To think the gynae might have said something or anything during CS.

[Cricketsong]

Had a CS a few days ago, wheeled down and gynae was already scrubbed up ready to go. He performed the section, didn’t say ‘oh baby is out’ or anything, heard him obviously ask the team for tools etc but then stitched me up washed his hands and walked out 😂

I just thought this was really impersonal and a bit strange. I know it’s not a jolly to have a chat but to not even say one word throughout the birth seems really odd.

I met my surgeon before and all the way through he chatted with me and the others in the room. We talked about all sorts. It was a really lovely atmosphere. He told me when to get ready to meet my baby. I was very lucky and had the same surgeon for both my sections. Scar is non-existent too. And I saw him after both for follow ups. Just brilliant.

You won't remember it one day op.
I was in theatre for a possible emergency section after pushing didn't work in the delivery room.

I was basically allowed two pushes on ventouse and two with forceps then section.

I was so busy being sick from all the drugs they pumped into me, I don't remember anything. I didn't even realise DH was standing behind me holding my hand (strict instructions not to look at the business end).

I remember it being VERY dark in theatre and having a chat about the Today programme starting on radio 4 as it was 5.55am.

Then baby was out, I started puking and I never saw the consultant again. I suspect he had been on call and went back to bed!

He might have said hello and told me his name, who knows!

The baby is 15 next week.

Congratulations on your new arrival.

As a midwife I can definitely say some obstetricians are like this. They’re not doing it to be rude or even that they normally have poor bedside manner (out of the OR they’re fine). They’re just in the zone and they’re concentrating. Some people can chat and do sections, some people just can’t. And that’s fine. The idea is in a maternity theatre it’s more the job of the anaesthetist and the midwife to chat, obviously they do have stuff to do as well. But maybe not requiring quite as much concentration.

I had the same surgeon for both of my CS

He was very chatty going through all the checkups before he started

He announced sex and time of birth. With dd everyone was quiet after she was born as it was touch and go to get her to breathe those seconds before her cry seemed like an eternity

He actually said when he opened me up to get her she was staring straight at him which gave him a shock

He was lovely and friendly

Oh god , not only do the surgeons have to save you and your babies lives , if crash section , certainly, they have to engage in pleasant conversation as well. He may have just done one before you and doing another one straight after you.

Have to say I do think it’s unusual to not even say congratulations after. Not saying hello beforehand is also a bit odd but I could put that down to nerves possibly. I had a trainee SHO do my section (her first one) so all I could hear was non stop whispering as the Reg gave step by step instructions. I’d rather have heard nothing to be honest 🤣

Mine was urgent urgent and I was unconscious, haven't a clue of anything about mine! But baby was out and safe at 35 weeks so that's all we and am presuming all the staff cared about!

Nobody is asking them to chat about the price of cheese but saying "Hello, I'm..." is pretty bare minimum for the level of intimacy they have with you.

I gave my child the surgeons name as a middle name. She was very kind, she came a cross as such a strong and powerful woman, she came to check on her patients in the ward the next day, I hhoped some of her attributes might rub off on my own girl some day!
I had 4 cs and 3 different surgeons. All were engaging with the patient and made the experience positive

we met ours beforehand; they did a round of everyone having a c section plus once I was in the operating theatre everyone introduced themselves. I don’t remember the exact words but I’m sure he said meet your son or similar when baby came out; I’d have found it very weird not to be spoken to at all and be treated like an object that he did a job on then moved on from.

I had a c section last year. Surgeon was a woman. She came to see me before I went down and was so lovely. The whole room off staff during was great and made it a lovely atmosphere. Even asked if I wanted to hook my phone up to play some music I liked. Couldn’t fault any of the team involved. Made it a stress free experience and procedure went perfectly. They all made such a fuss of our baby daughter too.

Gosh I'm surprised by these answers or that that would be accepted by everyone.

I had both my c-sections under GA but both times the surgeons had a proper chat with me beforehand. The first time I was a sobbing wreck after a long fruitless induction and the surgeon was just so nice explaining things. The second time I was calmer and the surgeon was more matter of fact but she did take the time to explain about the type of stitches she'd do (different to 1st time). She looked at my first scar and tutted at the state of it and said "we'll get rid of all of that and start again!" which made me laugh.

Mine were women. I noted that yours was a man, op.

Surgeons have a very complex and important job to do that requires a high degree of accuracy and attention.

I can't believe you are shocked that they weren't focussing on bedside manner. Anaesthetists and other staff are there to reassure you.

This is mental how many people have experienced this and think it's normal. I've had 3 c sections, one emergency and 2 elective. Every time (even the emergency) the surgeons came to my room beforehand to have a chat, then in theatre everyone went round the room introducing themselves and explaining their role. The surgeons weren't chatty during but they lifted baby up and spoke to me about baby then spoke to me again after they finished to check I was feeling ok. During my last one I had a trainee doctor performing the surgery and a senior consultant assisting and the consultant talked to me lots. He explained when there'd be a lot of tugging and it might be uncomfortable and he discussed the state of my internal scar tissue with me and the possibility of more babies. Cs 1 & 2 they also visited me on the ward afterwards to see how I was doing. No medical checks, just having a chat and checking I didn't have any questions from the surgery

Like a pp said, we're not a piece of meat and surgery that you're awake for is very different from standard surgery under GA. No one is cutting me open in front of my eyes without giving their fucking name at least!

I had conversations with the anaesthetist and midwife, who spoke to me about what was happening. I don’t even recall seeing the surgeon. That doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

I’ve had two sections and both of the surgeons were lovely.
I remember how they both seemed genuinely excited that I had given birth as if it was the first one they’d performed.
On both occasions, they asked my husband if he wanted to tell me the sex. Which he did.
It is a shame to hear about your experience but from what others are saying it doesn’t sound unusual x

Unfortunately, this is how some medical staff are - they go to university, study for years, gain their chosen qualification and somewhere along they way they lose the ability to speak to, communicate with or even acknowledge anyone below their own skillset. In fact some don't even speak to their own theatre support staff very much.
However, they aren't all like that - my orthopaedic surgeon is a fabulous human being who makes a point of seeing and speaking to his patients before they go under the GA. He is very skilled and reassuring and I could not have wished for a better outcome from my operation.
As some have commented, quite often when we are in surgery we are a bit distracted from pain and the circumstances.

I had a conversation with the surgeon prior to my emergency c section about possible surgery. Once I was in the operating theatre I spent my time talking to the anaesthetist. We were taking bets on how long before my son made his big appearance!! Saw her the day after

I’ve had two c sections (both elective). The only thing I remember them saying was there was going to be a tugging sensation when they pull baby out. They did introduce themselves to me beforehand though.

Mine came and said congratulations afterwards, and I thanked him for everything. They have to obviously focus on what they're doing so they don't have time to talk, it's the other staff in the room that were saying baby is out etc.

When a surgeon approaches a patient you have got to be mindful that they are responsible for your life and keeping you and baby safe. That’s a major concentration. Some are not very good with bedside manner but are focussing on the job. I feel better that they focus on the job first. You don’t know what’s going on for them. They might have ten to do. Sounds like they did a good job.

Did you speak to surgeon at all? Could surgeon have been quiet because you were quiet?

I think they have to concentrate, but they are supposed to go round the room and everyone say who they are if you go into theatre.

The Junior Dr who forcepsed my son out was very chatty and friendly. The consultant was nice but seemed very rushed- she kept coming in when I was pushing for ages and quietly murmuring to the Dr and then doing an examination and saying ‘hmmm. No.’ or similar.

When they yanked him out in theatre Junior Dr told me when his head was out and that I wasn’t to push. Anaesthetist took a bunch of photos on my phone because they let me have my music on and he was controlling it. Nice atmosphere when baby was out. They then found a bum tear and I started bleeding a lot, so it all got very scary and they all went quite quiet, but they still did things like tell me what was going on (‘I’M JUST SEWING UP YOUR ANAL SPHINCTER’) and gave my husband a hug when he was upset.

You might just have had an introverted gynae or he might have done a 96 hour week or something. They do like helping babies to be born or why would they specialise in it?

Yes, that was my experience too. Really attentive and helped me not feel sick.