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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Gentle cesarean

53 replies

noitsachicken · 29/10/2014 14:19

Has anyone requested a gentle cesarean? Or more specifically had one at Bristol Southmead?
I will be having an ELCS fo DC2, and can imagine them looking at me like a weirdo if I ask for the lights to be dimmed, quiet voices, watching the procedure etc!
Any experience?
Thanks

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Original poster
noitsachicken · 29/10/2014 18:34

Anyone?

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Heels99 · 29/10/2014 18:38

I had a section there.
It is major surgery. They need light! I don't remember it being noisy, they had classical music on. They were calm and professional. I personally wouldn't be asking them to dim the lights talk quietly etc but everyone is different. I would respect their professional ability to give me the best operating possible. It is quick. In an out in a short time.

Not sure what you mean by gentle.

Good luck

After care was dire.
.

scarevola · 29/10/2014 18:47

There is no way lights will be dimmed. It's surgery, and they need a clear view of your innards (or is this definitely your last baby? But even if it is, I doubt the insurers would let them change nothing required for safety).)

It should be pretty straightforward to have your choice of music. If all going normally, voices will be calm.

heather1 · 29/10/2014 18:52

Op I found this link, to the Guardian www.theguardian.com/society/2005/dec/03/health.medicineandhealth
You might find it useful or could take a copy to your appointment. No mention of dimmed lights but some good ideas otherwise.

Original poster
noitsachicken · 29/10/2014 19:03

Thanks all.
The dimmed lights is suggested just for the moment the baby comes out, and is something I am sure happens elsewhere, but yes obviously they need the lights on!

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Original poster
noitsachicken · 29/10/2014 19:05

Thanks for the link heather1

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Original poster
noitsachicken · 29/10/2014 19:07

I had DS by EMCS there, but had a GA so no knowledge of what happened.
I have heard positive things about ELCS being calm etc, but just want the experience to be as nice as possible, and gentle for the baby.

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Kalinka16 · 29/10/2014 19:08

My hospital offers a gentle section: main differences from the EMCS seem to be dimmer lighting, choice of music and baby remaining on your chest afterwards and you not spending an hour alone in recovery... I'm all for it!

outnumberedbymyboys · 29/10/2014 19:09

It is major elective surgery and as pointed out before- you really need the surgical team to see what they are doing. I presume you want to dim the lights so it is less of a shock to the baby but frankly, as a health professional, it is a dangerous request. I have had 2 elective sections which happened so quickly that there is no time for need for environmental factors such as music or lighting. The baby emerges within the first few minutes- the longer bit is carefully stitching you up at the end. Frankly, once my boys arrived they could have marched a brass band through the theatre and I would not have noticed:))

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 29/10/2014 19:10

They will be busy stitching you up as soon as the baby is born, they will need lights. I can't remember it being a rough procedure though, it all went smoothly and calmly.

outnumberedbymyboys · 29/10/2014 19:11

Kalinka- that is called best practice not gentle CS. What you describe should be the norm

m0therofdragons · 29/10/2014 19:14

I think I had one from reading this... I thought it was just a normal section. We chose the cd and dtds was on my chest. Sadly dd1 had to be resuscitated and taken to scbu but even that was calm. I cuddled dtd2 the whole time they stitched me up and then in recovery.

Original poster
noitsachicken · 29/10/2014 19:23

Thanks everyone, so it's sounds like lots of these things should be/will be done anyway.
I am just trying to think of what to ask, I understand lights are needed, I was asking because I have read info/template birth plans, which include dimming the lights as a request. I just wanted to know if anyone had experienced this, which it seems they have.
nct birth plan template

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mewkins · 29/10/2014 19:31

Crikey, I wouldn't have asked for them to take the tent down so that I could see - my husband and I would definitely have passed out! I have had and emcs and an elcs (only a few months ago). The elcs was really calm and controlled anyhow and I was completely happy for the surgeons to do everything they usually do.

Original poster
noitsachicken · 29/10/2014 19:36

I want to see, I like to see what is happening to me!
I am sure it will feel quite surreal at the time though!

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 29/10/2014 19:39

I think you can ask for them to wait yo cut the cord for a moment until it stops pulsing after baby is born as you can with vb. I had skin to skin straight away and was not left alone in recovery!

Haggisfish · 29/10/2014 19:40

No way on gods earth was I watching! I wouldn't even look up in case I saw a reflection on the light shade!

Heels99 · 29/10/2014 20:28

That nct list is ridiculous. Visit the operating theatre in advance?
It reads like a list of petulant demands.

eurochick · 29/10/2014 20:34

I wanted to see it too but my consultant refused, saying the curtain is part of infection control. It was lowered slightly as she was lifted out.

I can't say I gave a shiny shit about dimmed lights or music. I just wanted them to do a good job and get me out if that operating theatre asap. I think those sort of things can matter a lot for a VB where stress can affect labour but for my CS I cared more that my surgeon was relaxed and happy with the music etc as he was doing the work- I was just laying there.

mewkins · 29/10/2014 20:35

My pulse was dropping with just the thought of the surgeons rummaging in my belly.

Haggisfish · 29/10/2014 20:42

Actually I met a midwife and the anaesthetist before my elcs as I was very anxious. They were therefore prepared for my anxiety and had some intravenous Valium (or something!) to calm me down and they arranged for me to be first to theatre. And they offered to show me the theatre beforehand. They were fantastic and it made the whole thing much less stressful.

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 29/10/2014 20:42

Bloody hell - that list looks ok for a private birth but come on it's a medical procedure! Our hospital usually do 2 c sections a day - the day I had ds by emcs they'd done SIX and it was only 9pm!

I was just grateful that the place was clean!

VivaLeBeaver · 29/10/2014 20:44

Agree lots of the nct list is very unrealistic.

You can't visit an operating theatre beforehand. Its a sterile environment, we don't have time to clean it after every visitor. We don't even have labour ward tours anymore due to infection control purposes never mind theatre tours.

Meeting the midwife beforehand? Well yes you'll get to meet them that morning but not days before. Do the nct think midwives should come in in their own time on a Monday to meet a couple who are having a section Friday!

Dim the lights? There's no dimmer switch. Lights are on or they're off. There's no windows. So it'll be pitch black. There's no spare person to operate the light switch. People are scrubbed up. Apart from the anaesthetist....maybe people wouldn't mind them leaving the anaesthetic machine to fiddle with the lights?! The surgeon might object to it being dark though seeing as they needs to be able to see what he's doing as they're pulling the baby out. You do know it takes a lot of tugging to get a baby out in a section. Its not uncommon for the head to be out and then the rest of the baby can get a bit stuck and need some tricky manoeuvring?

Breastfeeding on the table? I've known women ask for this and its never happened. The sterile drape goes from immediately below the woman's chin. Maybe some hospitals manage it and I've spoken to Drs about it but they all maintain they'd be concerned about the sterile field been put at risk. Drs have said no to curtain being lowered for the same reasons.

Drs rarely take a uterus out to stitch it. Why would they make things harder for themselves? But if they need to do it then they need to do it.

Doula coming in? Not going to happen where I work. Strictly one person only with you in theatre.

SockQueen · 29/10/2014 20:45

That NCT list reads like it's been written by somebody who's never been in an obstetric theatre.

UriGeller · 29/10/2014 20:46

I think it has a lot to do with your state of mind. If you see the experience as positive and calm and understand the medical team are composed, confident, expert and working in your best interests ('your' including your baby) then the csection will be a gentle experience and it won't matter whether the lights are bright or dimmed.