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

[022828MAN]

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?

It's very common for the drapes to be dropped as the baby is coming out, so definitely ok to ask about that. Actually quite hard for the mother to see everything though, due to being on your back with the bump in the way! I think far fewer surgeons would be happy with having the drapes down the whole time - too high a risk of someone reaching over and contaminating their sterile field. Some places may have clear drapes available but I know my hospital doesn't. Delayed cord clamping is now standard as long as the baby doesn't need immediate resuscitation. Good luck with it, OP!

You can just ask right? Dont knowwhy they would say no. If you were to faint, youd already be lying down 😂. No kidding. Ans especially considering you work in a medical field. Just ask. It is not a very nice sight perse (speaking as a c section watcher ) but then again , neither is a natural delivery 😉

I asked and was gently told it wasn't a good idea. I didn't push it but my husband asked if he could...he's a police officer and definitely not squeamish but they also said no. I guess if we had been more insistent we might have persuaded them.

Look up "gentle"/"natural" C-sections OP. I have heard great things about them. Remember that even though cesareans are by definition a medical procedure you are still entitled to a birth plan and your requests should not be refused without good reason. The drapes are there for infection control but there are ways to modify "normal" practices in ways that meet clinical requirements and also give effect to the mother's choices.

I had the drapes down, no problem. Still saw bugger all, belly did an excellent job of blocking the view! Husband saw rather more of me than he hoped though

I was told the screen could only be dropped for the birth to mimmise infection risk but that the lights were angled perfectly to watch in the reflection. They were and it was great apart from the wobbly moment before I realised what was showing as a sea of red in the reflection was iodine not blood. Then they took the drapes down so we could watch her come out and left them down til skin to skin started. It was amazing.

A student doctor observing filmed mine! Not my idea but I’m glad they suggested it now.

Filmed it on my phone just for us, I meant

Hey all,
Just wanted to update that I had the section yesterday evening and they did lower the sheet whilst baby was taken out, and I asked one of the ODPs to film the whole procedure for us. We've not had the screening yet but look forward to it once home and settled!
All in all a wonderful experience.

Weirdly I’d rather watch a c section birth than a natural birth. I’d liked to have watched my other surgery too, on video later.

Oh that sounds lovely op. Thank you for updating us

Also congratulations on your baby!

Some trusts won't let you do this but it's worth asking if you really want to see - but it's partly in case anything is a bit more tricky as PPs have said - and also because some people have sympathetic reactions when they view stuff happening to their bodies even when they can't feel it - so you might flinch or feel a bit funny when they start cutting into you.

So sorry just seen the update!! Massive congrats on your baby, glad it all went ok! Hope you can recover well over the coming weeks

Yes I was offered it and did it .. it was great .

Sorry should have read whole thread , congratulations xx

Congratulations op! DH filmed the birth of DC2 and DC3 (the surgeon even posed her for photos once her head was out). I'v not watched it yet but it's nice knowing it's there.