Want to see a cesarean on the internet?

[pupuce]

Well this website does show one.... it took about 3 mins for it to download (though it did not look like it was downloading on my computer) so don't despair if it takes a little while.
It's a US film and some of its contents is debatable but you can certainly see well what they're doing!

interesting posts.

dd was an emergency section and was crying while just her head was out. dh said it was rather like something from alien!

ds was a footling breach and was 'turned' before he was taken out. Also yelled as soon as he was out. Both had apgars of 9. I was up and out within 5 days both times.

I've had 3 cs and each one has been a relaxed and v v positive event in my life. Yes, there is a fair amt of rumaging and tugging to get the baby out, but no more physical for the baby than a normal delivery, strong contractions and being squished thru the birth canal +/- intervention from forceps or ventouse etc etc. I was on my feet as soon as the spinal wore off and needed nothing more for pain relief than regular paracetamol for a few days. I was home on all 3 occasions within 48hrs. I have had no probs with long term post op pain or regaining my pre-preg shape and muscle tone, yes, I have a flat stomach with no wobbly overhang, and finally, I have no regrets over failing to have a normal delivery. I have 3 v happy, healthy children. Yes, its surgery, but it doesnt mean you have to treat yourself as an invalid for weeks on end, I was digging the garden during my baby's nap time after just 4 weeks for heavens sake. Its not a big deal!!

Thanks very much for this link. I am booked in for a c/s 1st Sept (placenta praevia) after 3 vaginal deliveries and was clueless. I read this thread carefully and really considered whether watching this would be helpful or not. I decided to risk it.

Can I just say that I found it really helpful to know what was going to happen to me... If you are wondering whether or not to watch it I would say give it a go. I didn't find it distressing.

Wow this is amazing

It has definitely put me off having a c-section

I just wanted to SCREAM at them to hold the poor baby and don't just make her lie in that damn cot!

Pupuce - I'm really glad you had a straightforward waterbirth. That's what I was aiming for. I was booked into a birth centre too. However, I ended up with an emergency c-section and felt shame and guilt about it for months afterwards. I don't think that thread like this with their "look at what you are doing" and treating us like puppies who need their noses pushing into their own poo are very helpful.

Why assume that natural births are all different - some quite straightforward and easy, and some violent and horrifying - and yet assume all caesarians are the same. Just because you can see the baby being pulled and tugged doesn't mean the baby being born vaginally isn't having an equally vigorous experience - it's just you can't see it! I know lots of people who had a hard time with natural birth and an easy time with their caesarian. All operations look horrible, doesn't mean they are horrible to experience or don't do an effective, good job. Natural childbirth aint that pretty to look at either

Good point sorrell. My dd was not breech, was not tugged and pulled at like that, and went straight into dh's arms then mine then his again. He carried her from the theatre back to my room, and the whole thing was peaceful and amazing (even though not what I'd wanted either).

I thought it was clear from the film clip that this was a slightly more complex delivery...plus, I've noticed some of the US protocols are a lot more 'medicalized' than the UK ones seem to be. Don't want anyone having a section here to assume theirs will be exactly like this one!

I found it very useful in that it explained quite how MAJOR the surgery was.

I found giving birth HORRIFIC but the day after I cooked dinner for 10 guests and cleaned up the house from top to bottom - which puts it into perspective for me.

I am booked in for a section due to having had a previous one in Japan (pre eclamsia and distressed baby), and having no medical notes available as to what type of internal incision I have, and the consultant seems to think this is a big baby (im small framed).

I really was not keen on a repeat section before i watched, and am now terrified.

Anyone having a section for medical reasons...just wanted to say in my case, watching this really upset me and has made me realyl really scared.

Im nto sure of the motivations for putting this on. Not everyone can birth naturally and do so safely, I now feel even more guilty and bad about it than I did before, and am so scared of having thi sbaby. I have my date sent to me for the repeat section and I burst ito tears.

Saka, you shouldn't feel guilty. That wasn't the purpose of the clip, it was just for info.

I hated my cs and I wouldn't have one again but I felt the video at least showed me what happened. Yours is planned with good reason so there isn't anything to feel guilty about. At least now you know exactly what's going to happen so does that not make you less scared? With a vaginal birth, you can never know exactly how it's going to turn out. And you know now your baby's date (and time-ish) of birth - does that kind of make it a bit more exciting?

Don't know if I'm just speaking rubbish but wanted to say something so you don't feel bad. Just look forward to seeing your little baby (and get some arnica!)