Birthplan thoughts: To seed or not to seed?

If you are disgusted by the fact that because I did not have time to blend my babies food before we left the house I chewed each spoonful first before giving it to her while I waited for my son to finish his basketball session, then stop reading now. Seriously, this post is simply not for you.

Right, now that everyone in this room has strong stomachs...

Openess to seeding was included in the caesarean section part of my birth plan. Mind you, I typed the page so fast I barely remember doing it. You know one of those tasks that you do while you are metaphorically holding your breath? That caesarean section page was one of them. Because, as much as I was working my butt and mind off to have a HBAC, I'm a recovering over-planner and I strongly enjoy being prepared for all eventualities when it comes to birth, even if I prepare more for one outcome in particular.

So anyway yes, I was very much open to the idea of taking a swab of my vaginal fluid (did I just hear a door open and close?) and applying it to the eyes, mouth and skin of the newborn (waving to the handful of people still in the room.  I obviously urge you to speak to your medical peoples, but for me, it makes sense on paper. When babies are born vaginally they get all that juice simply because it's all there on the way out. The scientific inspiration for seeding is that the microbial exposure that the baby gets from vaginal fluid has the potential to boost their immune system.  The idea is that when we have caesarean sections our babies are colonized with bacteria that is different to what they would have otherwise had, leading to (and who knows if this is true!) various ailments, including asthma, obesity and allergies. Yet, there is also the possibility of transferring the not-so-good stuff right, like GBS if you're not given the right antibiotics or something? I've had two caesarean sections. One child does not have allergies or asthma and the other does use an inhaler every so often. For that reason I'm tempted to say I would have wanted my third child seeded because of the potential gains, rather than as a way of avoiding any potential disadvantages.

Fortunately I did have a HBA2C and just as well because I didn’t actually spend any time finding out whether my hospital would agree to do it. Realistically, if I had had a caesarean section it would have likely been classed as my third "emergency" one, so I can imagine that the doctors and midwives might have had more pressing worries.

I'd love to hear from you if you seeded your baby/babies after a caesarean. Why did you make the decision? Did you choose not to share your choice with anyone close to you? How was it to have your wishes respected or at least just followed through by medical staff? How far in advance of babies birth dies the juice get put on the sterile gauze?

So many questions... but we birth our little miracles anyway right? And sometimes they come out needing inhalers whether or not we had a belly birth.

Amifa