Re: Respectful Cesarean Sections

cobaltblue · August 2009

Cesarean sections for sure can be done in a respectful way:

https://www.joninichols.com/doula_support03.html

Bonzer · August 2009

pre tell, what exactly is a DISrespectful C-section?

cobaltblue · August 2009

I personally would not call ANYONE's birth "disrespectful." ?The term in my subject line is what my midwife/doula calls the type of c-sections provided at the birth center she founded. ?She herself had two vaginal births and one c-section. ?Her goal is to make c-sections as wonderful of an experience as possible for the mother, baby, and father. ?

Some women have had less than wonderful experiences at other hospitals and those institutions could stand to improve upon their practices. ?She uses the term "respectful" to reassure mothers that if a c-section should become necessary, they will still have a wonderful birth experience--not to call someone else's experience "disrespectful."

webMistress0609 · August 2009

I had an awesome experience w/ my c/s. The hospital we used allowed me to hold DS as soon as he was given the quick once over in the OR, I was able to still hold him while being wheeled to recovery, & the three of us stayed together in the recovery room.

I felt this was much better for me than to be alone in recovery & to be separated from DS & DH.

7river7wed7 · August 2009

webMistress0609:

I had an awesome experience w/ my c/s. The hospital we used allowed me to hold DS as soon as he was given the quick once over in the OR, I was able to still hold him while being wheeled to recovery, & the three of us stayed together in the recovery room.

I felt this was much better for me than to be alone in recovery & to be separated from DS & DH.

Wish I had your hospital. DD was born at 9:33 pm via a non-emergency c-section and I didn't get to see her until after 1 am. I told DH he wasn't allowed to leave her side, so all that time I was sitting alone in my room crying.

July_2009 · August 2009

Not sure which category my c/s falls under. As soon as the kiddo was out, the Dr's figured he was low blood sugars (I had GD). They let me see the baby for few mins and the nurses held him at my lips for a minute and then took him to NICU. DH went along with baby. He was in NICU for 2 days and I only got to see my baby 2 days later!!!!!

I could not go to NICU because of the catheter and what not and so I was not wheeled there. Now...what category does this fall under?

Soon2BMrsN · August 2009

webMistress0609:

I had an awesome experience w/ my c/s. The hospital we used allowed me to hold DS as soon as he was given the quick once over in the OR, I was able to still hold him while being wheeled to recovery, & the three of us stayed together in the recovery room.

I felt this was much better for me than to be alone in recovery & to be separated from DS & DH.

My experience was very similar. And I find it insulting to refer to anyone's birth as "disrespectful." Sheesh.

cobaltblue · August 2009

July, it's all about how YOU feel about it. ?If you feel that you and your baby were provided the best possible care and that your care providers were sensitive to your needs, that is all that matters. ?It's not for any third party to label or categorize your experience. ?The hope is that all mothers feel good about how they were treated and that all babies have as peaceful a birth as is possible given the situation.

cobaltblue · August 2009

Soon2BMrsN:
webMistress0609:

I had an awesome experience w/ my c/s. The hospital we used allowed me to hold DS as soon as he was given the quick once over in the OR, I was able to still hold him while being wheeled to recovery, & the three of us stayed together in the recovery room.?

I felt this was much better for me than to be alone in recovery & to be separated from DS & DH. ?

My experience was very similar.? And I find it insulting to refer to anyone's birth as "disrespectful."? Sheesh.

I've never heard anyone refer to someone else's birth as "disrespectful," and I hope I never do.

moroccojade · August 2009

Parts of my emergency C were very respectful. Before this buffoon of an orderly (or whatever) was making very inappropriate jokes on the way to the OR. My baby's decels were extremely concerning at that point. And I was trying to stay calm and present and positive. And this idiot was cracking jokes. I would have told him off and/or crotch punched him if I wasn't so focused on having a live baby.

The actual operation was good. The OR staff was fantastic. Most introduced themselves and everyone was very gentle. My MW was on one side, DH was on the other. Part of our ultra-crunchy Birthing From Within prenatal classes dealt with how to be present in the moment during a cesarian birth. That really helped both of us. My DH was amazing.

Then, DD was born. The 3 of us spent about a half hour together. (No chance of putting her to breast though.)

Then we were separated for FOUR HOURS.

Not respectful. I wanted to raise hell, but I was feeling so defeated. It was quite traumatic.

Finally I was reunited with my little family.

No, I don't think my baby was scarred for life because of these few less respectful moments of my birth... But honestly? I'm still quite disgusted. Especially with all that time in recovery. I knew I'd have a tough time nursing because of my reduction. I wanted nothing more than to BF ASAP. Of course, I had supply issues. I probably would have had them regardless of what happened post-op. But it still bugs me.

I have heard of some extremely disrespectful births unfortunately. Too many. NOT THE MOTHER'S FAULT. But the fault of the hospital's. Think of birth several decades ago. Just google "birth" and "twilight sleep" and you will be brought with tears and want to throw up. NOT respectful in the least.

Again, are the babies scarred? Hopefully not. The mothers? I sure would have been. That might have affected my parenting, unfortunately.

Anyway, just another opinion to put in the mix.

Heidi Lanigan-Potter · August 2009

Bonzer:
pre tell, what exactly is a DISrespectful C-section?

When mother, baby and father are not treated with respect. I've seen it happen and parents can be traumatized by it. My friend (who had 3 sections) always talks about how she feels like her birth experience was very cold and disconnecting. She also had bonding issues that she feel were a direct result of her experience. I think things could be improved a great deal in the way we treat women undergoing c-sections. Especially scheduled ones, when there is no emergent reason for delivery.

Heidi Lanigan-Potter · August 2009

7river7wed7:
webMistress0609:

I had an awesome experience w/ my c/s. The hospital we used allowed me to hold DS as soon as he was given the quick once over in the OR, I was able to still hold him while being wheeled to recovery, & the three of us stayed together in the recovery room.

I felt this was much better for me than to be alone in recovery & to be separated from DS & DH.

Wish I had your hospital. DD was born at 9:33 pm via a non-emergency c-section and I didn't get to see her until after 1 am. I told DH he wasn't allowed to leave her side, so all that time I was sitting alone in my room crying.

Did your DD have any problems/difficulties at birth? If not, that is disgraceful. So sorry that happened to you.

Heidi Lanigan-Potter · August 2009

July_2009:
Not sure which category my c/s falls under. As soon as the kiddo was out, the Dr's figured he was low blood sugars (I had GD). They let me see the baby for few mins and the nurses held him at my lips for a minute and then took him to NICU. DH went along with baby. He was in NICU for 2 days and I only got to see my baby 2 days later!!!!!
I could not go to NICU because of the catheter and what not and so I was not wheeled there. Now...what category does this fall under?

Again, disgraceful. If you were unhappy with your experience,I would consider finding a new more "baby friendly" hospital next time around. If all he had was BG issues, there is NO reason he couldn't have at least been brought to you.

I work on maternity and when babies have IV's due to low blood sugar and blood sugar issues in general, they are always allowed in the room with parents during the day and only come out to the nursery at night for monitoring. I feel so bad for you!

7river7wed7 · August 2009

moroccojade:

Again, are the babies scarred? Hopefully not. The mothers? I sure would have been. That might have affected my parenting, unfortunately.

Anyway, just another opinion to put in the mix.

I 1000% agree with you. I don't think that an awful birth experience in itself can cause an infant irrepreable trauma and disconnect; I do, however, think it can take a heavy toll on the mother, which in turn affects her parenting and her ability to connect with the baby. Will she get over it? Most do, but not all, and often times it is a hard pill to dissolve. It shouldn't be taken as lightly as it is, and the statement "all that matters is the baby is healthy" is horse poo.

7river7wed7 · August 2009

Rob&Heidi:
7river7wed7:
webMistress0609:

I had an awesome experience w/ my c/s. The hospital we used allowed me to hold DS as soon as he was given the quick once over in the OR, I was able to still hold him while being wheeled to recovery, & the three of us stayed together in the recovery room.

I felt this was much better for me than to be alone in recovery & to be separated from DS & DH.

Wish I had your hospital. DD was born at 9:33 pm via a non-emergency c-section and I didn't get to see her until after 1 am. I told DH he wasn't allowed to leave her side, so all that time I was sitting alone in my room crying.

Did your DD have any problems/difficulties at birth? If not, that is disgraceful. So sorry that happened to you.

Thanks. I've accepted it - but it definitely took some time.

No, no problems. She was 4 weeks early because the u/s tech *thought* her growth was being restriced and her fluid was low, so after she was born they took her to the nursery for monitoring - not the NICU, just regular nursery. She was a trooper and did't have any issues, they were just concerned because she was so early. In the end, it turned out the tech just got a bad measurement and the whole thing was completely and utterly unnecessary.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · August 2009

While I wouldn't call mine ideal, it definately was respectful. Mine was life saving for my son. After 32 hours of labor his heart rate drastically dropped. I was sent to the emergency room quicker than I could even figure out what was going on. I saw ds for literally a minute before I started going in an out of consiousness and he was whisked away for the nicu. Not ideal birth by any means, but in the end ds and I both came out of it just fine.

jebuell · August 2009

A girl on my local was told WHILE THEY WERE STITCHING HER UP that she would only be able to have two other children because of the c-section. Luckily they were only planning on three, but still, that seems very disrespectful to me. She had just given birth via emergency c-section after several hours of labor so she was exhausted and her emotions were all over the chart and then the doctor dropped that on her. If she had wanted 4 or 5 kids I imagine that news in that situation would have been devastating.

I think a disrespectful c/s is when the doctors and/or nurses do not consider the parents and and baby's emtional needs along with their physical needs.

GretchenlovesMichael · August 2009

7river7wed7:
Rob&Heidi:
7river7wed7:
Wish I had your hospital. DD was born at 9:33 pm via a non-emergency c-section and I didn't get to see her until after 1 am. I told DH he wasn't allowed to leave her side, so all that time I was sitting alone in my room crying.

Did your DD have any problems/difficulties at birth? If not, that is disgraceful. So sorry that happened to you.

Thanks. I've accepted it - but it definitely took some time.

No, no problems. She was 4 weeks early because the u/s tech *thought* her growth was being restriced and her fluid was low, so after she was born they took her to the nursery for monitoring - not the NICU, just regular nursery. She was a trooper and did't have any issues, they were just concerned because she was so early. In the end, it turned out the tech just got a bad measurement and the whole thing was completely and utterly unnecessary.

this is just awful i'm so sorry that happened.

i had to have a c/s - no way around it. i would have loved to have a vaginal twin birth and that's what i would have done if at all possible, but DS was frank breech and wedged securely against my cervix, sitting on it - this is actually what caused my pubic symphysis dysfunction too but that's another topic.

i knew ahead of time about the c/s and made my wishes very clear. i wanted to hold them and nurse them ASAP. the babies were born at 1:04 and 1:05pm, i held them both within minutes, together, wrapped in a blankie - i am going to post a pic, hang on....

that's my arm wrapped around them, so i was holding them as best i could while they sewed me up. not the same as what i would have loved (instant skin to skin contact and cuddling and nursing) but not disrespectful in any way.

then i went to recovery and DH went with M&D to the nursery. D was in my recovery room to nurse within 30 min, and M within an hour. it was far less traumatic and awful than i feared it would be. and we've done pretty well so far

EcoBaby · August 2009

Gretchen*loves*Michael:
7river7wed7:
Rob&Heidi:
7river7wed7:
Wish I had your hospital. DD was born at 9:33 pm via a non-emergency c-section and I didn't get to see her until after 1 am. I told DH he wasn't allowed to leave her side, so all that time I was sitting alone in my room crying.

Did your DD have any problems/difficulties at birth? If not, that is disgraceful. So sorry that happened to you.

Thanks. I've accepted it - but it definitely took some time.

No, no problems. She was 4 weeks early because the u/s tech *thought* her growth was being restriced and her fluid was low, so after she was born they took her to the nursery for monitoring - not the NICU, just regular nursery. She was a trooper and did't have any issues, they were just concerned because she was so early. In the end, it turned out the tech just got a bad measurement and the whole thing was completely and utterly unnecessary.

this is just awful i'm so sorry that happened.

i had to have a c/s - no way around it. i would have loved to have a vaginal twin birth and that's what i would have done if at all possible, but DS was frank breech and wedged securely against my cervix, sitting on it - this is actually what caused my pubic symphysis dysfunction too but that's another topic.

i knew ahead of time about the c/s and made my wishes very clear. i wanted to hold them and nurse them ASAP. the babies were born at 1:04 and 1:05pm, i held them both within minutes, together, wrapped in a blankie - i am going to post a pic, hang on....

that's my arm wrapped around them, so i was holding them as best i could while they sewed me up. not the same as what i would have loved (instant skin to skin contact and cuddling and nursing) but not disrespectful in any way.

then i went to recovery and DH went with M&D to the nursery. D was in my recovery room to nurse within 30 min, and M within an hour. it was far less traumatic and awful than i feared it would be. and we've done pretty well so far

That is a beautiful picture! Look how gorgeous they are. I bet you were so happy and relieved to see those precious little faces.

GretchenlovesMichael · August 2009

EcoBaby:
That is a beautiful picture! Look how gorgeous they are. I bet you were so happy and relieved to see those precious little faces.

aww thanks so much i was indeed tremendously happy and relieved it was a pretty magical moment.

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