If you're reading this while pregnant and aren't planning to have a c-section, you might think there's no reason to bother with this chapter. But while it's important to plan for the kind of birth you want, cesarean births are becoming increasingly common for a variety of reasons. In case you end up needing an emergency c-section, or your doctor just feels it's the better way to go once you're in labor, you'll want to have a good idea of what the procedure entails.

In addition to learning the basics of the operation, it's also important to think about the kind of experience you want to have if you do end up delivering your baby via c-section. For instance, will your hospital offer you the option of watching your baby enter the world via well-placed mirrors, if you'd like to see? Will the surgeon hand you the baby so you can announce its gender and have a chance to hold him before everybody else in the room? Can you have your husband and, if possible, a doula in the operating room with you? Will you be allowed to eat after the surgery if you have a c-section? Will you be separated from your baby while you're in the recovery room, or while the surgeon is stitching you up? You'll want to consider all these factors when choosing a hospital and making your birth plan. For more information on creating a customized birth plan, see Chapter 1.