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Childbirth

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

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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

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

divingoffthebalcony · 29/10/2014 20:52

That NCT list is just bizarre. And more than a bit special snowflake.

"I would like my privacy and dignity to be respected at all times"

I mean, really? I can imagine how that would go down amongst the people looking after you - like you're insinuating they're all a bunch of barbarians

VivaLeBeaver · 29/10/2014 20:56

Sock queen, they probably haven't ever been in a theatre.

Snort at special snowflake.

Its like the birth plans which say stuff like I only want a section/forceps/intervention if necessary. Yes because sometimes we get a bit bored and just decide to pull a baby out with forceps for no reason.

Haggisfish · 29/10/2014 20:58

I totally disagree with some of the statements here. Both my sections were done in bog standard nhs hospital and both times I was feeding on the table as they stitched me up. I hadn't asked for it, it was offered. No harm in asking your midwife what help is available in your area to prep you for a Cs, op.

Haggisfish · 29/10/2014 21:00

I do agree, however, that Nct should prepare parents more for hhe fact that most birth plans never make it out if hhe case!!

CocktailQueen · 29/10/2014 21:04

Gordon Bennett, what a crap list. The NCT's hatred for CSS shines out. I had an elcs with dd as she was breech and I was made to feel like a complete failure about it by my nct antenatal tutor.

During the elcs my blood pressure fell to 80/40 and I felt so ill I didn't care when dd was born. I felt totally out of it. All we cared about was getting dd born safely and getting me out of there. So you don't always know how you will feel when you have a cs. I certainly didn't want to see what was happening!! It's a medical procedure, so the doctors have to do what they have to do.

I would recommend having your dc born safely and not focusing on the perfect birth. Instead, focus on looking after your dc and having special time with them after the birth. The nct has such a focus on birth, I sometimes think they forget you will be taking the baby home afterwards...

divingoffthebalcony · 29/10/2014 21:07

The NCTs hatred of CSS shines out

I have to say, that thought crossed my mind immediately.

Booboostoo · 29/10/2014 21:10

During my ELCS my DH was looking over the screen which was quite low and the surgeon specifically invited him to watch the baby coming out. Both times the baby was placed on my chest and I held him for the rest of the operation. This is DS seconds after he was born. In my experience the operating theatre is quite cold and skin to skin may not be possible.

SomeSunnySunday · 29/10/2014 21:15

I'm feeling completely weirded out by the though of DH putting a baby to my breast while I'm still under GA... (and I'm a fairly hardcore extended breastfeeder!).

Honestly OP, I wouldn't overthink it. I've had 2 c-sections, an emergency and an elective, and am heading for my third. The team in theatre really did (in my experience) try to make it nice for me. Whilst getting on with their jobs. The anaesthetist stays at your head, and will, in my experience, happily answer any questions as they arise. Not much of the NCT list happened, but it was still fine, and my elective section was a really positive experience (even my emergency section was good in the circumstances). Obstetricians do these operations day in day out, and are very good at them. I don't really understand why you'd want to throw in the complication of asking them to deviate from their usual procedure.

Haggisfish · 29/10/2014 21:21

The same is true of hhe Nct vb check list though-they are equally unrealistic ime.

SixerofthePixies · 29/10/2014 21:30

They dropped the screen for me as my ds was born. Instinctively I reached out my arms for him and they all screeched no. I think it was because I obviously wasn't scrubbed and he was still attached. They did wrap him up and then place him on me like the photo by the poster above. I couldn't bf him until we got into recovery.

SockQueen · 29/10/2014 23:06

I have seen quite a few ladies attempt feeding in theatre. It's doable but very awkward because of the screen and the mother being flat on her back, plus sometimes not necessarily able to feel her nipples very well if the spinal/epidural is quite high. Most people just have a cuddle. I would not want anyone trying to get a baby to breastfeed while I was looking after a mother under general anaesthetic!

Hospitals vary in whether they'll allow the screen to be dropped for delivery, but I don't think you would be able to have it down the whole time as the risk of de-sterilising the operating field would be too high.

noits if there are particular aspects that are very important to you (not dimming the lights, that's not going to happen!) then absolutely ask your obstetrician/midwife/anaesthetist about them, the worst they can say is no. Above all, just look forward to meeting your lovely baby and don't get too caught up in minutiae of the delivery!

Heels99 · 30/10/2014 08:56

I agree, I was booked for planned c section but ended up having emergency one before the date of the planned c section. All I was bothered about both in advance and on the day was that my babies were ok. I didn't give a hoot about music, special snowflake princess arrangements, giving the consultant a list of my requests etc. my advice is don't overthink the details, hope for a healthy baby and don't sweat the small stuff.

Also, although I had my section at the hospital the op refers to, I actually was booked for a different hospital. You need to stay flexible or every time the birth diverts from the ridiculous nct list you will find it stressful. Don't get too hung up on arrangements at one particular hospital you could end up somewhere else.

Keep in mind it is major surgery not a day in a spa.

lotsoftoast · 30/10/2014 08:57

www.facebook.com/groups/naturalcaesareanuk

Search youtube for women centred caesarean - there's a great video

Look up 'Newbury doula gentle caesarean' - she has written some fab articles with links after her own experience

UriGeller · 30/10/2014 10:24

Can I just say that it's quite normal for a newly born baby to not want to suckle straight after the birth. I think this is quite important as its at this starting point new mothers feel failure if they can't immediatley feed their baby. After my 2 csections baby was fed by a syringe of colostrum DP and I had (hilariously) gathered beforehand.

Imo any dignity you might have after you put those dvt stockings on goes straight out the window and it's the least important thing you need to worry about!

meandmyduvet · 30/10/2014 10:58

OP even if the screen was lowered for the procedure you wouldn't be able to see anything. They are operating in the bikini line and you are lying flat on your back tilted to one side. Your bump is in the way of the view.
Some obstetricians don't mind if your partner peeks over the screen, but again, he won't be able to see much. It is very feasible for the screen to be lowered for a short time at the time of delivery so you can see your newborn being lifted out of you, but you can't reach over and compromise sterility (wound infection is no joke). After the cord has been clamped and cut your lo can join you on your breast for skin to skin if you are feeling up to it whilst the obstetrician stitch you up.
Dimming lights in the operating room is not something I've ever experienced or heard of. It is precisely at the point of delivery and placental separation that you are at risk of haemorrhage and you will want your obstetrician to see whats going on.

cheesecakemom · 30/10/2014 11:19

This reply has been withdrawn

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

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 30/10/2014 11:23

I remember it being cold on theatre too-thank goodness as it was boiling outside. I still remember the feeling of ds's little head against my cheek though even though he was all snuggled up in a towel

lotsoftoast · 30/10/2014 12:10

Natural caesarean practices aren't unrealistic - they are quite easily facilitated and aspects such as uninterrupted skin to skin should be standard really

Booboostoo · 30/10/2014 14:08

For what it's worth I breast fed in recovery. MW brought DS in, he fed for about 10 minutes and then fell asleep so he was taken away to be checked over and I saw him again in the room.

ememsmum · 30/10/2014 15:07

My emergency cs was fairly relaxed. All the staff introduced themselves and explained what their roles were. Everyone was so friendly and calm I didn't think to worry that DD was in distress. We were asked if we wanted to play some music so hooked up DH's ipod. The anaesthetist/assistant told DH where when and where to take a photo (first pic of DD is her pooing backside. It is quite gross). They cleaned the poo off then wrapped her up and I had a lovely cuddle for a few minutes before they started stitching me up. I was then taken back to my room on labour ward where DH and DD were getting acquainted and put her on the boob. I didn't have dimmed lights or delayed cord clamping but it really was a positive experience.

The Trust at which I am likely to have my next baby do not allow music or photography in theatre so I will be doing all I can to aboid a repeat cs!

Original poster

noitsachicken · 30/10/2014 17:11

Thanks, lots of mixed responses!
I just wanted to know what was reasonable to ask really, I know it's a medical procedure, and I am not nervous, I just want to make it as stress free as possible.
If these things are unrealistic I wonder why they are included on the nct list? I didn't search it out specifically, it was one of the first that popped up when searching for a template.
I am not worried about an all natural experience, if I was I would be opting for a VBAC! I was just trying to figure out what I could ask without looking like a loon.
I will talk it all through at my 36wk apt, I know the most important thing is healthy mum and baby, but my last experience wasn't great so I really want a positive one this time.

OP posts:

Zooymum · 30/10/2014 17:34

I've googled this a bit, and can't see any research on the impact of gentle/natural CS on infection rates. That really puts me off asking for anything like this. I had a wound infection after VB - part of the reason for having a CS this time and it was a real low point.

I also spoke to DH about whether there are any special requests we want to make and he pointed out that our consultant has probably done 1000s of CS and it would be better to do as he advises than ask for things I've seen anecdotally on the internet.

I do have a few things I want to ask for - but I think that they are fairly reasonable: have the cannula in my left hand as it kept on falling out of my right while I tried to look after DD, for the baby's head to get wiped as getting the dried blood off DD's head was a pain and getting to look at the placenta once it's out. If any of them don't seem reasonable to my consultant then they won't happen.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 30/10/2014 17:34

Tbh I found most of what the nct suggested unrealistic

PookBob · 30/10/2014 19:04

I love the idea of a "gentle" cesarean... At my ELCS there was a ginormous hornet buzzing around the ceiling of the operating theatre. There was no way of reaching it to shoo it out, and once my spinal was in, I did feel a little helpless!

CocktailQueen · 30/10/2014 23:08

Because the NcT is quite rabid and unrealistic about avoiding CSs at all cost - they are the work of the devil.

Obviously, not really - but remember that NCT originally stood for Natural Childbirth Trust and the reasoning will be clear.

Seriously, all that matters is a healthy baby. You will have all the time in the world to bond and bf after.

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