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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Has anyone managed skin to skin after a C-section?

28 replies

MarkStretch · 12/12/2011 18:37

Am having a c-section next week and thinking about requesting skin to skin once the baby is born. I had a c-section with DS and remember at the time I felt unable to even hold him due to canulars/bp cuff etc. I held him in one arm whilst DH supported my arm from underneath.

I would really like to try this time, will they put the baby on my chest?

And would it be ok to ask if I can't manage it then baby has skin to skin with DH or is that a bit mad?

OP posts:

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goodnightmoon · 12/12/2011 18:56

I just had one and baby went right on my chest, though in a towel. We had skin to skin within a few minutes after that

nancerama · 12/12/2011 19:00

I didn't get skin to skin until we were out of theatre and back in a delivery room. It was worth waiting for though!

While I was being stitched back up, we had cheek to cheek in the theatre.

thebestisyettocome · 12/12/2011 19:00

Managed skin to skin and breastfed both times and even managed to hoist myself from the theatre trolley into my bed with ds2!

Oeufman · 12/12/2011 19:02

Woke up from my GA c section to find my DD tucked in by me BF. DH refused a bottle for her, spent an hour with her tucked into his t-shirt and when she got hungry he latched her on as I came out of theatre. Woke, very confused, emotional and relieved she was alive (prolapsed chord and we were just so lucky).
Can't see why it would be a problem OP. :)

thejaffacakesareonme · 12/12/2011 19:10

If you don't feel able to hold the baby just ask the midwife to reposition him/her. I was afraid I was going to drop DS2 and the mw took him out of my arms and placed him between my tits so he couldn't roll anywhere! It meant I couldn't see him so well but at least I knew he was safe.

Helzapoppin · 12/12/2011 19:14

I had skin to skin while being stitched up after my ELCS. DS fed immediately, did a big black poo all over me (and some of the aneasthetist's equipment) and we had a lovely family photo taken by the nurse.

Think that the consultant asked before hand about whether we wanted skin to skin straightaway, and I felt fine and equipment was positioned to make this possible (not the case with my previous EMCS).

lockets · 12/12/2011 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

headfairy · 12/12/2011 19:19

Oeufman, what a hero your dh is!

I had skin to skin with dd in theatre (I forgot to ask for ds, wasn't offered it. I didn't feel his naked skin next to mine for about 10 days until a bfc suggested a babymoon to get bfing properly started) and she was bfing within the hour.

SardineQueen · 12/12/2011 19:29

DD1 had skin to skin as soon as in recovery room and fed straight away (EMCS)

DD2 I asked for it but when it came to it, it just clearly wasn't going to work while they were stitching me up due to equipment and space etc so DH cuddled her onto my cheek and then he snuggled her. Skin to skin as soon as in recovery room and again fed straight away.

rosebery · 12/12/2011 19:45

I had skin to skin straight away too, and ds breastfed immediately - we were still in the operating theatre.

Original poster

MarkStretch · 12/12/2011 19:50

Thanks everyone. I am definitely going to request it and see how we get on. I managed to BF DS in recovery but he had been all wrapped up by then in a towel and hat. So hopefully they won't think I'm mad if I ask for him/her to go down DH's top if I can't manage it!

Another question- did you put your birth preferences in your notes or did you have a chat with the staff once you were in there? I would like DH to tell me what we have (boy/girl) but don't really know when to mention it..

OP posts:

Oeufman · 12/12/2011 20:43

Ah thanks headfairy.... She regularly asks to see "her" scar on my tummy and loves to hear about her birth (the youngest of 4 aged 4). DH still gets emotional when he thinks of it - the terror of going from a normal birth to alarms going off and me being pushed to theatre at speed with my bum in the air and a midwifes hand pushing the babies head off the cord (not a nice image), to being handed a newborn to look after for it's first hour.
I think the midwifes were amazed as they watched him latch baby on.
I woke up totally confused, asking anaestist for allll the drugs. Was also not sure if baby on my boob was mine!

Meglet · 12/12/2011 20:43

yes, it was very annoying and fiddly. The consultant was happy for me to do it but I lasted about 2 minutes before I asked (X)P to take DD off me. I couldn't relax while lying on the operating table and was pretty shaky after the op.

I waited until I was settled in recovery to hold DD, so about an hour after she was whipped out. She breast fed just fine.

maydaychild · 12/12/2011 20:48

I had a booked ELCS for breech but ended up EMCS as I went into labour and had meconium.
So I wasnt allowed baby for 10 mins while the docs checked him. Once out of theatre there wasn't time for midwives to help me get dumb gown off and unwrap baby and DH had been sent home as it was 2am

But
I fed him just fine exclusively for 6m and continued to 10m.
He was my 2nd tho and I fed dc1 too.
It's not essential and you don't always get it just to warn you

lockets · 12/12/2011 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fleecy · 12/12/2011 20:56

I was too shaky so DH held her. Once in recovery they helped him move my gown and tucked her in next to me so we could have skin to skin even if I didn't feel able myself. She didn't feed until we were back on the ward but she is 10wks today and bfing is going just fine

Original poster

MarkStretch · 13/12/2011 08:19

Ahhh lockets, that is just gorgeous.

OP posts:

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 13/12/2011 08:21

DS1 EMCS cheek to cheek, and then DS2 ELCS had skin to skin with DH.

lockets · 13/12/2011 08:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JKSLtd · 13/12/2011 08:43

I had some with DS2 but was too shaky to feel confident so DH held him, I insisted he wasn't dressed just wrapped up until I calme down enough in recovery to hold and bf him.
I also had it in my notes & told them at the time not to tell us the gender,they brought hoim round the screen for me to see first
Good luck!

fraktious · 13/12/2011 08:57

oeuf that's wonderful.

Original poster

MarkStretch · 13/12/2011 13:28

lockets- the 23rd! Hopefully I will be out on Christmas day with our festive bundle, however the midwife I saw the other day said they like to discharge most people on the 2nd day now providing you are up and mobile and feeling ok.

OP posts:

ChunkyPickle · 13/12/2011 13:41

I was shivering unbelievably with mine (apparently a fairly common side-effect of the epidural) and couldn't trust my arms or head to go near him without hitting/headbutting (I all but asked them to strap me down at one point I was having so much trouble staying still), so I didn't hold him for about 45 minutes once I was out of recovery.

They encouraged DP to do skin to skin instead - but apparently DS wasn't impressed at all with DP's hairy chest

Fleecy · 13/12/2011 14:07

Oh how lovely! We went home the following day - the walk to the car was dreadful and I had to hold a pillow over my scar before putting my seatbelt on but it was very good to be home with DH and DD2's excited big brother and sister. Much better than another night on a noisy post-natal ward!

Hope all goes well and you enjoy your gorgeous Christmas baby

QTPie · 13/12/2011 17:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

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