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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Seeing the actual birth during a caesarian

58 replies

lucysnowe · 31/03/2008 13:00

Hi all

If I have to have a c-section I quite fancy the idea of seeing them cut me open so I get to see the baby as it comes out (if I'm allowed). However DH is not so sure he wants to and I wonder if when it comes down to it all the blood etc will freak me out a bit, although I'm not v. squeamish usually.

I'd love to know if anyone has done this and if you recommend it!

Thanks

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WowOoo · 31/03/2008 16:41

There was no screen in my emergenct c-sec. I couldn't see much as I was lying flat, but what I did see still makes me feel sick and quite unreal to this day. My dh says it was gross and will demand a screen in the future!

blueshoes · 31/03/2008 16:59

mintpurple: 'The actual op if seen from the other end is quite brutal really and there are a couple of bits of the op that most midwives tend to look away at, as its really not pleasant to watch."

Oooh, which bits are these?

Mintpurple · 31/03/2008 18:46

TMI alert - please dont read if you are squeamish.

Blueshoes -

the worst parts are when the surgeon and the assistant pull really hard from opposite sides to open up the incision when they have reached the uterus. This is when women feel they are being pulled around the table just before baby comes out, and is often when the med students feel faint

Next nasty part is when they try to pull baby out of the incision on the uterus, again it can be very rough and I have seen baby having broken bones due to rough handling.

Also the smell of the diathermy when they use it to cauterise the bleeding vessels smells horrible, as they are burning the tissue to stop bleeding.

Of course all of these things happen to a greater or lesser degree, due to many factors such as skill levels, speed of delivery needed etc.

Really sorry if this grosses anyone out, but it is reality

blueshoes · 31/03/2008 18:53

Thanks, minty

constancereader · 31/03/2008 19:00

My dh watched. Helpful comments afterwards included

"Did you know they tear some bits because it heals better afterwards?"

and

"The fat on your tummy is YELLOW. And there was quite a bit of it".

crace · 31/03/2008 19:06

Actually thanks for that mintpurple, after 2 c/s myself I am quite happy to know what happens! I can well imagine it's something I wouldn't want to see.

constancereader - that made me laugh. My dh was very intrigued with it all and though he's not said much about it he did rather like the "puffs of smoke rising" as they cauterised the veins off Glad it was so entertaining eh?!

BetsyBoop · 31/03/2008 20:35

I had an em c/s with DD & an el c/s with DS.

DH was able to watch both, although he had to promise not to faint! (no chance, stuff like that doesn't bother him) He only told me some days later how rough they were getting DD out - finger hooked on mouth & loads of fundal pressure - her neck got very long apparently as he was thinking "what am I going to do if they snap her neck, what will I say to DW?!"

With DS I really wanted the screen dropped to see him born, but my hospital don't "allow" it. Also the screen is quite high up your body & with the IV & BP cuff etc a proper cuddle after DS was born would have been impossible, although I did get a look to see if he was a he or she before he was taken to be cleaned & dressed. (The bit I hated with DD was just seeing the top of her head as she was whisked off, hearing her cry but unable to see her, and then being presented with a fully dressed/wrapped baby a while later, very "strange")

Also be aware that you might feel faint (spinal can cause BP to drop) & although the anaethetist can give you something for it, I found the whole thing totally sureal both times, like it wasn't really happening to you.

ALso our hospital doesn't allow cameras in the theatre, so it was a while before we got chance for first photos.

Both time we had skin-to-skin in recovery & I've managed to b/f both, just be aware that sometimes it takes a day or two longer to get going if you've had a c/s, especially if you've had no labour at all, as the hormones are starting from scratch.

alfiesbabe · 31/03/2008 22:03

The screen dropped accidently during my cs (I say screen, but it's just surgical drapes clipped onto a frame, so I guess it just unclipped!). TBH I didnt see much as you're lying flat so at the wrong angle, but it was a bit of a comedy moment in an otherwise scary procedure (prem baby). The main memory that stays with me is that the whole thing is quite rough - I was practically pulled off the table at several stages, and also dont be surprised if blood sprays up onto the screen as the cut you open. It's not a gentle dribble of blood - it really sprays everywhere!!

yurt1 · 31/03/2008 22:09

I found with all 3 sections that I was surprised how bruised my tummy was. They really shove the baby out, so they have to push down hard from the top.

blueshoes · 31/03/2008 22:11

alfiesbabe, I am sure you are right about the blood.

I had an crash cs under GA because there was no time to put in a spinal (dd out within 11 minutes from the time decision to do a cs was made). When I woke, my nightie was utterly caked in blood - I had to throw it away eventually. Can't imagine how violent that must have been . Luckily I was out and dh was ushered out of theatre.

blueshoes · 31/03/2008 22:14

yurt1, so true about the bruised belly. After my crash cs, I felt like I had been kicked in the guts by a horse - equivalent to doing a 1,000 sit-ups non-stop. It was almost worse than the incision pain.

Then I had an elective cs, and that was so much more civilised. Minimal bleeding and no bruised belly - still shoving though but nothing really. Scar also healed much better.

MarsLady · 31/03/2008 22:19

I've seen several c-births. Fascinating stuff!

colacubes · 31/03/2008 22:43

oh I have had 2, one emergency, one sort of planned, through necessity, but the thought of the pulling, burning riping, of ones own body, thats not for me, would probably pass out, scary enough as it was. Would be interested to take a look at one though, with my finger on the fast forward just in case to much.

EBenes · 31/03/2008 23:50

I don't remember being pulled at all or it being rough at all! Even though my doc told me that my pelvis had 'really caused him problems'. What was he doing near my pelvis anyway? I just remember talking about holidays to the nurse and my husband and suddenly they were done. This thread is quite scary. I would definitely pass out from fear if I saw these things.

Original poster

lucysnowe · 01/04/2008 12:36

Thread has taken a turn for the scary but it's been really useful reading everyone's stories, thanks! :-)

Interesting reading Betsy's story - I don't care about the blood so much but am utterly neurotic about harming the baby so if the surgeon has to manhandle it a bit I may have second thoughts about watching that!

I am v. v. keen to get skin to skin for breastfeeding reasons so it's been good to know that most of the time that's possible.

OP posts:

StarlightMcKenzie · 01/04/2008 12:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

icklelou · 01/04/2008 13:26

Spoke to dh last night, he said that dd wasn't part of the way out as I originally thought, they just pushed very hard on my stomach, and she kind of shot out! So he did see my cut and promises it wasn't too gory. Maybe he's just got a strong stomach. Agree with others on here about the roughness of it all. I kept being told it was like having washing up done in your belly, and my first section was under ga, so was totally unprepared to feel as though my entire lower body was being dragged and pulled around.

With regards to skin to skin, dd was taken off for quite a while to be checked out, and I actually don't remember when I first fed her, it was quite a while after, so we didn't get immediate skin to skin. However, we're still happily breastfeeding almost seven months on. I realise that the earlier you can get skin to skin the better, but it's not the end of the world if it doesn't happen.

meglet · 01/04/2008 13:35

I was happy to see my DS pulled out during my em c-section, they lowered the screen for me, but I think my DP was a little traumatised by it. He is very tall and could see over the screen while they cut me open, i think it was a bit much for him but he won't really talk about it. I don't mind if he chooses not to come in next time, its a pretty major op after all.

I didn't get to hold my baby for a while as they had to check him over first. Then DP got to hold him when he was all bundled up. I didn't get a chance to try and bf for 4 hours afterwards, and bf was a disaster in the end. Next time I will try to get them to help me do it sooner.

lucy really sensible finding out lots beforehand as it makes the op easier if you do have one. I was totally against having a cs, but still swotted up on all the facts just in case. It really helped keep me calm when it did actually happen. x

Countingthegreyhairs · 01/04/2008 13:53

I saw mine by accident as there was a shiny metal light fitting in the ceiling of the operating room that reflected everything below it!! (Fortunately, I didn't have my glasses on at the time but don't think I would have liked to have seen any more than I did!!)

Btw, even though my CS was quite difficult (apparently I didn't feel anything and it wasn't at ALL rough or painful in any way.

I was allowed my choice of calming music in the room though ....

MarsLady · 01/04/2008 19:05

I think I would love to but then I love the whole thing about birth (look at my job lol).

I tried to get them to pull the screen down when I had the DTs (planned section due to transverse lie and presenting cord) but they all screamed no and pulled my arms away and the sheet up. I was gutted!!!!!!

3andnomore · 01/04/2008 19:22

HI, I had an Emergency C-section with my last child and whilst I didn't watch them cut me open, they did let me know when they were starting to pull my little boy out and lowered the green cloth , so, I could see him being born.
But I am not easily grossed out and had seen a fair share of different surgical procedures/operations in my nursing training, including a C-section...!

StarlightMcKenzie · 01/04/2008 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MarsLady · 01/04/2008 22:55

No... the anaethetist was rather gorgeous so I spent the time chatting --him up to him!

pinkyminky · 01/04/2008 23:10

My Dh watched both of my sections- he did it quite informally as a spur of the moment thing-he looked over the curtian as they pulled the babies out, then they showed him the babies. He was all gowned ands masked anyway.
I saw myself being stitched up second time because the light fitting was so well polished it was like a mirror- so if i'd noticed straight away I could have watched!
You wouldn't see all your innerds because the clamps are to the sides and the baby is sort of pulled down then out. It does feel like someone's doing the washing up inside you.

colacubes · 03/04/2008 09:52

oh pinky I had the same issue with the light as a mirrow, but I chickened out and told them I could see my stomach (before they started) I couldnt have watched that. Defo a wimp over here!!

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