AIBU to think that the way c sections proceed needs to be reviewed?

[newmum953]

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas that would further improve the c-section experience? (For instance, I would really have loved there to be no screen at all but have no idea whether this is done - to lower the chance of infection or if it's so that the parents don't have a reaction to what they see or a combination of both?)

Having the catheter placed during my induction but before the emcs was called was possibly one of the most painful things I've ever had to endure. It felt akin to being stabbed in the urethra - not that I've a whole load of experience. The mw (professional sadist) said it wasn't "normal" - but I don't know, I've never had one done before - although I suppose it's possible, my cervix didn't much like the gel so perhaps the whole area was on strike.

I'd have liked to have watched and will be trying to catch a glimpse in any reflective surface when I go in again in Feb. Last time I just wanted my baby to live, no matter what. We were both very ill and I didn't get to see him until 2.5 hours after although the HCP's kept me up to date with his progress it didn't really sink in because I was out of my tree. I have very large boobs so not sure I could have the new baby on my chest (assuming it's a good day in theatre) and I seem to remember my arms being numb last time (?), but having read this thread I'm going to ask the consultant to ensure at least that the baby is given to my husband for skin-to-skin. If however the shtf and he's taken to SCBU then I don't give a rat's arse.

We went to NCT classes and had a whole list of things that could be done to make the birth experience more pleasant if it went to a CS (e.g. lights dimmed when baby is being taken out, CD of chosen music played, screen lowered at that point etc.)

The SpR doing the op said no to every one of them!!!

Having said that, I was more interested in having a healthy baby than anything else and was just very thankful that things turned out so well in the end. Also, DH was allowed to go down the business end and cut the cord, and I thought that was good. He was given the baby to take to me. And we managed to do skin to skin within about half an hour.

I had an EMCS. I would not have wanted the screen removed. I didn't care if I could see or not as someone's life was being saved. No opportunity for dimmed lights and nice music unfortunately. I was sedated, had an epidural, and spent 12 hours in recovery hooked up to god knows what because my blood pressure plummeted. I didn't have a clue what was going on, heard lots of "we've got to get this baby out NOW..." "we're going to lose it...", so tbh, a nice pleasant experience was the last thing on anyone's mind!

Wrt the screen, it was bad enough glancing up and seeing the operation reflected in the huge mirror light. Why on earth would I have wanted to see myself being hacked open?!

Surely with an elective C section you'd have the chance to write a birth plan like anybody else and so make requests? With an EMCS you just want the baby out.

should say the comments were made prior to the CS, not during it. It wasn't some dodgy TV programme!

Catheter after anaesthetic please. Loss of dignity didn't cross my mind given that I'd had numerous people rummaging around down there checking how dilated I was, but I had an emcs. I imagine in an elcs it would feel slightly different as you're going in without any sort of builld up beforehand, but still I would be annoyed if it was painful and could have waited till the spinal kicked in.

That said, I did feel slightly weird post-birth when after I said 'I feel great, actually' and being told 'that'll be the morphine suppository' when I had no idea they'd given me one. But then I was so out of it on gas and air when I signed the consent form that I didn't even read it so maybe there was something about it on there.

neverputasock, what DO you do for a living?

I'm a teacher. Nothing drastic, just a teacher! He proceeded to then ask my opinion on his 'gifted' child and how he could encourage her.
I now kick myself that I didn't call him on his rudeness, I'm usually very assertive like that.
My mum was with me (OH was with DS and OH doesn't 'do' hospitals and I didn't want him there either.... nothing bad, just an understanding of how he ticks... he's an undiagnosed Aspie) and it was all a bit surreal and we were abit like giggly teenagers so we jsut lookeda t each other and did eye rolling!

lol, sock. There is something about childbirth that makes women vulnerable and less likely to complain than usual ... I know somethings I let slide in that condition as well. HCPs take advantage of that, sometimes.

The only thing I was a bit about was that in the general chat among staff before DD2's birth, they let us know the sex - I think it's in the notes, although our hospital has a policy of not telling you.

didn't realise we were trying to find an approach that would please everybody - that will never work.

women need to be informed and allowed to make choices if appropriate (fully understand that it might not be during an emergency procedure).

I had no knowledge of the suppository until years after the event. I was not told I would be catheterised in a brightly lit theatre while a large number of people milled around.

I believe both processes could have been more positive experiences with really very little effort on the part of the hospital.

I also believe the NCT should have to include some cs facts. All I was told was that it would really hurt and that I should ask for as much pain relief as they would give me.