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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Skin to skin after c section

26 replies

Pelotonconvert · 25/08/2022 21:03

Hi all, I’m due my 3rd c section in a few weeks and I’m desperate to have skin to skin after this one. I didn’t for my first (he needed some help to breathe) and my second was a bit complicated as well! If everything goes relatively smoothly with this one (fingers crossed!!) can you tell me about your experiences? How does it logistically work with the curtain, gown, surgeon etc. Are hospitals generally open to it? Thank you in advance!

OP posts:
Loulou1712 · 25/08/2022 21:09

Your birth, your body, your baby, your rules. As long as baby is OK, you can have the drapes lowered, baby passed to you and have delayed cord clamping and skin to skin etc look up gentle sections, with these you actually push the baby out of the incision, it helps clear their lungs and can watch them being born.
You can even have the lights dimmed, and silence so baby hears your voice first etc x

snowflake29 · 25/08/2022 21:09

I'm due for my first section in 5 days so I've recently asked this! Apparently at my hospital they encourage skin to skin as long as baby and mum are both healthy and able.

You can ask them to lower the curtain and I think baby is just put down the top of your gown. I'm also considering asking for delayed cord clamping too.

Violettaa · 25/08/2022 21:12

I had skin to skin a few minutes after DD was born - they gave her a quick check over (slightly complicated pregnancy) while DH held her, and she was on my chest very soon afterwards. Someone must have pushed the gown down because she fed as I was stitched up.

StarDanced · 25/08/2022 21:32

I mentioned that I wanted to do skin to skin whilst being prepped for the c-section. They did my gown in such a way that it was essentially pinned on one side and so once my ds was born it could be undone from the shoulder for skin to skin. My hospital were very supportive and it was a really positive experience.

Original poster
Pelotonconvert · 25/08/2022 21:34

Thanks all, so helpful. I need to just ask for it. The curtains been lowered for both births but skin to skin never offered. I will ask for it this time but feel anxious to do this (which I know is ridiculous!!!)

OP posts:
addler · 25/08/2022 21:48

I told them it was really important to me, and it's part of their policy anyway. They lowered the drapes and we watched him be lifted out, the doctor passed him to the midwife and she placed him on my chest immediately and he stayed there for about half an hour, it was lovely.

Original poster
Pelotonconvert · 26/08/2022 08:57

Thanks @addler . So did he come straight to you? And was on you as they cut the umbilical chord etc? Really daft question but how did you get your gown down? I can’t imagine being able to do it with all the drips etc in you!

OP posts:
addler · 26/08/2022 09:19

Yep he was on me almost immediately, they literally lifted him up, DP announced the sex, then he was passed to the midwife who put him on me straight away.

When I lay down I had my gown undone already so it was loose around my shoulders/chest. They also put the sticky pads on my back rather my chest so the wires didn't get in the way

Original poster
Pelotonconvert · 26/08/2022 12:42

As I feared just seen my midwife and it was a clear ‘no’ to skin to skin. I did challenge and ask why possible in other hospitals and they said the operating theatre was just too cold….I had a feeling it was going to be a no tbh…

OP posts:
Violettaa · 26/08/2022 13:15

That’s nuts. They just cover the baby with a blanket!

Its so lovely - perhaps ask if you can talk to your consultant about it, and deff tell the staff on the day that it’s what you want.

Eek3under3 · 26/08/2022 13:19

That is bizarre. I had my 3rd section 3 weeks ago and was told my the anaesthetist what would be happening during the procedure, and that after the baby is checked (complicated history/ pregnancy) he will be brought to me for skin to skin. I didn’t even need to ask.

I had warming blankets on my chest so maybe that would help?

addler · 26/08/2022 13:23

That seems ridiculous. In theatre they had a hot cabinet with towels, and covered DS with one of those and then a cellular blanket on top and a hat while he was on me.

Original poster
Pelotonconvert · 26/08/2022 14:27

It does doesn’t it? Also, if it’s that blooming cold surely skin to skin is best? The midwife was very open and nice but v clear it wasn’t gonna happen…

OP posts:
quizamoles · 26/08/2022 14:33

Pelotonconvert · 26/08/2022 14:27

It does doesn’t it? Also, if it’s that blooming cold surely skin to skin is best? The midwife was very open and nice but v clear it wasn’t gonna happen…

It isn't her decision on that of the medical staff, if baby is clinically well.

Just make it very clear. Baby is to be passed for immediate skin to skin. No room for discussion unless baby needs help or intervention

BeastOfBODMAS · 26/08/2022 14:35

Mine they just popped a knitted hat on and straight on my chest. There was probably a blanket as well can’t remember. She was there the whole time while they stitched me up, I remember having to ask DH to take her eventually as I was so dizzy and spaced out

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 26/08/2022 14:39

When I had my second, they told me I was having skin to skin and it was an emergency section. They just popped a blanket over both of us. Are you seeing your consultant again before your baby is due? I'd ask them.

ShadowPuppets · 26/08/2022 14:41

That’s crazy, I’d challenge it if you feel able. I had an ELCS with DC2 in May and I had my gown undone and just covering me so they whipped him out, gave him a v brief check and then he was straight on me for ages. They stitched me up while I held him and I only had to pass him to DH very briefly while they moved me from the table to the trolley.

DC1 had been a traumatic vaginal delivery and I was too weak to hold her until a few hours later so it was really important to me to get S2S this time if at all possible.

Dyra · 26/08/2022 23:43

Yes it is cold in theatre. I work in obstetric theatres, so lots of experience. But skin to skin is absolutely a thing for C-sections, especially electives.

As others have stated, your gown can be left undone at the back. Which makes it effectively a thin sheet with sleeves. Very easy to lift up and plonk a baby on your chest then cover over. You can make even more room, by leaving an arm out of one sleeve. Monitoring leads can be placed on the back of your shoulders and your side to help with access as well. The drapes are plenty loose, so easy to tuck a baby under. As for the drips, you can work around them. They should all be going through one cannula anyway.

Then there's these amazing innovations called towels and blankets. Your midwife obviously hasn't heard of them. Very effective at trapping heat. They can even be pre-warmed ahead of time on the baby warmer, though some theatres may have a warming cupboard. Then she could occasionally check baby's temperature with a thermometer to ensure baby isn't getting cold. As an aside, if your requests are ignored, and your DH/P is feeling confident, once he's been handed the baby he can unwrap, place on you, and re-cover. It's your baby.

You asked about cutting the cord while baby is on your chest. Pretty impossible, as umbilical cords are rarely long enough to go over the drapes and keep everything sterile for the surgeons. Delayed cord clamping is pretty standard nowadays anyway, with the proviso that you and baby are well ofc. Baby will be down on your legs for a minute or two, then the cord is cut. Some surgeons also milk the cord into baby before cutting. If you ask, and they're kind, they might also leave it long, so your birth partner can trim it down if you'd like that.

I didn't get skin to skin with mine, which I am slightly salty about. I don't remember being asked, but then I didn't ask either. It was a 2am emergency though, and my memories are very hazy about the whole thing. I probably looked like I couldn't hold a baby. DH was delighted to get the holding time in though, which I cannot fault him for.

So... Yeah. I honestly can't see any reason why not, other than a hospital's backwards policy.

Hiddenvoice · 26/08/2022 23:51

I really don’t understand why they have said no. I had a gentle c section so the curtains were dropped so I could see dd being born. She was placed onto me for a few mins then taken to do her checks. Once she was given all clear she was then placed back on my chest, my gown was lowered and then she was tucked in with me. I wasn’t well enough to keep her on me so my dh did skin to skin for the first little while. The hospital was very keen to do skin to skin with one of us to help regulate her body temperature and to help soothe her.

Original poster
Pelotonconvert · 27/08/2022 08:53

Thanks so much everyone - it gives me such confidence. I’m going to talk to the consultants before and on the day. The more I think about it the more crazy it seems. I’ll make sure I bring it up at every appointment from now as well!!

OP posts:
Fifi1101 · 24/02/2023 22:17

Hi, I know this is an old thread but OP, did you get skin to skin with your birth? I’d like an elective section but I’m really keen for skin to skin

Hiddenvoice · 24/02/2023 23:36

@Fifi1101 i had skin to skin straight away. Once dd was out, she was placed on my chest whilst the finished the rest of the c section. They then cleaned her up properly but she remained at my side until we were back in the ward and we continued skin to skin.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 24/02/2023 23:39

Violettaa · 25/08/2022 21:12

I had skin to skin a few minutes after DD was born - they gave her a quick check over (slightly complicated pregnancy) while DH held her, and she was on my chest very soon afterwards. Someone must have pushed the gown down because she fed as I was stitched up.

I had exactly the same.

Babyenroute · 25/02/2023 07:03

Hiddenvoice · 24/02/2023 23:36

@Fifi1101 i had skin to skin straight away. Once dd was out, she was placed on my chest whilst the finished the rest of the c section. They then cleaned her up properly but she remained at my side until we were back in the ward and we continued skin to skin.

Me too

CSR721 · 25/02/2023 15:09

I see you already have lots of responses but I had my lb by emergency c section in November, they patted him down weighed him and then popped him straight on my chest while they stitched me up 🥰