During your c section, which of these were allowed?

[AutumnLeavesandCandleLights]

I had an emergency c section 11 months ago and I presume things can be/are a bit different during an elective.

I'm opting for an elective in a few weeks time, and was just wondering which of these you were allowed?

My partner wasn't allowed to cut the cord last time, we assumed it was because it was an emergency c section however my sister had an emergency c section 6 weeks after me (though at a different hospital) and her partner was allowed to.

• I'd like for DP to cut the cord this time, has anyone's partners had the chance to do this during an elective?

I want the 'curtain' to be dropped when they pull my baby out so that we can see the actual moment he's born and feel a little more involved. I didn't ask about this last time but again, has anyone been able to do this with elective?

Can you/have you requested which method your wound is put back together?
Mine was stapled shut last time and it caused me problems with the metal staples pulling against my dressing for a week. I'd very much like to be sewn this time, but unsure whether they'll give me a choice or not.

I have my Consultant meeting in a couple of weeks in which I'll confirm my c section date and will of course ask all of these questions, but thought it'd be good to get some first hand experiences too!

Thanks for the responses everyone!

Luckily I'm not too bothered about whether or not I catch a glimpse of anything bloody or gory, I'm just desperate to feel more involved in this birth. It is, bottom line, an operation, but I'd love to see my little one leaving my body.

Hopefully the Consultant will be able to clarify everything for me in a couple weeks

As a pp has said with the cord cutting, they cut it long and then partner goes with the baby to the side of the room and is allowed to cut it shorter.

They weren't keen on dropping the curtain for me but I wasn't especially bothered so didn't push it. DP stood beside me so he could see everything though.

What I really wanted and what my hospital was great at providing was near immediate skin to skin. They got him out, showed him to me, weighed him and did all their bits, stuck a nappy on then put him on my chest. Took less than 5 mins. All the sucky pads monitoring me were stuck on the back of my shoulders to allow for this. I absolutely didn't want him wrapped up, I wanted skin to skin with a blanket on top and they were more than happy to provide this. Not quite as immediate as when I gave birth but close.

I had a pre-op the week before where they went through everything and I could discuss what I wanted. Then on the day I saw the docs performing it and again could go over my options. Then when I was going into theatre the midwife noted down everything too. Hopefully you can find out more soon. I found them to be very accommodating though I think my hospital is pretty great.

I had dissolvable stitches with both of mine. We also had a mirror/light above us so we could see the surgery. (Not that I saw anything with DS2s emergency)

They also listened to my request for skin to skin.

However first time we didn't think to ask for cord cutting and second was an emergency, so I can't answer that one sorry.

Hi I had an emergency with my first and an elective with my second. My second c section was a wonderful experience. I had a natural section, delayed cord clamping. Partner cut the cord, skin to skin contact. Lots of happy music playing! It helped to write it all down in a birth plan and give it to the surgeon and anethatist on the day of surgery. Mine seemed interested in mixing things up a bit and glad to not follow the "norm". They really seemed to want me to feel comfortable and the birth feel positive. I could not fault the experience. It was kinda therapeutic after a difficult first emergency c section.
All the best for yours :) x

Also forgot to say, I bottled it with having the curtain brought down... but gave a member of the medical team my camera and they took a series of pictures of my baby being born and they are absolutely fantastic!

We asked for the baby to be held up so that we could see whether it was boy or girl, rather than the surgeons tell us, which felt a bit more personal

Haha cor blimey that was not on my mind 13 weeks after a section but congratulations to you! Have they said anything about this short time between pregnancies? Why exactly do they recommend 18 months? I'm thinking of trying for another but my LO is only just 12 months! I am quite slim & had a healthy bmi throughout pregnancy, had dissolvable stitches with an emergency. Probably depends on the hospital. Would you mind me asking in why you are electing a section this time? (Sorry to be nosey being selfish & trying to find out if there is a particular reason as id like to try for a vaginal - have they advised a section?) whereabouts in the country are you?

@Sunisshining12 pretty sure DP and I had sex a mere handful of times in the few months after our first little one was born - but you are super fertile after giving birth so we probably should have been more careful ha. We're both excited to meet our newest addition though, despite my body feeling like it's falling apart in the process lol.

I saw a Consultant a few months ago who said the time between my pregnancies was of no concern to her - but I've since done a lot of research, read a lot of studies and came across medical papers of professors at universities that show my chance of uterine rupture is 3x higher than most that try for a VBAC given that I fell pregnant so quickly after a c section.
I wasn't exactly comfortable with the '1 in 250' odds that was originally given to me, so when I saw my chances were in fact greater than that it put me right off.

I also didn't dilate with my son. My waters went naturally at 39+2, contracted at home for almost 2 days and still no sign of baby. Went in for an induction, had the pessary and was placed on the drip for 12 hours. After all of that I was still only 2-3 cms dilated and the risk of infection for both me and baby was high so it needed to be a c section in the end. I spoke to my midwife about my chances of successful dilation without any form of drug intervention this time around, and she said it's likely I won't dilate again and could very easily result in another emergency situation.

My personal odds just don't seem great. it's a decision that's made me lose a lot of sleep and hasn't been easy.

If I could go for a VBAC knowing full well I'd dilate with no problems, need no drug interventions and definitely wouldn't end up with an emergency c section then I'd try for a vaginal birth. But for me, I just know I'd be too terrified of all the bad things that could go wrong and that, in turn, would also slow down my labour!

I'm south east - near London.

Oh poor you it defo sounds like an elective section is better in your circumstances. I think it's lovely that your LO's will be so close in age. There are 13 months between my Sister & I, literally best friends, so much in common we love it. Plus you get all the baby stage out of the way together!! TBH I would have tried for another before now but the midwives scared the hell out of me saying i must leave 18 months between after a section. Good luck OP