C Sections: do they really do this?

[HollyRose6]

Hi all, I'm 33 weeks pregnant with second DC. I was sexually abused as a child and have huge issues around vaginal examinations etc. For DS1' s birth I went out of my way (hypnobirthing, home birth) to ensure I had a natural delivery without much intervention. Ended up having a lovely birth with only one midwife down the business end (if you get what I mean) and had a really positive experience. I had to fight hard for my home birth because the doctors decided DS1 was a giant baby who wouldn't fit it off my pelvis, the midwives thought this was a load of rubbish funnily enough. Doctors tried to push me into induction at 35wks and then placed c section at 37wks. I ended up insisting on a home birth so they would leave me alone. I'm so glad I did because DS1 turned up without any issues at home weighing only 7lb5.

Anyway I'm expecting DS2 and once again the baby is supposedly huge and I am really being pushed to have a c section and the idea of a c section terrifies me.

To make matters worse my friend has just had a c section and has been left feeling pretty traumatised by it. Firstly she said she was left completely bare below in front of all the people in the operating room and was shaved with a blunt razor (she had been told that she couldn't shave herself) and then had a catheter inserted, she found this all very undignified. She then found the sensation of the c section itself rather frightening and was left distraught when she was only allowed to barely glimpse her baby before he was taken off and cleaned, I pretty much delivered DS1 myself and had him in my arms and straight away and I would have hated someone other than me cleaning him. She then said after they had finished stitching her she realised they were lifting and spreading her legs so her bits were on display. When she got upset they said they were cleaning her out and given her pain meds but she claims no one had warned her of this. Then she was left exposed again whilst they cleaned her up. She then said whilst she was in recovery they left her bleeding on a pad and a midwife kept coming in and washing out her vagina.

Do they really do all this or is she exaggerating slightly? To me get c section sounds way more undignified than a natural birth but I'm sure not every mum feels like this.

[ShakyTheStork]

I am a midwife for the hospital where I gave birth. Ending up with an emergency cs after 2; hours of labour was especially mortifying. I knew everyone in the operating theatre

[Fishstix]

Have to say it was actually a hugely moving and positive experience. And our first baby was delivered vaginally, the aftermath of which which was a lot more traumatic. (Huge tear, no anaesthetic and an impatient and grumpy MW.)

[ShakyTheStork]

24 hours, that should say. Dammit

[Ludways]

I had 2 emc, the first was pretty traumatic as it was totally unexpected and I was frightened, tbh. However at no point did I feel anything other than respected and dignified (as much as you can be in childbirth). I was shaved but didn't even notice and I had lovely time with my ds after he'd had a quick wipe, which I asked for. That was 13 years ago.

Second emc was even better than that, I was very relaxed and chatted with everyone in the theatre.

Good luck!

[ShadyLadyT]

Pooh, nice friend you've got Sorry you are feeling anxious, how awful for you.

I have had two sections (planned) and am having another later this year.

You have to be shaved due to the incision but you can depilate beforehand if you prefer. And who would use a blunt razor? That's nuts! In fact I was told they prefer to do it in hospital only to make sure there are no nicks or missed bits. And it is only a section at the top.

Some waistdown nakedness is inevitable in any sort of childbirth but I found staff extremely respectful and imagine this is the norm. As others have said, there is a sheet/screen so you can't see what they are doing, much less feel it! I wasn't left 'exposed' at any time, though was washed once by a midwife (not invasively, more of a wipe) as they changed my pads when I couldn't move much. To reiterate, my sections were calm and not at all undignified - honestly. If you have to have one I honestly think you will be pleasantly surprised.

[idlevice]

I experienced abuse in childhood & felt positive about giving birth when I was asked at an antenatal appointment if I had been abused because if so, I would be treated appropriately, whatever that meant. As it was, I was high risk so the birth was highly medicalised & I was in too much pain to be able say anything about how I was being treated at the time, yet I was conscious of it as it happened. The birth itself (not CS) was traumatic & the feelings of powerlessness made it even worse when I thought about it afterwards.

With that in mind, I would say an ELCS is probably the best option as you can have the most control, ie discuss it thoroughly enough in advance, explore post-birth support options if you feel it didn't go well, shave yourself if necessary, remain aware enough to state if you feel unhappy with something, etc If you try to plan everything in advance as much as you can then if it goes well it will most likely be a lovely experience - if my birth had not had issues then I think I would have been more positive about it as I would have been so buoyed up by having a new baby. But then equally if you find it distressing then hopefully you will know where to turn for support or counselling. Hopefully that won't be necessary for you.

[Topseyt]

I had to have an emergency c-section with my third child as it was crystal clear that she wasn't coming out unharmed any other way.

It was far better and more dignified than the so-called "natural" delivery I had endured with my eldest some years before.

I suspect your friend is exaggerating. Did she expect to be fully clothed for her c-section? Having a catheter inserted is standard procedure. There are several reasons for it. If a person has had a spinal or full epidural anaesthetic then they cannot recognise or control a full bladder. Far better to have the catheter in so that it can drain into a bag rather than all over the operating table or floor!! Also, I believe if the bladder is kept as empty as possible then that helps with the operation.

It is very unlikely that she was shaved with a blunt razor. They are single use, and clean from new packaging.

With regard to her only briefly glimpsing her baby before he was whisked away, this could have been for any number of reasons. What state of health was her baby in at birth? He could have been distressed and ill, needing help to start breathing etc. Any number of things. My daughter needed immediate assessment by the paediatrician due to the complications we had had (born at 35 weeks). Her blood sugar also plummeted because she could not maintain her body temperature so she had to be placed in special care under a heat lamp and tube fed special formula.

[omuwalamulungi]

I'm so sorry you are feeling so anxious, I had a section last year and I too think your friend is exaggerating.

Please speak to your midwife and/or your consultant. They really don't want your experience to be distressing.

I waxed before my section, took away that issue entirely. I was in hospital for five days and EVERY time anyone had to touch me in any way they explained why. They absolutely did not expose any more of me than was necessary at ANY time.

All the way through (despite the fact that I was so terrified I wasn't taking anything in - hit me on the way INTO theatre that I was having a real baby in about ten minutes time) they spoke to me, reassured me, I really felt respected.

Afterwards the midwives have to come in and change your pads, it's not possible for you to do it yourself, they were never anything other than matter of fact about it and it was not embarrassing. I'm not sure what your friend means by 'left bleeding on a pad', you're lying on a pad and blood is coming out, because it has to, she's making it sound worse than it is. What was she expecting, really? Ditto catheter, how did she expect to pee for 24 hours when she wouldn't be able to get up? They would have given her all of this information at her antenatal appointments, and if her section was elective ALL OF THIS would have been explained to her. I was given an information pack, had a pre-section appointment with the consultant, then on the morning of the birth a midwife talked me through everything. Plus I did my own research online, like I'd assume anyone would...

My section was elective and while my consultant was very kind and understanding about my reasons, I did have to explain to her very clearly WHY I wanted it, so I do think if they are 'pushing' for it then they really might think its safer. Additional to a medical reason, I effectively chose it because I wanted and needed the control. That's exactly what I got, the only downside being the potential for a lot of waiting around, I was lucky and was the first on the list for the day, my friend had to wait til almost 7pm because of emergencies coming in - same hospital.

I really hope this thread has helped you, so sorry you've been worrying about this.

[omuwalamulungi]

Must add I was really lucky to have excellent midwives and consultants throughout who I absolutely trusted to do the best for me they could - I understand this is not always the case!

[sandgrown]

Don't worry your baby will be born in about 5 minutes and once you have them you will not care what is happening down below! I found that there was a lot less of me on show than when I had a natural birth. I was nervous and had a lovely midwife holding my hand on one side and DP on the other.

[differentnameforthis]

I doubt very much that the razor was blunt! They use a new one for each patient.

The lifting & spreading of legs, probably to take away any soiled material/put on pressure stockings/place a pad.

She won't have had her vagina 'washed out' either, probably had the pad replaces & wiped any excess away.

I only had a couple of second glance at dd2 when she was born because they need to check them over. Vaginally delivering a baby pushes any mucous out of their lungs (because of the pressure) section delivery doesn't have the same effect, so they need to make sure there are no blockages/mucous in the airways etc.

All sensation feels really odd down there after the spinal.

[differentnameforthis]

Firstly she said she was left completely bare below in front of all the people in the operating room

How else are they to access everything though? Knickers would have got in the way of the incision, not to mention could have cause fibres to get in the opening. Also could have restricted the catheter.

The incision is usually right on the knicker line.

Really, what else did she expect?

[clarinsgirl]

Hi Holly, you really need to give this 'friend' a wide berth. What she is saying makes little sense, as many posters have said, during a c-section you have no idea what is going on beyond the curtain.

I was not shaved and there is no reason why you can't shave yourself before hand. I was catheterised but didn't know when it was happening because I couldn't see or feel below my chest.

I talked to DH and lovely anaesthetist throughout and was passed DS as soon as he was born. He fed whilst I was stitched up.

Have a chat to your midwife and I'm sure that you will be able to get the control you need.

[peeapod]

hi holly

Please please please stop reading on the internet, stop reading books and getting advice from friends.

what you need to focus on is your experience. If you are going to have a C section you need to be talking to your hospital about your c section.

I have come here and asked similar questions and got myself all worked up and it just didn't help because ultimately my c section was completely different to everything I had read.

The best advice I can give is to get as much information as possible and to ensure that your wishes are followed with your birth. I went to theatre and was introduced to the theatre staff with a big list of my requests that I had written on a piece of paper.

If you look herre at the csection birth plan it shows you all the questions and things you can request to make your c section yours. www.caesarean.org.uk/

good luck, hope it goes well..

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

I am so glad of my two c secs. The first was scary but emcs. The second planned and I rather enjoyed it in a funny way. But these were what I wanted. I feared vag birth. Home would have killed me. Hospital terrified me. I was so relieved to get a csec. Then caught hard for my second. I'm still very pleased and happy.

So, giving birth is different for all. Find your own happy. No one else stories help good or bad. Good luck.

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Fought not caught

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Also the anesthiatist was by far the best person to talk to. No idea why

[scarletforya]

I think your friend is taking a lot of nonsense. My vs was nothing like that.

[scarletforya]

Cs not vs !

[chemenger]

I had an emergency CS and although some of the things your friend described happened, to an extent, she seems to have dramatised them to make the whole thing like an ordeal. The staff at mine, especially the anaesthetist, were sympathetic, supportive and kind. I always felt respected. This was nearly 17 years ago and I would expect things to have got even better.

[Mummymidwife87]

I haven't read the whole thread, but there is no evidence that early inductions and ELCS are needed for suspected large babies. Infact that is shocking, particularly the fact you have had a previous spontaneous vaginal birth.
Unless you want an ELCS, I would suggest requesting to speak to you supervisor of midwives about this.

[AllBoxedUp]

I've had 2 CS and the last one was 5 weeks ago. I was shaved with an electric razor by the midwife who told me she was going to do it.

To be honest, I did have a moment where I felt very self conscious about being naked below the screen - I think maybe when they put in they were moving my legs - but it sounds like in some places they cover you add much as possible. Maybe it would be better for you to have e the catheter in before the spinal so you feel more in control?

I requested that the screen be lowered so that I could see DD being delivered and that was amazing. Look into natural c sections - there was a thread on here a few weeks ago about it. DD was dried and weighed before we had skin to skin but I have read on here about people having their babies delivered directly onto them so you could twisty that. With DS he needed oxygen when he came out but it was all over quickly and we had skin to skin within the first 10 minutes I think.

I'm sorry for what you've been through abs I don't know if my suggestions are helpful but there are lots of options to make an ELCS how you would like it. Also, my surgeons were both female - I don't know if you would feel more comfortable with that our if it is possible to request this. There were other male staff in the room. I hope this doesn't make you more anxious but there are a lot of people in theatre for a CS - probably about 10.

[AllBoxedUp]

They were both really positive experiences though, all the staff were lovely and I have great memories of them.

[MrsCosmopilite]

I had an EMCS. Nobody shaved me. Screen went up and I was skin-to-skin within 10 mins.

I had planned a calm birth in a pool but after 48 hours nothing was happening. By the time DD was delivered I had no care about whether I was exposed or not (only to surgeon, MW and DH) - I was too tired.

I don't think your friend is being at all helpful.

[mslion]

Well your friend's experience is certainly nothing like mine and is not typical of a planned section at all.

I was asked to shave the top inch from my pubic hair - I shaved about an inch and a half (bloody difficult with a twin bump in the way!). The midwife did check this just before that op to make sure it was OK which it was.

I met with the anaesthetist and surgeon two days before the op - they explained about the catheter and the anal pessary and I had to sign a consent form for both of those things. I remember joking with them about how I would have something put in every orifice except the one that babies are supposed to come out of!

This is in a normal NHS hospital and I believe all these thing are standard NICE guidelines. At no point was anything done to me or inserted into me which had not been (a) explained to me beforehand or (b) consented to in writing by me.

It's a different matter for an emergency section where explanations are rushed and everything is being done in a hurry, but if you are considering a planned section you can talk through all of these fears with a midwife and the people who are doing your section beforehand.

Good luck!