Q for MoMs who had a C-Section

Mayan2011 · April 2012

Hi Ladies:

My homeboard is PAIF - I hope you don't mind me posting a couple of quick questions over here.

I am pregnant with twins from our 3rd IVF ~ 21 weeks along. Every u/s has shown our little girl (positioned first) as transverse. I know there is still time to flip, but I am starting to think about C-Section questions in case she doesn't. So far, there are two that I was hoping you could give me your advice/insight on:

1. Are you still able to do a delated cord clamp?

2. Can you do skin-to-skin contact right away?

Thanks ladies!

preheatedoven · April 2012

Since mine was an emergency, it might be different, but I dont think you can do skin to skin right away because once the first baby is out the focus is getting the next one out as quickly as possible, and once the second one is out they need to close you up quickly. Mine had to go to the NICU, so in my experience I wasn't given an option (they actually didn't even bring baby B over for me to see at all).

As for the cord clamping, not a clue! I hope your girl turns and you make it to the end and are able to have the birth experience you want:)

GypsyEsq · April 2012

I had a non emergent cesarean with DD. No to both. Although there is definitely a movement towards allowing at least skin to skin. Google "natural cesarean" and you can read about the types of changes that are happening. Worth bringing up to your OB. Also, I'm seeing a chiro this pregnancy and it's kept baby A head down, you're still early so you might consider that. GL!

Mayan2011 · April 2012

preheatedoven:

Since mine was an emergency, it might be different, but I dont think you can do skin to skin right away because once the first baby is out the focus is getting the next one out as quickly as possible, and once the second one is out they need to close you up quickly. Mine had to go to the NICU, so in my experience I wasn't given an option (they actually didn't even bring baby B over for me to see at all).

As for the cord clamping, not a clue! I hope your girl turns and you make it to the end and are able to have the birth experience you want:)

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am so sorry they didn't bring baby b over to see you. I know that so many of these things are out of our control...

Mayan2011 · April 2012

GypsyEsq:
I had a non emergent cesarean with DD. No to both. Although there is definitely a movement towards allowing at least skin to skin. Google "natural cesarean" and you can read about the types of changes that are happening. Worth bringing up to your OB. Also, I'm seeing a chiro this pregnancy and it's kept baby A head down, you're still early so you might consider that. GL!

Thanks for the suggestion!

dana316 · April 2012

I think the answer to both of those questions is probably no. The OR is a totally different environment than a delivery room, so it would be hard, IMO, to do either of those...unless your Dr. is very agreeable.

The way you are laying would make it hard to do skin to skin while they are closing you up...I wouldn't have felt comfortable at all trying to hold my baby in that position.

They finish really quickly and take you to recovery...and they brought both babies to me super quickly so that we could skin to skin and nurse immediately. We had no problems, and I was adamant that I get them quickly and nurse ASAP.

Yellow_Daisy · April 2012

No to both here too, but there may have only been 10-15ish min between when they pulled him out and had me in recovery. He was waiting for me in recovery and then we did skin to skin and he never left my side after that point.

Like PP said I couldn't have held him in the position they had me in and I wouldn't have felt comfortable doing so even if they had offered. It would have been very awkward in the OR.

keg · April 2012

Mine was a semi-scheduled c-section (scheduled the day before) and we didn't do either. A lot will depend on when you deliver also. The earlier you deliver, the more likely your babies will go directly to the NICU for evaluation. Like PPs, I couldn't imagine doing skin to skin in the OR since you are flat on your back with a drape between you and the incision. Trying to do that as soon as you can after getting into recovery is probably a better plan. I can't imagine them going for a delayed cord clamping either because they probably want to minimize the time the incision is open. Good luck with whatever works out for you!

ardilla · April 2012

No to both in my c/s with twins. They held them both up for a quick look as they were delivered, then took them to do a quick check before swaddling them and bringing them to me for a quick picture and "hold" (they were holding my arms up to cradle them as I was unsteady). They gave them to DH to take out to meet family quickly while walking to the special care nursery. They were born at 36w0d and were required to be observed for a few hours.

JustaKidAtHeart · April 2012

Mine was emergency for the twins (and they were taken to the NICU) but for my single I asked about skin to skin. I wasnt possible BUT as soon as Aiden was out, checked and fine they took him and DH to my recovery room where DH did skin to skin while I was closed. As for you doing it while in the ER my hands were tied to the table so it would not have been possible.

JillRock96 · April 2012

For me, no to both. My c-section was not an emergency, but it was not elective, either. My water broke, and Baby B was transverse. Baby A was wedged pretty tight in my pelvis, and the doc just did not feel the odds were good for getting both of them out vaginally. Like PP said, though, I was only separated from them for about 15 minutes after delivery before I was holding them both. Congrats and good luck!

Oh, and I wanted to add that my Baby B was flipping around as late as 36 weeks (they were born at 36w6d), so there is a ton of time!

UsedToBeGoldie · April 2012

you need to ask your OB --- all docs are different with what they will and won't allow.... so only your doc can answer this for you with accuracy.

Mine were born via c/s at 38w1d. they wrapped them up and i was able to kiss them - then they went to the nursery to be checked out - dH went with them... i was sewed up and brought to recovery --- dh then came in to show me pics.... and it was just under an hour total from when they came out that i was in my room with them and able to nurse right away.

i LOVED my c/s - for what it's worth. I had a very difficult recovery from my vag birth with DS1 (4th degree tear- horrible pain for 8+ weeks).... and my c/s was CAKE compared - i would do a c/s over any day vs. the vag birth recovery i had.

BunnyintheYard · April 2012

No idea about the cord thing but I know the skin-to-skin is completely up to your own hospital's policy.

At the time I delivered my daughter they whisked her and my husband away and I didn't get to hold her until I was in the recovery room.

However my hospital JUST changed their policy where they bring the babies up to your eye level and do all of the checks there... then you can have them with you. But since you are numb from your breasts down, it sounds kind of hard to have skin to skin right away?

Yellow_Daisy · April 2012

BunnyintheYard:
However my hospital JUST changed their policy where they bring the babies up to your eye level and do all of the checks there... then you can have them with you. But since you are numb from your breasts down, it sounds kind of hard to have skin to skin right away?

This is how my hospital is, they do everything in their power to get Mom and baby back together as quickly as possible, they prefer to do skin to skin right away but with c/s they said it's not really feasible. However I nursed him literally as soon as they handed him to me in recovery and that was as soon as I was wheeled in. Baby and DH stay with mom at all times at our hospital, there is no separation unless the baby has to go to the NICU.

twigmommy · April 2012

I had my C scheduled for 37 weeks, and I don't even remember doing any skin to skin. She was swaddled and I held her as such in the recovery room. I didn't get to BF in that first hour. Though that delay was more due to them charting with the new computer system. The only thing special DD needed was glucose draws due to being borderline for small for gestational age.

Melicakes · April 2012

My section was after a failed induction for failure to progress. After they had CC out they held her near my face and I kissed her but I didn't see her again until 10 hours later. I was in recovery for three hours waiting for the feeling back in my lower body, they wouldn't send me to my regular room until I could move on my own.

Then, once I was able to move and in my room I was violently ill , I could not keep anything down not even a sip of water. I was exhausted beyond belief and though I was dying to see my daughter I couldn't voice it and I guess they decided to keep her in the nursery until I was well enough to have her with me.

JenCW · April 2012

I've had two c/s, and they were very different experiences. However, in either case, both of your questions were not an option.

For my first (which was the delivery of my triplets - my baby A was also transverse), I saw all three babies briefly then they were immediately taken to the NICU. My hubby was with them the entire time, but I did not get to see them until much later. I lost a ton of blood and was in an emergency situation. I saw them in the NICU later that night, but honestly it was at least 36 hours later that I actually got to hold them.

For my second (a singleton that required a c/s at 41wks for zero progress), everything was different and there was so much more bonding. I saw her, they touched her face to mine, and I had her on my chest and at my breast as soon as I got to recovery which was within 15 minutes of delivery.

Hoping that all goes well for you and that your little gal flips. If not, let your OB know what you'd at least like to have happen, and maybe they'll be open to it. Every hospital and c/s delivery situation is so different!

gringa78 · April 2012

I don't know what the cord issue is that you mentioned, but I was not able to do skin to skin with my twins. I delivered them at 33 weeks due to pre-eclampsia, so they had to go right to the NICU. I had to be on magsesium for 24 hours, so I didn't actually hold them until the next day.

I'd have another section again in a heartbeat though...like Goldie, I had a 4th degree tear with my singleton, so my c-section recovery was a lot easier than my vaginal recovery. Plus, with all that can happen with twins, it was about getting peace of mind that the delivery was under control with the section.

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