastfeeding: in the hours immediately after your birth, a doula can help you get started doing breastfeeding and produce you food. When it comes to a C-section, your doula can also stay with you and also help you with things like lifting the baby while your partner is sleeping or going for a break to eat and becoming up and travelling, which can help start your recovery.
• Postpartum recovery: once you are home in the hospital, your labor doula nearly always does a postpartum visit, whenever they can assist with breastfeeding and baby care and debrief about your birth with you. Hiring a postpartum doula—someone educated to help throughout the postpartum period—is another great option for moms whose babies were born via C-section, as they possibly can help with cooking, cleaning, baby care, and caring for you after you’ve had major abdominal surgery.