c-section-delivering onto tummy

[mumofeag]

Hi
Have not opened a thread before-oooerr hope I don't "do it" wrong! Bit of history-had an induction which resulted in EMCS with DS1, a VBAC with DS2 who was huge & I ended up with a 3rd degree tear & had to be re-admitted 6 months later to have a "repair"
Am now 27 weeks pg with DS3 and after much soul searching have decided an ELCS feels like the best option for me (am a bit scared of tearing so badly again-took ages for everything to be "right" again after last time).
Anyway-I really want to feel more in control of this cs as my first was really scary & I was drugged up to eyeballs. I have read that I can request baby to be delivered straight onto my tummy but am unsure of the mechanics of this & everytime I ask my MW (who is always busy) she keeps telling me to wait until 36 week appt when all details of cs will be discussed but I want to prepare myself before then.
Are there any MNers out there who have had a baby delivered straight onto tummy after a CS?
thanks

Bump

I had an elective section 4 weeks ago, following a hideous delivery with my DD ending in a crash section and lots of complications.

I have to say it was a wonderful experience, very calm and controlled and I would willingly do it again! While I was being prepped I was asked if I wanted to have skin to skin when the baby was delivered and they made sure that my gown was arranged to allow that. My DS was breach so was taken to be checked but was back with me within about 5 minutes. He was shown to us immediately but my main concern was that he was OK. The only time I was separated from DS was when DH took him back to the ward while I was "finished off".

I can understand your need for control, I felt exactly the same and I can say that I did feel in control this time. It was a bit odd having the spinal, but it didn't really hurt. My lovely consultant delivered DS and I felt totally at ease. It was a bit difficult to hold DS with the drip in my arm, but its manageable and it isn't in for too long. I was up and about the next morning and home after 2 days. All in all, it was a much better experience that I was expecting.

Good luck, I'm sure your Consultant will be fine with your desire for skin to skin, they like to try and make ELCS as "normal" as possible.

I had an ELCS with my dd almost 18 months ago. Compared to my emcs it was so calm.

We had skin to skin after she was whipped out(on to my chest, pic on my profile of dd all squished up against me) , in fact the consultant and hospital encouraged it , got to see the placenta too. TBH it was really tricky to hold her as I was hooked up to various tubes. After a couple of minutes I got DP to take her off me as I was scared I would drop her. I was much happier waiting to hold her until we were in high dependancy an hour later and I could get comfy with her.

Wouldn't delivering onto the tummy be hard due to the drapes and it being so close to the open wound?

It is possible to delay cord cutting with cesaerian, I know cos I saw some surgeon doing it in an online video promoting delayed cord cutting, lots of experts going on about it being a good thing. Can't find it now of course

I had son put on my chest (in a towel as cold in theatre) where he stayed while they sewed me back together - he wsa never away from me (apart from doing the apgar check) til I was back on the ward. I was offered a screen lowering to watch him come out but declined as bit squeemish!

Thank you all so much-thats really helpful & having him put on my chest after delivery sounds lovely Great to hear so many positive c-section stories. Thanks for the support xx

Ps Beautiful picture of you and your LO in theatre Meglet

Yes, I had my little one delivered straight onto my chest, where the cord was cut. I had a bit of skin-to-skin, tho I hadn't really arranged my gown properly - too nervous and forgot! But I held her there naked, nuzzling her warm little vernix-y head until I was transferred from table to the bed, when DP held her for a bit. It was an amazing, wonderful experience, and I will choose the same for any future births.

Also, they did the delivery bit with no screen - the last thing I wanted was to have a baby just appear with no sense of where it had come from. There was no way I could have seen anything gruesome as my bump was well and truly in the way, but DP got a good eyeful (in fact I have photos he took of her emerging, which I treasure) They put the screen up to complete the op, but by then all I was interested in was babe.

Good luck, let your consultant and midwife know what you want to happen, be firm about it and enjoy!

Awwww thanks Cheesebaby-your experience sounds lovely I am considering having the screen down this time-with DS1 he did "just appear" from above the screen and it felt really odd-for quite a while I felt like he wasn't mine-like they had got him from under the table or something (iyswim!!)-it was a very peculiar feeling-am going to write birth plan later now I feel a bit more informed.
Thanks a lot x

That 'pulled a random baby out from under the table' is precisely what I was worried about - it sounds v weird to people who haven't had to consider the whole thing, but I think it must be quite a common sentiment!

I was terrified about the whole c-section thing beforehand - it was my first baby, and an elective so I had plenty of time to stew about it (I'd booked in for a home birth originally so it was about as far as possible to get from what I'd wanted!), but that also gave me time to talk to the consultants and mat services leads at the hosp to make sure I got what I wanted

As I said, I'd do it again tomorrow. I think a birth plan would be great just so you have something to refer to if/when you get nerves / emotional nearer the time!

Mumofeag - Of course your baby can be delivered onto your chest!

In fact you can write a whole birth plan about caesareans!

example of things to include:

drapes lowered so you can see your baby being born,
baby delivered onto your chest,
you can have the lights dimmed,
your own music playing,
baby wrapped in towel from home (which you can snuggle with before birth to make it smell of you),
baby given to dad for skin to skin
etc etc

I have some sample birth plans I can email you if you want?

Alex

Hi

I asked my consultant this a couple of weeks ago - elective this time after traumatic forceps delivery with longterm bladder damamge last time.

The consultant said it was NOT possible as c-section babies often need help with starting breathing so would always be rushed over for resucc and I would only get to hold my child in recovery once I was all fixed up.

Since that's what happened with the emergency forceps - didnt see DD born, rushed to corner, cleaned, checked, wrapped and hat on, then into DH's arms while I was stitched for over an hour - I am quite upset about missing that first cuddle again.

But, if it's needed to check baby asap then that's fine - so why the different advice from different consultants?

Just a thought, but they cant take your baby anywhere until the umbilical cord has been cut, so what's the harm in placing baby on your chest whilst they do this?

I really wouldn't have thought having the lights dimmed was a good thing to request.

Lovethesea - do you mind me asking what type of forceps delivery you had, was it Keillers (high)? I wonder if you should try to speak to another Consultant to get another opinion as others seem to have the got the experience you want? Best of Luck!

Yes it was high keillands rotational forceps.

I will push more for skin to skin with the consultant when I see her again - I was just so relieved she didn't belittle my fears or start telling me that second births 'always' go better when I know people who have had deja vu with traumatic births!

I'll run it past the mw too - the consultant just seemed to be so sure it wasn't an option.

Lovethesea - it's just down to individual consultant preference I'm afraid. In many - even most - cases there's no reason for the baby to be taken anywhere away from you. Baby checks and even many 'procedures' can be performed while baby is on your tummy or chest.

The best place for your baby to be post c-section may well be in contact with you anyway, not bundled up in blankets and put in a warmer (for all the reasons skin-to-skin is recommended for vaginal births - may be even more important for a c-section baby).

I think there are just a lot of consultants out there who have lost sight of the link between the c-section as an operation and the c-section as a 'birth' for both mother and baby - or never really appreciated that link at all. Fight for what you want, I say!

had first baby by elective s/section (breech) and second by emergency (3 days labour, narrow pelvis). baby number three due by elective c/section in 13 weeks and i love the idea of making a birth plan, and having the screen lowered. i didn't even know you could! my lovely bf will be with me and i'm wondering if he'll be able to cut the cord.