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

[purplemyrtle]

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!

I told the midwives that I would like to breastfeed, and DH knew too. I didn't hold DD until I was in recovery, before that she was with DH, he was sitting next to me as I got stitched up.
The midwives helped b/f, they did a lot of the manipulation for me iyswim so putting dd in the right position to help out.

I had immediate skin to skin in theatre (before baby was cleaned/weighed etc) and he was feeding before we left theatre for recovery.

I booked the consultant privately and he knew that I wanted this procedure to be as natural as possible (considering there is nothing natural about the procedure) This was my third child and my second had been a home birth so I had very strong feelings about it.

EMCS for me I had to shout across the theatre 3 times at the midwife not to dress DS as I WANTED SKIN-TO-SKIN! and as everything else on my plan just went out the window I was determined to get my way here!

He was handed to me whilst they stitched me up although I was shaking like a leaf it was the best moment ever and I held him naked apart from a nappy under my blanket on my breast and tried to breastfeed him whilst in recovery but he was a little sleepy from the drugs.

I think I was wearing a hospital gown but its all a bit blurry now as it was a horrendous labour (3days), 3 failed epidurals and 2 spinals. But I do remember shouting across the theatre! It was a bit difficult holding him because of the drip in my left hand and that had to be stretched out to the side for the anaesthetist to see but towards the end I just ignored that and held my DS with both hands, I would have dropped him otherwise such was the strengh of the shakes!

Here in Spain, they don't go in for skin to skin. I was in a position that would have made it impossible anyway. I always thank god that one dr/nurse not quite sure who he was asked me to kiss ds, although this was near impossible as I was spread out like I was being crucified.

Dh wasn't allowed in, again it's not the Spanish way. The same kind dr/nurse took ds to see dh and then he was whizzed away. I was taken to recovery, I thought the baby was with dh and dh thought the baby was with me.

Some hours later we were all reunited and unfortunately ds had been bottle fed with both formula and sugar water.

Thanks again everyone. Good tip about the button shirt, especially as DH is more of a tshirt man! And keep meaning to pack pillow, must do it today.

No not long clouiseg, quite nervous although been caught up with sorting child care so that's been a distraction! Pack some trousers that will go above your scar, ditto re massive pants! Have bought m and s as high as pants possibly go ones after fighting with nasty paper ones last time.

The Spanish way sounds a bit tough, never heard of sugar water being used before, experiences and attitudes vary so much don't they, even between individuals at the same place, let alone country to country? TBOM one of the reasons I'm having a planned this time is I don't want all that trauma beforehand again, I'm sure it made the recovery longer. I too shouted but was totally ignored, lying on a table with your abdomen open is probably about as disempowering as it gets! Hoping we'll get decent help too Dave, wasn't great last time but have chosen a different hospital.

Think we'll write some of it down so we can give it to whoever on the day.

IME, DH was in scrubs for theatre (I have never heard of any partner not being) so the button shirt may be irrelevant. With regard to packing the bag, you can ask DH to bring you more stuff in as the days go on, you don't need it all in your bag when you get there. I'm a few months behind you, my section is in August. Good luck

I didn't manage this with either of my sections (one emergency and one planned). DD was handed to me with nappy on and wrapped in a blanket and I held her whilst I was stitched up. With both DDs, once in recovery (about half an hour later) the midwives helped me hold her skin to skin and start feeding. I don't think it would really have worked in theatre (just too complicated), but the wait (approx half an hour) wasn't too bad and at least I was able to hold her and cuddle her during the stitching process. I'm having another section in a couple of weeks and I think I am resigned to the half our wait until we get to the recovery room again before I start feeding.

he did have scrubs on but underneath he had unbuttoned his shirt,

dd was very quickly wiped and weighed and then put down the front of his scrubs for skin to skin

Thanks suwoo DH wore tshirt and boxers under scrubs last time, so I suppose buttons might make things easier. We struggled with breastfeeding to start with last time, so I suppose I'm hoping to get started as soon as possible with anything that might help, as well as having a less impersonal experience this time. Not sure we'll manage feeding til recovery but might have a go if it feels like it might work. Best of luck in August suwoo and a few weeks time Nelly!

Thanks purple, look forward to hearing your birth story soon.

Just seen you said the same Dave, post takes a long time to write with nearly 2 year old DS!

Hi there, like a few people, I didn't manage skin to skin with DD but DH did, he didn't wear anything under his scrubs (well, pants!) but the key was to get extra large scrubs with room for two! I'm so pleased that they got that time together, I think it really got their relationship off to a good start. (She is a total Daddy's girl but that's OK by me!) For some reason my arms turned to jelly and I couldn't hold her at all for about an hour, although people held her against me. I breastfed her in recovery, and she fed really well.

Well D-day for my elective is tomorrow (as I think I will mention on every post today as I feel a bit robbed of a "birth thread" ) so I'm glad to find this thread, lots of tips!

Think will get my husband to do the no-top and extra large scrubs thing like you just said REK21.

Oooooh Lotster are you all prepped? Had your peppermint tea? lol. Really hope all goes well .

Me and DH just saw the midwife for our last appt before our C Section, and asked LOTS about skin to skin following this thread. She said its surprising how many people don't bother and that a 'good' hospital will always encourage it asap. She said I can't have s2s or BF until recovery so I asked about DH and she actually looked surprised!! She said to do a birth plan and INSIST that skin to skin takes place with either of us as soon as is resonably possible. Does anyone know how quickly this can happen? Sorry first CS

Can DH have baby before weight etc is done or does it have to be after? Corrrrrrrrr, can't believe its crept up so quickly!

purplemyrtle when do you go in? (I remember you said it was either this week or next - sorry! Just wanted to wish you luck!)

Hi, there, thankyou! I'm feeling really nervous and excited. I have got peppermint capsules for the wind! The things you learn from Mumsnet... Good luck to you too

i had skin to skin with 2 planned c section, almost immediately after dd had come out. They gave her a wipe and she was straight onto my chest. It was lovely. and she fed about half an hour later. Very different to first emergency section when i wasn't prepared and was totally disoriented. Good luck!

sorry i meant with 2nd section

Good luck Lotster it still gives me warm feelings thinking of DD's birth even though it wasn't 'traditional' as such & there's not many situations where people say that about surgery! It was so special for DH to have that time with her which might not have happened so much without the section. Enjoy your new baby!

clouiseg DH did have to wait until after they cleaned her up/did weight/APGAR etc before s2s, but it wasn't long and he went with her (only to the other side of the room). S2s is just as effective whoever it is with, mother or father, its just that people tend to associate it with the mother in most circs. Good luck to you too!

Thanks rek21, its nice to know (I didn't really want to go in there with a barrage of questions!). Its nice to talk to MNs with experience what would we do without it eh?

DH is actually really happy about being the one to have skin to skin first, I'm sure it will help with the bonding process. All these babies being born recently make me all tearful (flippin hormones!)

There was a huge sign on the theatre wall, above the scales and fishbowl saying, 'Remember Skin to Skin'.

when DS2 was aweighed, they asked if I wanted StS. I declined, knowing it would only be 20 mins befoer I could hold him.

You only have a venflon in your wrist, and they put the pulse oximeter on your big toe once you're in recovery. There is a BP cuff as well but that acts as a wee cushion (wrap it in a towel though

I haven't read the whole thread, but remembering my experience I wasn't 'allowed' to have skin-to-skin/BF in the actual theatre. DH brought DD to me after the midwife had done her thing with the baby, but she was taken back off me so they could stitch me up. - The MW actually said to DH 'It's not time for that yet..' I had a brief 'hello' with her then they whisked her off. However I was wheeled into recovery very soon after, and the midwife didn't hesitate to help get DD latched on and she removed my gown for skin-to-skin. We were allowed to stay that way for a good 3 hours until I was taken back to the maternity ward.

I knew I was having a C/S due to GDM,and knew that DD would taken after birth for blood sugar checks etc so the skin-to-skin was really important to me - I was quite forceful and insistent on it and DH was fully supportive so acted as my advocate throughout.

I had to have 3 venflons - a double one in my right hand for insulin and glucose, and a venflon in my left arm (in the crook of my elbow) - they lost the vein in my hand apparently. I also had a blood pressure cuff over it. I still managed to enjoy the S2S without all of that getting in the way. (Although the arm-venflon was agony everytime the cuff inflated, but that's VERY unusual anyway and doesn't happen to everyone)

Hi everyone, back home having had DD! We managed skin to skin in theatre and fed in recovery, the whole experience was miles different from our emergency cs. In the end the surgeon passed DD to the midwife who gave her a quick rub with a towel to warm up in a cot right beside us then put her on my chest with towel for skin to skin. It was just lovely! The anaesthetist had helped me take my arm out of one sleeve before surgery to make it easier. Also had the screen lowered when she came out so we could see her, such happy moment! I think the surgeon was happy to deliver her via someone straight to us but the midwife seemed concerned about her getting cold so we agreed the drying next to us, didn't feel like a fight about it just before the big event (the problem with only meeting the midwife in theatre I suppose). There was no faffing with weighing or anything til later. She was rooting to feed and if there was more space it might have felt right to have a go, but it felt a bit awkward, I'm sure the skin to skin has helped us get started though.

Thanks so much everyone for your input, it really helps give confidence to ask for what you want if you're armed with ideas and experiences, thank you.

aaaw purplemrytle so pleased it went well for you all . planned cs's are a walk in the park compared to emergencies.

now go and rest with DD and drink tea!

Aww thats lovely to hear purplemyrtle, are we going to hear name and weight details etc? Would love to hear how you get on with the bf. Well done and congratulations.

Congrats purplemyrtle what lovely news. Glad that all went well. Have a lovely time with new baby.