Was your c section dignified?

[Sept2024]

Pregnant second time round and considering how I want to give birth. Anyone who has had a planned or emergency c section I would love to know tour experience. One question I feel like I can’t get the answer to anywhere is- is the whole theatre milling around in view when you get your catheter put in?
Rhe midwife told me “no one will be watching for the sake of it” but I still left with a question mark. In your experience, did you get covered while that was happening and did the theatre team stay at the other side of the room to protect your dignity or did they not bother?

thank you

Emergency section after 40 hours in labour… it was the most dignified part of the process for me. I couldn’t see what was going on behind the drape, I was concentrating 100% on my baby.

From my experience I would imagine elective must be the most dignified way to give birth… before the section I was naked, projectile vomiting and waters breaking at the same time in the mid-wife’s office and still wasn’t admitted to the labour ward because I wasn’t 4cm. Complete lack of dignity! - 24 hours later I was admitted, waters infected and was having an emergency section 2 hours later as my baby was under so much stress … all in all an awful experience with zero dignity.

Had EMCS and then a planned. Both times I was treated like the most important person in the world and it was incredibly professional and dignified.

I had to have an emergency C section with my twins. I was being monitored (never went into labour) and they couldn’t find one of the babies’ heart rate. Very scary. So my mind was obviously not focused on what was happening re the clinical side. There were about 13 people in the room and they all clearly had a job to do. As dignified as it could be in the circumstances. I really wouldn’t worry. Everyone has a job to do and it’s as dignified as it can be

Nooo, don’t read this or watch the series if you are pregnant or planning to be…

I don’t really remember who was milling around when my catheter was placed. Once I’d had the spinal block done they quickly got me onto the table and put up the drape so I could only see my DH, the anaesthetist, the midwife there for me and the lovely junior doctor who had asked to be there because she had been looking after me for 4 weeks while I was on the prenatal ward on bed rest. In addition there was a midwife and two paediatricians waiting for DS because he was prem and my medical problems had necessitated his early arrival.

Then there was the obstetrician and her assistant, a scrub nurse and the senior charge nurse in charge of the theatre and a further anaesthetist and their technician. I seem to remember my DH saying that he counted 12 people in the theatre at one point.

I do remember a lot of laughing when DS attempted to shove his arms back in. He was breach so was delivered legs first. Then a round of applause when he started to cry which felt like hours after he was delivered.

So yes it felt very much like being the main act at the theatre and all to a soundtrack
of Robbie Williams “Swing when you’re winning” DS arrived midway through “Mr Bojangles”.

There was a lot of background chatter, the anaesthetist lives in our village so her and my DH were exchanging gossip. The junior doctor who’d followed my progress was describing what was going on. At one point there was a bit of a sing a long. I think, as in my job ( dentist) they read the room and react accordingly. I was relaxed and joking and had chosen a popular sound track. They were aware of my medical background and that I’d had a pretty rough pregnancy so was relieved that we’d got to the end in one piece.

The only time there was any drama was when the charge nurse had a hissy fit with the consultant anaesthetist because she hadn’t written me up for morphine post op. This was my decision because it can make me projectile vomit. Eventually they convinced me. I reluctantly had one dose, although didn’t really need it.

My enduring memory was of my DH sat cradling DS on his knees quietly introducing himself to his brand new son. I found a small statue of the exact pose some years later which I cherish.

In answer to your question the whole process of childbirth is cringingly undignified when you are anticipating it. Once in the middle of it all you really couldn’t give a shit. The end goal is a healthy baby and a quick recovery. Like childbirth, a c section becomes a distant memory as you navigate motherhood.

Not remotely dignified, but then birth isn't. They lifted up my gown at the front and pegged it to 2 poles either side of the table so the gown formed a screen and I was naked from the chest down. Nobody is looking at anything though, they are all concentrating on their jobs.

Mine was put in before going down to theatre,I'd have preferred it when I was numb and the partition up but I don't remember it being painful.

My EMCS was far from dignified but they needed to get DS out NOW! I was under a GA when it actually happened so no clue who was where but I can tell you that I absolutely did not care. I know several people checked to see DS’s position before and every one of them asked my permission first. I am grateful they did now but at the time I wanted them to stop talking to me. DH took over and pointed out my slightest nods at them because I was shutting down.

Having also had 2 vaginal births, I can tell you I didn’t care who was looking at what. I stripped off completely for DD2 because I was so overwhelmingly hot. Didn’t care who saw me.

I had an elective caesarean due to medical reasons that arose towards the end of my pregnancy. It was all very calm and relaxed and I loved every minute of my birth.
in the hospital I was in, I walked into the theatre by myself (my husband had to stay outside while I got the spinal and he put his scrubs etc on). I was sat on the edge of the theatre bed, spinal was put in. I was then helped round to a lying position. My catheter was then put it. I will be completely honest and say that there were a number of people in the room whilst this got put in, but they were chatting and prepping etc. They weren’t all standing round gawping at me but they were present and definitely would have seen everything if they’d looked over. However I didn’t feel undignified or embarrassed etc. everyone was just doing their jobs and once that was all done my husband was able to come in.
the c section itself went well, all very calm and relaxed and as they were about to lift baby out they lowered the screen slightly and held the baby up so my husband could announce the gender (something I had requested as we kept the gender a surprise and I wanted my husband to announce it). It was really lovely and so special and I felt very respected. Hope all goes well for you

This.

if you give birth vaginally you’ll have way more people looking at your nether regions

I had a planned c-section and I’d just had the epidural so was essentially naked (loose robe kind of half covering front, but back in view to room and open door & corridor) when an emergency c-section was rushed in, and by the time they’d dealt with that, I had to have a second epidural. For the procedure itself most of my body was covered from shoulders down by a screen so I couldn’t see anything, but I had a lot of excess amniotic fluid and do remember seeing the surgeon / doctors etc and their faces above the screen as they got splashed by this as they started!

I had a very medicalised birth ,there was a team for me and a team for DS but I was barely aware of them as the screen was up and dh was chatting to me.

Hmm - emergency c section,I was violently sick and shaking for a long time after birth so cant really say it was dignified as such.. but the last thing I would have thought about was a catheter. Just wanted to stop shaking and be able to hold my baby! But all the staff were kind and very professional. I didn't think twice about what they were doing really
Second one was planned and actually really beautiful for want of a better word. My DP put music on and the two lovely anaesthetists said what great music it was and also I remember one of them being really funny. They definitely put me at ease and made the experience as good as it could be. Also asked if I wanted any photos from 'behind the curtains.e. baby coming out - which was pretty fascinating after the event.
Sadly was held up getting out of hospital due to not being able to wee after catheter taken out!

Thank you for your replies, it really helps me. Yes I definitely don’t expect anyone will be making a point of looking at me of course.

For context I had an emotionally traumatic birth first time round, lets just say, and I was only focusing on baby being ok at the time and it’s only afterwards I processed it I realised how many opportunities were missed to make me feel less vulnerable that wouldn’t have taken any extra time really. BUT that was just my own personal feelings, that’s not to say there’s any reason to be embarrassed in theatre or giving birth at all- it’s how it is for all women and I’ve heard so many women say they didn’t mind at all, they were just focused on baby and baby’s welfare :)

I had an emergency C Section - I was surprised by the amount of staff in the theatre but 95% females - it was such a better experience compared to my long drawn out induction and not as scary as I thought it would be x

Birth is generally not a dignified experience just by the very nature of it. That’s not to say that medical professionals shouldn’t do everything possible to try and preserve your dignity. I would say that, with all three of my births, the midwives, consultants, nurses all did what they could to make sure I was comfortable and my babies would be born safely.

The key thing that made me feel less vulnerable was having DH there and trusting he would make the right decisions for me and our babies when I wasn’t able to.

I think two midwives did mine, that’s the only people I noticed around at the time. Everyone else was busy opening packages, getting music on, hooking me up and chatting away.

Tbf, the big sheet thing has gone up beforehand anyway, so I could exactly see who was eyeing up my piss’ole at that time 😭🤣

Exactly this.

Is anyone dignified during childbirth?

I had a really complex twin c section following a pretty horrendous pregnancy where lots went wrong but my planned CS was a lovely calm experience and if I had any more babies (unlikely!) I would opt for one again in a heart beat. I had lots of people in the room (all the normal people, 2 students and then a neonatal team for each baby) and I still felt respected...also DH is a fainter in most medical scenarios and didn't faint so it can't have been too awful to watch either!

Why are you thinking about your 'dignity'? That's about the first thing to go when you're giving birth, no matter how it's done!

I had both of my now adult children by emergency c section over 50 years ago now.Both under GA so I could not tell you about being dignified or not.My DS1 and myself nearly died during the first one.
In those far off days there were no husbands/ partners allowed in theatre, no music playing no photos nothing.You had a mask put over your face then knew nothing until it was over.

Not true in my case,I was always aware of my dignity.

First post nails it, I don’t think there’s an elegant way to give birth sadly it just is what it is

Depends on the hospital I think eg some it’s policy for all staff to stay ‘head end’ whilst the woman is being catheterised, but lots don’t as they haven’t quite caught up with the newer mindset of ‘make things as dignified as they can be’. Could be something to specify in a birth plan if it really bothers you?

Also what exactly is wrong with wanting as much dignity as possible? I’ve given birth twice and never understood that way of thinking.