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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Skin to skin contact & poss breastfeeding in theatre after C Section, how did you manage it?

60 replies

purplemyrtle · 23/02/2009 18:54

I was wondering if and how people managed this, how you wore whatever you wore, whether anaesthetists paraphanalia was in the way, did you arrange anything beforehand, were you feeling well enough? Anything else?

Any tips would be very gratefully received!

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 23/02/2009 19:07

I had planned a waterbirth... after emcx I was passed ds allready clothed. I was taken into recovery fairly quickly (with ds tucked in beside me) and he had a 20min feed whilst I was in recovery.

In fact, when I think of birth plan etc, the only thing that actually went right was the bf!

Original poster
purplemyrtle · 23/02/2009 19:13

Same here last time! About the only thing that happened on my plan was the syntometrine injection, took DS away despite high apgar scores and ignoring my protests. Would like to do this one differently!

OP posts:
Wheelybug · 23/02/2009 19:17

I have been led to believe that you can ask for the gown to be cut before you go into theatre so that skin to skin is possible in theatre. But this comes from my active birth yoga hippy teacher so not sure whether its really likely in reality.

I was given my dd to hold on my sort of chest after my c-sec but not convinced I could have breastfed in that position (in fact I know I couldn't have done in hindsight but that's a whole different thread !).

Also would depend on how you react to the drugs - I shook a fair bit and blood pressure plummeted (ironically as I was partly being delivered due to high BP).

thisisyesterday · 23/02/2009 19:24

i know someone who discussed this in full with her midwife and husband beforehand, and they decided what they wanted done and had it written down too, to make sure it was followed.

but basically they wanted baby to be passed to mum naked and for skin-to-skin to be made possible (not sure how this worked re: gown, but if you ask they can arrange it)
and she made it clear that if she had to have a GA, or was too groggy that someone else (pref husband) was to attempt to latch baby onto breast and hold him/her in position.

as I say, they had this all written down, along with explicit instructions not to give formula so that in case husband was not able to be in the room for some reason she would still get the same treatment.

Wheelybug · 23/02/2009 19:51

thisisyesterday - can you add any wisdom to my odd positioned baby thread. From a search I did over the weekend I think you may have some experience with DS1.... Its in childbirth...

thisisyesterday · 23/02/2009 19:52

will have a look wheely!

me23 · 23/02/2009 19:52

and what happened this is yesterday? did it all go to plan?

bigcometobedeyes · 23/02/2009 19:55

I was left alone in recovery room on my own with DS (first) and just tugged gown down and put him on I wanted to see if it all worked and at did!

I then handed him back to DH while I put my make up on ready for visitors!

MissisBoot · 23/02/2009 19:59

I didn't manage this with dd - but had skin to skin contact and first feed in the post op room about 30 mins after birth. DD was rooting for me and latched on within minutes.

Took them a while to find a trolley for me which is why I was in theatre for slightly longer... good old nhs!

MrsBoo · 23/02/2009 19:59

After E/CS I really wasn't all that bothered what they did, i was just so relieved all the pain was finally over. I waited til my DS was cleaned up, and then tried BF in the recovery room.
After Elective/CS with DD, it was all so much easier to communicate etc - both me and my DH were offered skin-to-skin contact in the recovery room which i thought was a nice touch. I didn't want to BF second time round and in fact the MW gave my DD her first bottle i think.

thisisyesterday · 23/02/2009 19:59

sorry, yes I should have mentioned it did all go to plan as far as I know. baby wasn't interested in feeding straight away, so no issues with the whole latching on thing but I do know they got skin to skin and that she is successfully breastfeeding now

OhBollocks · 23/02/2009 20:01

It only took 26 minutes from opening me up to finishing, including what seemed like forever to get DS out! We'd agreed that he went to DP initially, who would go with him at all times if we had to be separated for any reason. Then as soon as I was in recovery he was passed to me (we tucked him inside my gown) and he bumbled around in there for a while before latching on shortly after we got to the ward (around half an hour later). I wanted immediate skin-to-skin but in the event it was totally fine this way.

Meglet · 23/02/2009 20:02

We did skin to skin after my planned cs. Before I was hooked up to all the machines the nurse wriggled my arm out of my gown so we could lower it once DD was born. I held her with one arm and DP held her too so she wouldn't fall off. TBH it was dead tricky just doing the skin to skin and after 5 mins i had a stiff neck and dead arm and I asked for DP to take her off me, I didn't even attempt trying to bf in theatre.

It was worth it though as she bf like a dream once I was in the high dependancy ward . I have some pics, I'll try and upload them to my profile.

sadminster · 23/02/2009 20:02

We did this - after they put the spinal in they took my gown off & hung it over my chest when I laid down. When the baby was born he was popped under the gown, a hat plonked on & couple of blankets put over us both while the surgeon sewed me up. When she's fnished she de-gloved, had some pictures taken with baby then passed him to dh to dress, weigh & trim the cord (she came around & chatted to me while dh & the mw finished that). Then the midwife swaddled the baby & after I'd been transferred from table to bed she tucked him up next to me & we went around to recovery. It was lovely

suwoo · 23/02/2009 20:05

I didn't succeed with BF, but the (male) nurse in recovery was fantastic at encouraging skin to skin and I don't think DS was dressed at all. I can't remember all the ins and outs, but BF was attempted about 30 mins to an hour after delivery with no problems and nothing but encouragement. Will try to dig out photo to put on profile.

bigcometobedeyes · 23/02/2009 20:07

Oh I forgot to mention that DH had skin to skin inside his gown while they finished me up.

I also wanted my DH to stay with DS, after all he had been with me for so long!

DH couldnt believe that DS had been inside me when he felt weight and how he was wedgedin under his gown - I said yeah so there DH - now you know!

Meglet · 23/02/2009 20:16

purplemyrtle pics on my profile now.

GreenPeas · 23/02/2009 20:17

Sadminster - that does sound lovely! So glad to hear of a happy section. (I've had a planned CS and a VBAC and can see the advantages/drawbacks of both!)

suwoo · 23/02/2009 20:24

Pic on my profile too. Can someone tell me if my positioning is really crap? Am really hoping to bf no 3.

thisisyesterday · 23/02/2009 20:30

ooooooooooooooooh meglet, that second picture is sooooo lovely.
i'd be broody if i wasn't already pregnant

Original poster
purplemyrtle · 23/02/2009 20:36

Thank you so much everyone, lots of great ideas, and really lovely pictures meglet and suwoo. It's really helpful, I didn't feel too well last time either, but am hoping things might go a bit more smoothly this time. I've found really variable support from different obstetricians/midwives, so it's brilliant to know how it's worked for people in practice before I meet whoever we get on the day. Thank you.

OP posts:
DaveTheHairyHandedTrucker · 23/02/2009 20:42

we agreed that if i was not fit (i wasnt in the nd) that dp would have skin to skin in theatre,

it was so lovely to watch them while they stiched me up,

i had extra spinal as difficult to get dd out and i was too shaky to hold her,

dp was delighted he got a chance to do it,

just make sure dp/dh is wearing a button shirt in theatre so it is easy for him to do

i got a good hold once in recovery

clouiseg · 23/02/2009 21:46

purplemyrtle I'm so glad you started this thread! I was wondering the same thing the other day so its been really helpful to read!

You don't have long now til your CS do you? Are you all prepped??!!

The only other thing I'm struggling with is packing and knowing what to put in a bag for the ward and a bag for the op/recovery!?

DaveTheHairyHandedTrucker · 23/02/2009 21:49

your own pillow is my best advice

DaveTheHairyHandedTrucker · 23/02/2009 21:52

day one after section is a haze, pain relief fab, baby sleeps most of the time, and the nurses were amazing, push a buzzer and they are there to help in the night,

by night two the pain kicks in and baby is awake most of the night, i didnt get much sleep but i did feel wonderful every time i lay my weary head down on my own pillow and gazed lovingly at my pfb