Curtain up or down during c-section?

[Collienova]

Just a little back story... I had my DD 5 years ago via EMCS under general anaesthetic. I feel a little sad that I could be awake for the procedure and hold her straight away.

I'm now booked in for an ELCS and I really like the idea of seeing my baby being born. My DH thinks I'm nuts... Any experiences?

Up up up!!

I've just had my 3rd emergency section, I started being sick during it and really gagging, I caught the curtain whilst being sick, and the blood so much blood!

Baby comes straight over the curtain anyway, and they talk to you during the section. Good luck

I didn't think they let you see baby being born if you had a section? I thought it was either ga so you were out cold or with the screen up so you didn't have to see them rummaging about inside you?

Disclaimer - I've never had one. Was just told that there are two ways in a labour class this week.

Oh dear God up!!!!
I had an awake cs, took 10 mins of chat and listening to music and feeling like someone was doing the washing up in my stomach (in a very non painful way) and there she was
Do they even let you have them down?

It might make you queasy seeing your own insides! I had the screen up. The baby is out very quickly and they hold him/her up to show you as soon as they're out. My DS1 managed to pee over the screen! You get to snuggle them very soon after too.

Up... Honestly

Definitely up!! Also don't look at the light above your head, it's mirrored!

I had the curtain lowered after the incision. They allowed her time to "walk out" to semi mimic the regular birthing process and it was amazing to see. I'm generally squeamish but didn't see the actual incision because the bump was in the way.

I also have a video of it.

You can have the curtain down, I did. Although you can't actually see anything let alone 'your own insides (they told me it was a bit pointless as I wouldn't be able to see). You are lying flat on your back, there's a bump in the way and the incision is very low down. I couldn't see a thing and don't see how it would be possible to unless i was trying to do a sit up. My dh stood up to see baby coming out and took photos. I thought before it would be gory or gross but it wasn't in the slightest. The entire area is covered in sterile adhesive stuff so you can see no skin whatsoever, no insides, and there's really very little blood. I really treasure the pictures we have of my baby being born. Dh loved it and didn't feel squeamish at all but that will depend on your dh!

Down! They only drop it for the actual birth. You will only see baby, honest! Husband took pictures and they are my favourite photos.

I could see mine in the reflection on the light which was quite interesting. Not for the squeamish though!

Wow. I didn't even know they would put the screen down!

Not sure I'd like it though...

Policies vary from unit to unit. Many, but not all, will allow the curtain to be dropped for the delivery of the baby, but very few would be happy to have the drape down for the whole time because it would be only too easy for you or your DP/DH to accidentally contaminate the sterile field. If you do ask for the drapes to be lowered during the delivery, you may still not be able to see all that much, as you're flat on your back and your bump is in the way, but it certainly can't hurt to ask if it can be done!

In our local hospital they have a TV screen you can see & a camera above the operating table. They asked me if wanted the screen on the whole time of just when DS was actually being delivered. DP wanted it on the whole time but I just wanted to see the delivery. DP watched in all in the reflection of the lights anyway! They turned the camera on just as they were about to pull him out but he was so big it took a few minutes so saw slightly more than I intended but it was great to see him being born. Especially as he was then whisked straight off to get checked by the paediatric team. If your hospital has the camera option I'd definitely recommend it.

I had a CS, curtain up etc.

When they pulled DD out with a joyful "here's your little girl, do you want to say hello?!" they didn't know what to do when I said "no".

Basically I was scared of seeing my abdomen slashed open with blood everywhere. It didn't occur to me for a second they'd hold her above the curtain and make her "wave" from a distance

Thanks everyone! I'm definitely not squeamish and I think seeing (whatever is allowed/ physically possibly) would help me as I missed out on everything last time. I couldn't even remember that I'd been pregnant when I came round after the GA when my husband said 'Would you like to meet your daughter?'
I've got a pre-op on the 13th so I will ask what their policy is during that. The camera option sounds interesting!

I had mine lowered at the point of delivery. It was amazing. PPs are right when they say you can't see anything - your bump will block the view of the incision because it's so low down. Curtain came down and my nice anaesthetist agreed to remove the monitoring pads from my chest (on strict instructions to say immediately if feeling strange) so I could hold the baby straight away. I kept him on me for at least 10 mins after he was born, after which they took him off to weigh etc. Was the best experience after first birth (which was also a crash section under GA.)

Having been in and assisted CSs I would say have it up at least for the incision part. There is a lot of pulling and to an untrained eye it can look pretty brutal. Obviously you won't physically feel anything but being able TIA we this could either scare you or make you mind create pain.

Some hospitals allow both. Have the screen up right until delivery then taken down so you can see baby born. It is really just as amazing seeing a baby born by CS as a vaginal birth.

Good luck x

feeling like someone was doing the washing up in my stomach

That's the best, and the most accurate, way I've ever heard it described!

I asked could I watch and was firmly told no 😅 it can make you go into shock. It was lowered briefly when he was shown to me but that was it. To be fair I was quite smacked off my tits hazy and disoriented from the long labour, I was exhausted too. Still tried to watch in the big light.

Dh, who is not a squeamish man, was ashen. Like a man who has seen things and lived to tell the tale. Baby was supposed to be called Dexter but he said after the blood/guts he just couldn't face it. (He was a fan of the TV show) I had a PPH though and apparently it was everywhere.

I never felt a thing, not even the rummaging everyone told me to watch out for.

Up always up! My anaesthetic ran out towards the end (stupid trainee anesthetist) and that was grim, all okay but I'm not sure I could have coped with the visual to accompany the sensations.

I've had 2 sections, and I highly recommend focussing on the radio and pretending it isn't happening until they hand you your beautiful baby.

Surely the 'curtain' is your own hospital gown, raised up to expose the area? Mine definitely was. So where would it go if it wasn't raised? I'm not sure I'd like all that fabric bunched up around an open wound!
I'm pretty squeamish and was terrified of the op so there was no chance I was looking anyway, and it wasn't offered as an option to me During my c-s.

What curtain?? Seriously ... I couldn't see because I was laid out obviously but aparently my birth partner ( no dp ) could see " right inside me " oh the joys

This is literally the first time I have thought about this there must have been some kind of curtain though as I'm re creating the angle as we speak ...!

Must have been off my tits