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

I don't think any birth is dignified but certainly not a c sec. Your lying on table with pretty much zero control of your body and then there's a bunch of stranger staring and pulling at your innards.

Equally a natural birth mooing on all fours with a lady staring at your fanny isn't either.

Nothing wrong with one- whatever works for you and baby but bit silly to think there's much dignity for anyone in that situation.

I would agree with others that dignity afterwards is vastly more likely with a nice birth unit then home birth. Leaving out the ward and time when you can't walk etc.

"I was expecting to be wheeled there like a princess" This is a very grounded and real testament.

Why not? We are sold a lie: Birth plans etc, actuality Mum & Baby getting through a big win (whatever goes awry!). Great book to keep it in perspective that and fact when I gave birth 1:11 women in Chad died in Childbirth!

I had an EMCS with my middle child. I think i was covered up below (just about, since the incision is low) and above my belly, for the whole time.

It was much arguably a lot more dignified than natural childbirth, where I couldn't bear a scrap of clothing and pooed repeatedly in the pool 🤣

Because he is a pig. And we aren't in Chad.

Yet he’s used 2 surrogates since for his own babies!

I have had two planned c sections. First was due to breach and it was so calm. Music. Wonderful staff and after the initial pain and recovery I had no issues. I then choose a c section as I was so impressed and had a was wonderful second. I was so impressed. calm and controlled .

My planned sections were great. I'd I'm honest I forgot that I was even going to have a catheter and the first I realised about it was after the op was over. They were that subtle about putting it in. I just no idea what undignified poking they did past the drapes, though obviously they must have shoved the usual painkiller up my butt. They could have been a marching band of mice through my vagina and I'd have been none the wiser. What happened beyond the drapes I didn't want to know, except for giving me my baby!

Whatever it is like, it's quick at least. From walking down to theatre to baby being out (Inc cannula, spinal, catheter) was about half an hour, same for stitching up after. For me it was a lovely and pain free way to give birth.

I've had two.
Both times I felt that the medical staff were kind, professional, and gave me my dignity. I think because you're covered up and they tend to just be looking at only the section of your body that they need for the procedure, it doesn't feel that exposing. It's not like you're ever lying naked on a table in the middle of a busy room.

With my second it took them a while to find the right place for the spinal block, but luckily all the staff were really nice and the anaesthetist in particular was always right with me explaining what was happening and maintaining calm chat with me and my partner which helped make everything feel easy and normal. He also took some great photos! My first was speedier and more straightforward and I didn't have a clue what was being done to me most of the time. Didn't care either once baby was out. Everybody is professional and only interested in doing a good job and getting everyone out safe.

Does your area have a mental health midwife? I was referred to them when pregnant with my second after a similar experience to you. When I was referred I thought it was a bit pointless but I ended up finding her amazing and have recommended her to a few people locally.

I was also completely terrified about the catheter after my experience with baby 1, despite all the reassurances from people. I was completely numbed for my planned section and they inserted it before dh was called into the room... I then had a complete panic attack about the thought of the catheter, full on tears while trying to reassure them I knew it would be fine and they should go ahead but I just couldn't stop crying. The consultant was absolutely lovely as was the anaesthetist and calmed me down and I think it's a very common issue for them. For me the planned section gave me the nice birth experience I completely missed out on with dc1

I had one emergency section and one planned section and one vaginal birth and honesty have a lot to say about my treatment before the emergency but nobody was gawking at me.

It was mostly kind and considerate treatment. Honestly I was so freaked out by the time I got to the operating table on the emergency section but they were so soothing and kind. Nobody will be looking at you, they are dealing with woman after woman.

I think a lot of the responses here are intended to reassure. And it is relevant that the staff have seen it all before, because it's absolutely unlike going commando and flashing a busy shopping street, or having your uncle walk in on you in the shower or your kid open the toilet cubicle door while you're wiping. In all those scenarios, your genitals are unexpected, shocking, noteworthy to the people clocking them.

In the context of in-theatre catheterisation, the staff understand it's part of the process and are supremely uninterested. They also have processes in place to preserve your dignity, eg you're always covered up as much as possible, the curtain's up so your head is very much separated from the business end.

It's totally understandable to be apprehensive about things like catheterisation, but actually the fact that it is normalised to staff, that they are pretty unshockable, and that their priority is keeping you safe, was all very reassuring to me in the moment. Yes, they could have made me feel vulnerable in that very vulnerable moment. But their experience and training meant that they never did.

C section was so dignified in comparison with vaginal birth . Absolute game changer!

Honestly the staff couldn’t care less and neither did I at the time.. you are way overthinking this

The only thing that bothered me is that they tried so hard to put the catheter in BEFORE the epidural and it wasn’t going in even after I had some gas and air because it hurt so they eventually gave up and did it after the epidural and I really really regret letting them try in the first place. That was not dignified at all.

I had an emergency and found it profoundly undignified, embarassing and chaotic, I was treated like a bit of meat in the way of everybody doing their job. I believe it would have been very different in an elective situation, but I haven't experienced that to compare.

I didn’t even know it was a thing to do this before the epidural (was still on the ward on a bed)

I had an emergency and it couldn’t have been lovelier tbh. I was quite scared with it being an emergency but the female anaesthetist who was stood by my head was so kind and reassuring throughout. I can’t remember what she looked like, but I will never forget how safe she made me feel.

I’ve had both an emergency and planned and can honestly say I didn’t notice the catheter going until I was in recovery. Lots of people in the room but they are all busy and doing a job so they aren’t paying attention.

Both c-sections were very positive experiences despite the emergency one being a real danger to both me and baby. Treated very respectfully, everything explained throughout the procedure and kept me very calm (especially in the emergency).

I've been both sides of the drapes for a C-section as staff and patient.

As staff I know that everyone in the theatre not performing the catheterisation will be working on their own job. Surgeons, anaesthetist + nurse, scrub nurse + assistant, and midwife. The only people with time to stand around and watch are students (if they're not being taught something), which you can request not to have, or ask if they can come in afterwards. Unfortunately the part where your abdomen is cleaned, exposure is necessary, but it's quick. The final exposure part is right at the end, when your vagina is cleaned out of any blood that may have accumulated there and to ensure there's no bleeding coming through the cervix. The drape will remains up for this and, again, everyone will have a job to be doing. At all other times, we strive to maintain dignity.

As a patient I was more amused about my legs being moved without me feeling them than anything. Mine was an emergency so, as it was my second and I'd been in labour for a while, I had a bonus vaginal examination thrown in just before the catheter. I was kept covered throughout, except at the necessary times, and all prior embarrassment at the thought of my colleagues seeing me mostly naked was forgotten. I doubt any of them remember it tbh.

Yes, both my sections were very dignified and I have no idea when the catheter was inserted.

I actually had much more to do with catheters after the first, vaginal birth when my bladder was bruised and stopped working and I left hospital with a catheter and a leg bag. That catheter proceeded to leak, as did the several others I had inserted subsequently - one by a midwife at home, and several in hospital where I was finally readmitted for a night. I actually had to have a dose of prophylactic IV antibiotics, because they were worried about a UTI after so many removals and insertions. Oh, and the catheter leg bag leaked over my husband when we were asleep. Now that was undignified!

I had an ELCS with DC2 and it felt dignified. I’d never been in an operating room before but I wasnt suprised by the number of people as they were all
clearly doing something. Once the spinal was in I lay down and someone did the catheter but I didn’t feel it at all and was just sort of amused like “oh, I guess that’s happening now” 😂 After that the screen went up immediately and I had no sense of what was going on behind it until the baby arrived. I’m confident if I’d have shared any concerns about privacy they would have been taken seriously and happily discussed so don’t worry about bringing it up ahead of the birth.

I have no idea. Once they give you the spinal it’s all numb and I have no recollection of them putting the catheter in (I’ve had two sections). There were loads of people in the room: surgeon, assistant surgeon, probably a trainee doctor, anesthetist, trainee, several midwives (some in training)…it was a teaching hospital. All that was missing was a school group on tour! But privacy is not what you are thinking about at that moment. Everyone was doing something and I’m sure observing them putting in the catheter might be one of the things, but to be honest it really isn’t an issue at all. There is no dignity in giving birth, you have to accept that. Their focus will be on delivering a healthy baby, however that is done, and they couldn’t care less about your nether regions as they see several a day every day.

Worth mentioning for OP that you have to give consent for medical students

First no, awful, emergency.

second - planned, really lovely.