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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Bonding straight after C-Section

15 replies

Nads38 · 03/04/2007 11:31

I had a 3rd degree tear with DD 14 months ago. I am now 21 weeks preg and consultant has advised C-section due to possible back passage problems. I want skin on skin contact and breast feeding and my DH to cut the cord, I want to hold the baby, not be taken away, can all this happen with a C-section, this is my main concern about the surgery. Am I dreaming away here, or can this happen? I am really confused and worried that I will make the wrong decision and really mess up my body "down there" so I am seriously considering a C-Section, but for the reasons above, I am not keen....please help!!!

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talcyone · 03/04/2007 11:35

My dh didn't cut the cord...
but the rest was great.
I actually bonded better after cs than i did with dd1 after forceps delivery.
Maybe because i wasn't so trired out!

Plibble · 03/04/2007 11:37

All of this can happen with a c-section, but you should write it all into your birth plan and discuss it with the hospital.
At Queen Charlotte's they do a "natural cesarean" see here .

It does depend on what your consultant is willing to do, though, so raise it with him/her asap.

kittypants · 03/04/2007 11:37

i used sling straight away to encourage bonding and kangeroo care in bed.

Aloha · 03/04/2007 11:37

My dh was extremely uninterested in cutting the cord (yuk! Sorry!) but you can make a caesarean birth plan. The baby is usually briskly towelled off, but can be delivered on to you in most cases. Or you can strip the baby off in recovery. Breast feeding is not a problem. I breastfed both mine in the recovery room. I fell in love with both of mine at first sight anyway. Isn't that 'bonding'?

Bounce1 · 03/04/2007 11:43

I had c-section seven weeks ago today. Personally I found it difficult, but looking at the gorgeous bundle sitting beside me I can emphatically say it has had no impact on the way I feel about my ds. We've bonded. Make sure the mid-wives know you want to breast feed before the surgery, you may feel groggy afterwards. My dh was told there was no question of him cutting the cord, it was a surgical proceedure.

Plibble · 03/04/2007 11:44

Ah yes, I should add that I didn't have any of the things you describe and, in fact, was so exhausted from 36 hours of labour that I wasn't too interested in DD initially, but we bonded just fine. My lack of interest was more to do with my tiredness and feeling ill than with the section. I imagine that, with a sympathetic doctor an elective could be a very positive experience.

ProfYaffle · 03/04/2007 11:46

I had a c/s 7 weeks ago, my hospital offered all the things you mentioned. dh was somewhat stunned to be asked if he wanted to cut the cord and half yelled a strangled 'no!'. dd2 was taken to special care for a few hours straight after but even so we had no problems bonding or bfing.

thehairybabysmum · 03/04/2007 11:50

After my cs DS was laid next to me and then as soon as i was out of theatre we had skin to skin, whilst i was being wheeled out and sorted he had skin to skin with DH.

Absolutely no problems with bonding...was fab, i can still picture his big eyes just staring at me . I think i was offered immediate skin to skin (a bit hazy memory though) although i preferred him to be de-gunked personally.

As others say if you are having a pre-planned section then you should be able to arrange with the hospital what you would like to happpen.

FWIW i found the recovery ok too...had no problems with picking ds up, obviously you aren't leaping around the room but found it fine to hold and feed him (well bf hurt my boobs but my scar was ok!!!)

babedia · 03/04/2007 11:57

Hi, the others have commented on the bonding issue, but I wanted to give you a link to information about having a CS after a previous bad tear. I hope you find it useful. link

Original poster

Nads38 · 03/04/2007 12:10

Wow, you guys are amazing. We are pretty much in the UK alone (I am Australian and my DH is South African) I only posted this 5 minutes ago and my mind has been completely put as ease. It wasn't so much with bonding with baby after the event, it was more the birth as I had an amazing experience with DD delivering naturally and I wanted to try my best to have it all over again - I thought it was a big ask... but maybe not that big after all. Thank you thank you thank you

OP posts:

Aloha · 03/04/2007 16:17

The birth of my ds by caesarean was, in particular, the most fantastic, moving, amazing experience.
YOu might want to consider taking in music to have your child born to as well the other stuff.

bubblebell1 · 03/04/2007 16:28

i had cs 8 weeks ago today

it was a very moving experience.

dp got to cut the cord altho it had already been cut by dr when ds2 was removed.

i didnt get skin to skin which i would like next time but i still put him to the breast within the hour. he latched on straight away no problems at all so couldnt of hindered that much

gd luck with urs

burek · 03/04/2007 16:38

Like the others said, it is possible to get skin to skin and breastfeed immediately with a CS, and for dad to cut the cord. You are lucky in that you can plan it all in advance and tell the staff what you want. One thing I would add is this: I had a drip in one arm and the other arm was immobile because they were monitoring my blood pressure at the same time (and I think I had no feeling in my arms but it might just be hazy memory after 3.7 years ) so I couldn't actually move my arms around to hold and cuddle ds as I instinctively wanted to as soon as he was put on my chest. So ds started to get cold and I wish I could have held him. On the other hand they then put him down my dh's surgical gown to keep him warm, snuggled up against his chest, holding on to his chest hairs which of course is a memory we cherish now and gave dad and son a lovely bonding from the start.
Hmmmmm getting soppy thinking about it now!

eidsvold · 04/04/2007 07:49

i have had 3 sections. for dd1 - dh got to hold her, i got to see her before she was rushed to ICU - despite her being in icu/scbu for 3 weeks i had no problems bonding.

dd2 and dd3 were elective c-sections - dh got to cut the cord, i got to nurse them whilst they were stitching me up and got skin on skin and bf in recovery no problems.

c-sections were fab and I recovered really well. last one was 1 1/2 weeks ago and i am fine.

Klaw · 04/04/2007 15:59

Your cons can 'advise' all he likes, it is ultimately up to you how you give birth and if you would prefer a VB to an elCS then that is your choice.

Plibble and Babedia, have already posted the links I would have posted. Please read both of them to help you to make up your OWN mind, not the cons or anybody elses. Radmid links are always very informative! And I'm asking for a 'Natural' CS if I ever have to have another CS!

this link might also help you if you decide agaist elCS

Wishing you well

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