Elective c-section embarrassment

[Mum2025]

Hello , I’m expecting my first baby in February 2025 but I’m so insecure about my body . I’m chubby and I’m insecure how my lady parts look . I’m embarrassed about people looking at me in a vulnerable place . I want to know if they will block my view with a screen before they lift up my gown because I don’t want to see that . I’m also embarrassed for my husband to see everything in all its glory even tho he loves all of me I just get embarrassed easily and would rather none of us see me during the surgery . I feel like I can bare with the fact of me being half naked if I can’t see all the people in the room looking at me and pretend I don’t exist . And also will they cover me back up before I go to the resting area …. Please if anyone can read this and let me know .

Poops

I had a towel over my face for my emergency section so that's an option you can ask for. They do have a screen so you can't see what's happening but there are people up head end and it's bright and glary in the light hence I asked to cover my face

They might ask if you want the screen lowered when they get your baby out. It's optional. I said yes and it was magical. They've really seen every sort and shape of body before.

I opted to see our baby being born too, which helped so much with the trauma of a very necessary emcs. It was amazing and allowed me to have a little bit of control of a very scary time.

I had one in January. I remember they lifted the gown up and then the dividing bit came along quickly and it was all good… in all honesty I don’t really remember much of that side of things even though like you I was really worried about the being a bit naked bit. In the moment it suddenly doesn’t matter and all I remember is the moment baby appeared.

Totally your choice what birth is best, but there will be far more privacy with a vaginal birth. I had 1 midwife there, and my husband stayed at my head end. And I wore a gown the whole time, so only midwife saw baby coming out.

I was debating whether to bring this up... Don't look up...

@Mostlyoblivious it was 19 year ago so probably old fashioned varnish 🤣

They tell you and deliberately try and cover it.

OP not to invalidate your concerns but they have seen it all. Truly they don’t even think about it.

i was in agony in labour and the second time i was on hands and knees with my bum in the air (completely naked) having had no pain relief 9cm and baby was back to back and in serious distress. The crash buzzer went and 17 members of staff came through the door straight into a view of my arsehole. I did not care.

anyway had another emergency c section and like PP said they don’t show your body, you might have a boob out if they do skin to skin after birth and you want it?

I didn't have a C-section but like others have said the midwives and dra have seen it all and they only care about getting the baby out (and if you're ok!). My baby was born in the sack which the midwives thought was amazing as it's really rare, and they grabbed my husbands phone and took photos 😂i was like could we get back to the task at hand please 😂

You only see what you want to see - everything or nothing at all. I’m very squeamish so nothing at all for me.

The docs are far too busy getting the baby out safely, monitoring your stats, bp, sewing you up, whisking baby off to (not sure what they do, or if they always do it, DD popped out and was taken to a side table then cried- then got given to DH as per my wishes, then to me for cuddling). I think I was slightly in shock lol.
Nobody cares about your bits and pieces! It’s a horribly vulnerable position to be in, but it’s over so fast. You’re pretty covered up anyway due to keeping you warm/ blood loss etc. You won’t see a thing- just let the nurses know. They move so fast, I was in and out. Good luck!

@Dyra That is really helpful. All of my pre-op stuff was done in a side room I assume so they can get through a lot of surgeries. The spinal was done in a sitting position then they laid me down on the trolley and left the room so the midwife could come in and insert the catheter. The midwife washed my labia etc before the catheter went in. Then wheeled me into theatre and as you described.

After the c section they also rolled me over and inserted a pain med into my anus. I knew it was happening this time and I felt sick just thinking about it. I had an EMCS the first time and then later they talked about my pain meds and I didn't know about the pessary which the lovely midwife explained when they did it. I just thought they were rolling me to remove things from underneath me in theatre.

I will tell you OP that both the EMCS and the ELCS were performed by absolutely lovely people, talked me through everything for the ELCS, my emergency one was rushed as Ds was in distress. But every step they checked I was okay and treated me with kindness and dignity throughout. I think the excitement of the impending arrival of your baby in that theatre may make you focus on that rather than any other worries but I do understand them.

I have recently had a section. The screen was put up and then my gown lifted to begin the surgery. I was then stitched up and the dressing applied before the screen came down. I was really out of it by this point anyway! Husband saw nothing and neither did I!

During the actual surgery there is a disposable sheet stuck onto your hips/public area, so not naked all the way, just exposed from chest to pubic bone.

I did feel self conscious when the (mixed sex) team was “at the southern end of the room” and specifically when they were inserting my catheter. However these are professionals and I reminded myself they do this every day. They were very kind and put me at ease.

I was trying to be helpful and move my body into the right positions (being anxious as to what they thought of me). They told me that the surgical equipment is set up to work with individuals weighing up to [huge amount] and they don’t need me to help and I am just to relax. It was messaged very kindly.

as for everything else, a screen goes up. I just asked that they show me the baby immediately on delivery as with my first I had some anxiety as to whether the baby was “mine” as I hadn’t seen him come out (not a rationale thing as we were in the same room together the whole time).

best of luck with you delivery!

edited to add, I declined the pessary in my rectum afterwards. The pain was not bad and I felt uncomfortable with being poked or prodded any more. Also the nurse was unclear as she said she needed to me to roll over so she could access my bottom - I thought she meant an injection in my bum but obviously not! I asked her what she was trying to do and then said a firm no thank you 😂

my husband isn’t squeamish so didn’t stay up with me the whole time - he saw the whole show which I was fine with but obviously not ideal for anyone who might come over dizzy at the sight of a juicy placenta coming out!

Great post!

As a midwife who says many women’s vulvas on a daily basis (that all look very different!!) please don’t be embarrassed. You’ll be covered. When we pop the catheter in I tell everyone to move out of view so I can do it without anyway watching. They all move out of the way to the side (You could also request your midwife place the catheter in the room prior to going to theatre without spinal!) you are covered throughout with a drape. The doctor at the end does a quick clean and pops a clean maternity pad in place. You won’t be exposed.

I found being exposed hard, although for me it was because of PTSD from a sexual assault and the lack of control I had, particularly immediately after the surgery when you can't move your legs.

I was treated with the utmost dignity and respect but I still found it difficult, particularly immediately post-birth. I say that because sometimes I felt like I was failing because my worries and concerns didn't just magically disappear when giving birth and therefore maybe I wasn't excited/happy enough or maybe I didn't love DS enough.

I didn't see anything at all though and was reassured by the very prosaic conversation the doctors were having about house prices.

I've had 2 emc my husband stood up and watched both but said it was fairly barbaric. He wouldn't have been able to see my vagina due to my huge bump! X

I don't want him to see my fat either lol 😂

If you've got to the stage of falling pregnant, hubby must be pretty familiar with your body already

We are always in the dark and I say don't look at me lol

Kindly OP, you need some therapy for how you view yourself. It is very sad and not at all healthy.

As for the birth, unless you have 2 heads down there, it all will have been seen before so don't worry about that part.

Nobody told me!