How to make a planned C-section feel special

Here’s what you can do:

1) Bring your music.

Ask if you can play your playlist during surgery. It sets the mood and makes the room feel less like an OR and more like your space.

2) Have someone you trust with you.

Most hospitals let your partner, a close relative, or a doula stay by your side. Just having that hand to hold makes a huge difference.

3) Ask them to lower the drape.

If you want, you can see the moment your baby is born. Some hospitals have clear drapes, or the team can lower them for just a few seconds.

4) Cut the cord (yes, even at a C-section).

Sometimes your partner — or even you — can do it! Definitely worth asking about.

5) Get skin-to-skin right away.

If everything looks good with your baby, they can often go straight to your chest in the OR. Those first cuddles? Pure magic.

6) Take a few photos.

Your partner or doula can capture those first moments — the ones you’ll never get back.

A planned C-section doesn’t have to feel cold or routine. It’s still the day you meet your baby — and you can fill it with love and little details that matter to you! Whether it’s your favorite playlist, a familiar face in the room, or asking the team to lower the drape for that first glimpse. These moments are yours.
This is your story, and it deserves to feel special.