"Mum matters too", interesting article and also video about 'The natural caesarian'

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I don't normally post, but I'm due to have my second C-section on 1st September and someone on a closed Facebook group I'm on here in NZ just posted this article about how important the mum is in the birth process (i.e. recognising that mum's can be traumatised by the birth, despite having a healthy baby) and also a video about how C-sections can be more natural, e.g. seeing baby come out, and immediate skin-to-skin.

www.bestdaily.co.uk/your-life/news/a573059/a-healthy-baby-is-not-all-that-matters.html

I had two traumatic births in the UK, both ending in shoulder dystocia, and although I recognise how lucky I was to have two healthy babies at the end it took me a long time to get over what happened as I didn't feel like anyone really explained what had happened, especially from my first birth and I was always just told to focus on having a healthy baby. I was/am incredibly grateful for that fact, but still found it hard to deal with the births themselves.

I had my third dc in NZ and was advised to go for a C-section due to the high risk of shoulder dystocia again and it was such a different experience for me, possibly due to the way it was dealt with, I was able to see dc3 immediately after they pulled him out and had immediate skin to skin. He also breastfed before even leaving theatre. Talking to friends in the UK though, a lot of them didn't have this immediate skin to skin, and it seems that this might be something they are starting to think about changing, judging by the video. I was just hoping it might be useful for others to see. I'm now thinking about getting them to lower the screen for the last bit for dc4(although I don't think DH will agree to that - big chance of him passing out )

I had a C section with DS in 2010 and another 2 weeks ago with DD. In both cases I had skin to skin really quickly but they were both dried, had a nappy put on, weighed, apgar test done and vitamin K injection (and oxygen first in DS's case). This all took a few minutes but it didn't feel too long. I didn't ask in either case for them to be delivered directly onto my chest.

With DS I was asked if I wanted the curtain lowered but it was minutes before he was delivered but I was a bit too nervous as I didn't know what I would see. I'm glad I didn't as he wasn't breathing but I didn't realise at the time until after he had been given oxygen.

With DD I asked to watch and they were really supportive of the idea. DH wasn't too keen and only had a few glances. It was really amazing to watch her being delivered especially as we didn't know the sex beforehand. I would definitely recommend it - I didn't see anything gory and it was really special.

I'm intrigued about how you could breast feed in the theatre. While I had skin to skin quite quickly they were both laid horizontally above my boobs as that was the only space available. It was a little bit awkward to keep hold of them and I ended up giving DD to DH after a while as my arms were getting tired. I breastfed in recovery - probably within half an hour of delivery.

Both were really good experiences and I think anything that can make C sections more "natural" is great.

Thank you so much for sharing this! I had a really traumatic birth nearly a month ago and every time I've tried to talk about it to my mum and MIL, this is the exact thing that they've said. It has really reaffirmed my instincts and that it's fine for me to feel the way I have been. Again thank you so much xx

Thanks for posting this.

I'm pregnant with DC2. I had an EMCS with DD, and am aiming for VBAC with this one, but am fully aware that a section may be on the cards again, especially if I go overdue. I have written into my notes that I would like the screen lowered at the moment of delivery, skin to skin in theatre etc - all if possible of course, because I understand in the case of a real rush emergency it may not be possible.

But yes, I agree that the woman matters too. A birth can be traumatic for various reasons and I think to disregard the woman's experience and feelings, just because she had a healthy baby at the end of it, isn't right.

OI had an incredibly medicalised emcs and thanks to a wonderful anethetist I had skin to skin and a feed in theatre whilst they were sewing me up. They took off my gown,,unplugged the lines, placed DD on me and then did everything back up again. It was fabulous!