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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone has successfully requested to observe their c section?

67 replies

022828MAN · 04/09/2020 19:32

I am due to have an elective c section in a little over a month and I would like to request for the blue sheet to be taken down, as long as everything is going to plan.
I work in medicine and have observed several c sections as part of my training, and I'm not at all squeamish.

My last DC was an emergency section and I don't plan to have more children. I would like to feel like an active participant in the birth, rather then simply lying there and then handed my child.

I was just wondering whether anyone knows whether this is possible or probable?

OP posts:
EdHelpPls · 04/09/2020 19:56

I requested it and was told it's up to the surgeon on the day. The sheet was up for a little bit and then lowered so could see her, which was surreal as I was a bit fuzzy/high feeling (epidural I assume?!) But I couldn't see much since my belly was in the way!

ifellintoarabbithole · 04/09/2020 20:00

I had an elective section and asked for the drape to be lowered and they ignored it Sad They also ignored my request for delayed cord clamping (I believe). I wish I had pushed harder at the time, as I only told the midwives looking after me and thought they would advocate for me, but it was late in the day and I think they were in a rush to get everyone done. Make sure you make it known to the surgeon what your wishes are when you get into theatre. I sadly have some negative feelings around the birth as a consequence, and feel it was something that was done to me rather than me being a participant.

Wishing you all the best, and hope you get to see the birth!

MintChocaMocha · 04/09/2020 20:13

I had an elective c section in January and had a pre-op assessment the day before where I was asked if I wanted the blue screen up or not. However, memory is a little foggy and can't remember if that was for the whole procedure or just when baby enters the world.

I declined because I am just too screamish but in hindsight wish I had for the actual birth, everything was so calm unlike my previous emergency c section and is this is my last baby it would have been nice to witness. I would definitely ask, I hope you can and get the birth you would like

Thenneverendingstorohree · 04/09/2020 20:28

They dropped it for mine without asking, was just their normal procedure after incision was made. So I saw baby being pulled out and umbilical cord cut. I'm not medical but didn't freak me out at all -was exciting!

elliejjtiny · 04/09/2020 20:32

I asked (7 and 6 years ago) and was told no both times.

Lockdownseperation · 04/09/2020 20:33

I think I was told only for when the baby is pulled out as the drapes are a barrier to infection.

Skingaling · 04/09/2020 20:34

I was having a full on panic attack during my emergency c section. When it actually happened it felt like all my insides were being pulled out, including my heart which I thought was going to stop beating. I think I'd have fainted if I had to watch too.

JacobReesMogadishu · 04/09/2020 20:34

I’m a midwife and we offer it as a choice at our hospital, we have see through drapes so women can watch the whole thing if they want.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 04/09/2020 20:38

I would have quite fancied this but DH was NOT up for it. I dont think it was an option for us as DD was prem/iugr & v tiny so we quite high risk of stuff going wrong. We had a LOT of people in the room ready to get her straight to the NICU.

olivesandpecans · 04/09/2020 20:40

I had two ‘natural/gentle csections’ which are not common and are only offered by certain consultants in the UK. Monitoring was placed on my back, drapes lowered, head delivered then baby delivered to my chest (I was propped up at this point), immediate skin to skin and husband cut cord. I was able to breastfeed both times in theatre as they closed the wound. My ds1 was an emergency csection and the other two deliveries were worlds apart (and one was even during lockdown).

bettsbattenburg · 04/09/2020 20:45

Yes. Observed one and have a video of the other (they asked permission for trading video and gave me a copy)

bettsbattenburg · 04/09/2020 20:45

Training

OutComeTheWolves · 04/09/2020 20:48

I was asked if I wanted the curtain up or down - not for the whole procedure but for the baby coming out. I chose up; I'm a very squeamish person!

Heatherjayne1972 · 04/09/2020 20:51

I really wanted to see it. I’m not squeamish at all
But on the day the surgeon said no
Was a firm no too

They laughed a nervous laugh at first But when I said I really wanted to see they said firmly ‘ no you don’t want to see it ‘
It’s a pity because I really did want to see

OutComeTheWolves · 04/09/2020 20:52

Also one of the reasons I loved my sections was because the staff went out of their way to make me feel like an active participant in the whole thing. Prior to the op the consultant even explained to me the different ways they can stitch it up afterwards - he told me the one they always do & explained why they do it but said if I preferred another way, he'd be open to discussing it.

PrincessForADay · 05/09/2020 08:12

I asked both times and was told no both times. I'm not a medic but they just said it was against policy. However I did feel very much like an active participant on both occasions in terms of the way the spoke to me throughout

BertNErnie · 05/09/2020 08:24

I watched mine! It was amazing.

bananasinonesies · 05/09/2020 08:32

The anaesthetist offered this to me during the procedure (off the cuff it seemed!) and I said yes - don’t remember seeing anything gross, but was able to see DS as he emerged which was amazing!

Newnamenewopenme · 05/09/2020 08:38

I would pass out. It’s making me feel funny the idea of you watching your own. You are braver than me!

emmyhelly · 05/09/2020 08:46

I asked my midwife about this and she said it very much depended on the surgeon. I didn’t have a section so don’t know if I would have actually asked for it in the end

bananasinonesies · 05/09/2020 08:49

I think it can depend on how well you’re managing in terms of the spinal tap (shakes/nausea there or not), and how the surgery is progressing. So it might be something (like a water birth in a way) that you can ask for if the conditions are right, and the surgeon/anaesthetist agree.

Silversun83 · 05/09/2020 08:49

They asked me beforehand if I wanted the drapes lowered as DS was born so I think at least at that stage it's quite common place. I didn't really think to ask to watch the whole thing but I think I would have found it interesting!

Silversun83 · 05/09/2020 08:52

Also have an amazing photo of the moment DS entered the world, still attached with ubilical cord.

So different to the crash section I had with DC1!

mynameiscalypso · 05/09/2020 08:56

I was offered this too - the midwife thought it was very strange when I said no (more for DH's benefit than mine) which led me to believe that it was standard for them to do it with it down at least for ELCS.

MereDintofPandiculation · 05/09/2020 09:07

I was offered the chance 30-odd years ago, but I didn't want an epidural (they were in their early days) and had GA, so they let DH in with a camera instead. Our birth photos are gory!

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