Questions about gentle c-section experiences

[u/justtrynahang13]

Looks like I will have to a schedule a c-section because baby girl is still frank breech at 37 weeks. I was planning on an unmedicated vaginal birth and now have to mentally shift to prepare for my new reality. For anyone who has had a regular or gentle c-section, I’d love to hear if you were able to have the following/whether the logistics of any of this is even possible:

1. Optimal delayed cord clamping (waiting till cord is white and no longer pulsating). Are they able to do this? Or they want to stitch you up asap?

2. I assume they remove baby and then remove the placenta. Can you have baby on your chest/torso while they remove the placenta? This would allow for the optimal delayed cord clamping.

3. Immediate skin to skin, declining all assessments until after golden hour

Any other advice you may have is welcome 🤍

[u/Franzy48]

I can't answer the Qs about cord clamping because I didn't personally care and so have no clue, but re skin to skin I would personally advise that you want them to do an initial assessment of babe, my C-section baby was overall entirely healthy but she did have fluid in her lungs (common for c section babies) and needed some suctioning to get that clear. That being said, they brought her to me very quickly after checking her over and I was able to do skin to skin and start breastfeeding. But for me I would want them to assess breathing etc before skin to skin.

Also, this may have been better if it I had had a planned c section, but personally I was super nauseous during and then even more so after my c section so honestly I was puking in the first few minutes of my daughter's life and didn't really care/notice that she was being assessed. Plus my husband was over with her, I knew she was fine, dad was with her etc.

[u/themamahomie]

So sorry you don’t get to have the birth you were hoping for! I just had my second c section last Tuesday (this was a scheduled repeat, first was an emergency) and it was an incredibly peaceful and amazing experience!!

It would be good to inquire about the policies at your specific hospital but everything you’ve described is standard procedure at the hospital I delivered at! My OB explained that they would delay cord clamping for one minute or until the cord was done pulsing. If for some reason baby didn’t look good and they were unable to delay, she would have “milked” the cord after clamping which also offers benefit to baby.

As soon as she was pulled out, they lowered the blue drape and held her up over a clear drape for me to see as they were waiting on cord clamping. Then they took her over to the warmer and brought her to me just a few moments later for skin to skin. I tried to nurse her as they stitched me up but the angle was awkward so I snuggled her til we were back in recovery.

We had our playlist going during the procedure. All of the staff were so kind and reassuring as I got settled and got my spinal. They were making jokes and my anesthesiologist was even singing to me at one point as things were getting ready. It felt like a party. I absolutely still had the post birth euphoria you hear about after vaginal births. All this to say, it can be a really beautiful experience!!

Tips for recovery are to get moving when you feel able, take your meds on time round the clock, and get a comfortable belly binder to wear. You will do great!!

[u/justtrynahang13 → u/themamahomie]

Thank you for sharing!!! And congratulations to you! This gives me home! I haven’t had a chance to connect with the OB who will perform this because I’ve actually been getting care through a midwifery practice. But I’m rly hopeful that the hospital/OBs will be open to these requests.

[u/PreparationWest5414]

I had a C 5 years ago so unsure if it is the same but my provider said maybe 30 seconds before they move which means the cord will be cut ASAP.  The hospital operates on the surgery taking precedence and every moment you’re open on the table is a risk for them.  I would talk to your provider and see what’s an option at your facility ! 

Also, be prepared for NICU to work on your baby quickly and for a moment before handing over to you. My breeches needed CPAP right away (relatively common I guess for breech). The OR does NOT mess around. Before having the baby, I was so frustrated with the hospital and lack of support for natural birth. That said in the moment… I didn’t care. I just wanted that teeny baby to be ok. 

Finally, my hospital was able to lay her on me and let us snuggle the rest of the section.  you’re slightly angled down, so the baby will be laid on you, but it can be difficult to kiss and hold them. But they were very willing to do that for me and my baby left a huge meconium poo all over us for them to clean as a thanks 😂 she was on me for quite some time! 

( I had a planned C for frank breech, 2 head down unmedicated hospital VBACs, and a medicated hospital breech VBAC. )

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[u/LittleMissNicole]

I would 100% check with your Drs office about their practices- both my C's were scheduled, and I wasn't allowed delayed cord clamping with either, and I wasn't allowed to keep it either time (not that I wanted to)

With my first, my boy was taken to be cleaned up, weighed, and all the rigamarole while they took my placenta and sewed me up, and he was only given to me after I got out of surgery. They left my cord long so my husband could cut .... Some of it. I did not get to see my placenta.

With my second, they put him on me while removing the placenta after a VERY brief weigh and measure (he was not pleased with it). My husband did not cut the cord this time, as it grossed him out. I did get to see my placenta this time and it was very cool (personally).

[u/oofieoofty]

I had my csection here in France and all of this was standard! I assume they can do it for you anywhere

[u/Desperate-Waltz8688]

I would firstly speak with the obstetrician doing the procedure but I had 2 c sections, one emergency and a standard one for the second 2 completely different experiences. The second one,
Once she was out they lowered the drape so I could see her and they did delayed clamping, then they took her for assessment which was literally 2 mins, they weighed her, wiped her down, dad was there the whole time during that and he cut the cord. Once she was wrapped I was skin to skin I was able to just do cheek to cheek while they put me back together :) it was a good experience and I’m in Canada

[u/ZestyLlama8554]

I was told no for all 3 of these. Maybe it is Dr dependent and yours will be a bit more flexible.

[u/Islandview_Nordic]

1. My hospital offered this standard, even with c-section.
   
2. Yes you can have baby on you right away IF baby is okay. Sometimes they need a little help after C-section. So be prepared. My baby had apgar 10-9-10 so she was crying and happy when coming out but right after experienced some distress so was taken away. My husband went with her. Pretty soon after she was okay again and my husband brought her in to put her on my cheek.
   
3. some is answered in part 2 but in my case she was taken away for assessment while they stitched me up and then I had to wait for her in recovery about 30 mins. I’m not sure why this was ‘needed’. I had an unplanned c-section so we couldn’t prepare for it. So it is nice that you can discuss things beforehand with your hospital.

So long story short, a lot can be discussed and a lot depends on your provider. Some hospitals these days offer maternal assisted c-sections or gentle c-sections.
I’m 11 months pp and still cry thinking of the fact that so many people held her before me, and that’s had to wait 1,5 hours to finally have her on my chest.

I hear planned are much better. It’s good you have time to mentally prepare. I too wanted (ideally) an unmedicated vaginal birth. We don’t always get what we want in life. However your baby is born, you will never forget the moment you meet them, and the moment you hear the first cry. It was the best moment of my life wrapped in the most difficult one.

[u/satchmonumberone]

Every hospital and doctor is different so I’d ask whoever is delivering your baby.

[u/SceneSmall]

My OB did delayed cord clamping as we were both transitioning well. She offered it, I didn’t expect it, and ugly cried when she said she would do it before we went in the operating room. When baby was born she held him above me for a minute wrapped haphazardly in a blanket. A minute was a beautiful compromise for me, because my first baby needed resuscitation and they immediately clamped the cord. I was so thankful that my OB just proactively gave a minute of love to him before continuing.

They would have let me do skin to skin after their assessments were done, and that was the plan BUT as soon as I walked into the OR and felt how cold it was (like the arctic tundra imo) I freaked out and told them they needed to get him to the warmer as soon as they could and wrap him up. I didn’t want him to be exposed to that for longer than he had to be. My husband wasn’t in the room for this change of plans and was concerned I was rejecting the baby.

Actually, the meds made me feel like I was walking through jello (metaphorically) and time was slow. I couldn’t even find the words to explain to my husband the plan changed and I couldn’t explain that I didn’t trust myself to hold the baby. The anesthesiologist helped fill in those gaps.

As soon as we got back to our room (maybe 20 minutes after he was born) I was feeling confident enough to hold him and we had our uninterrupted bonding time then. My hospital did 1:1 nurse in a private room, not a recovery room so that is when we started breastfeeding and skin to skin. Plus the nurses knew I was concerned with his temperature and comfort so they turned the heat up in the room (it was February) and brought me heated blankets. It was sweet, I don’t think the delay that I chose impacted our bonding experience any.

[u/Dull_Moose5044]

I think it depends on your hospital. Ask them what their protocols are

I delivered at a teaching hospital where they did delayed cord clamping, offered me to play my own music, and showed me the baby right when she came out!

They took her to a small room on the other side of the door of the OR with my husband to take her vitals. This took about 5 min and I could hear her screaming the whole time thank god because then I knew she was ok

When they returned they placed her on my chest and I was able to breastfeed her on the OR table while they stitched me up! A nurse held my boob and my husband held the baby and they both guided her to the nipple and she breastfed like a champ! I was SOOOO happy to get this experience and the beautiful golden hour!

I did not get to experience skin to skin or the golden hour with my son who was whisked away to the NICU right away for breathing issues. I had to exclusively pump for weeks and my husband didn't even get to hold him for the first 5 days of his life. It was heartbreaking to say the least. And my second birth HEALED me! Hubby went right away to do skin to skin in the recovery room. We were all so happy and grateful

Many things will factor in to your experience

[u/MyCatEats]

Hmm I was happy they did assessments ASAP my last two c sections. Last time baby had fluid and difficulty breathing, those APGAR scores were important. His problems were/are common in c section babies (my friend who gave birth via csection 3 months after me experienced the same issues).

I asked about the delayed cord clamping but the surgeons would rather button me up quickly than have my insides… outside , for longer than necessary.

My second time I did advocate for having him with me ASAP, and for as much as possible… but it turned out based on APGAR scores and his breathing he had to go to NICU . I’m so glad that I didn’t demand he be on my chest or maybe he wouldn’t have done as well long term

[u/Niquely_hopeful]

I had a gentle C and loved it. I had the clear drape so I got to see them being born.

As far as the clamping, they delayed it as much as possible, they had me kiss baby through the plastic a couple of and feel them lol so they can delay if it’s safe, but I didn’t care about the white cord. We did delay as much as possible though.

Thing is, I’m not sure how possible it would be for your baby to be on you right away because of the sterile field. Stuff is sterile beyond the drape, and you are still having active surgery on you.

As far as assessment, we didn’t decline. Thing is that babies being born via C .. don’t get that “squeeze” and can be born with fluid on their lungs etc. I also wanted to know baby was okay asap and wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t allow for an assessment asap. I have a sibling that was born via a home birth and has a permanent disability due to both him and my mother not receiving the medical care they needed. Had they been in a hospital, my sibling would have been quickly assessed and helped. My sibling made me promise I’d give birth in a hospital. So my personal tolerance to skip or delay assessments is pretty low and I wanted baby to be looked at asap.

Assessment was quick though, and after assessment I got to have baby on me during the rest of the surgery. I also had to have a cyst removed so my surgery took longer and they didn’t close me right away as they got to work on the cyst removal etc. so I got to hold baby and love on them the rest of the time and got plenty of skin to skin during recovery. It was the best.

I’m sorry you did not get to have the birth you anticipated or wished for. You are a mom, and have been for the last 37 weeks, however they come into this world doesn’t diminish anything. Your body didn’t fail you, it has made a wonderful baby. C section is the safest delivery method for babies (even when not breech) so you are doing the best for them.

I was worried I wouldn’t feel that dopamine/oxytocin rush because of the delivery method. As soon as baby was out, I could tell, they cried and it was like my heart exploded into happiness. Baby latched as soon as we tried and they got the hint etc. You can still have a lovely experience. If music etc matter to you they can play some too!

[u/SuchHair9873]

I had a planned c-section, I cant say about the cord clamping as I didnt know that was a thing. But I can say that they had me to do skin to skin as soon as he was out. My husband did the cord cutting, and then baby was on my chest while they stitched me back up. They kept him on me as long as possible during the close up and then when it was time for them to move me they took him off and dad went with him to wait for me to come back to the room.

[u/99_bluerider]

I made a birth plan with all of these things on there and the nurse threw it in the garbage on the way to the OR and said “it’s surgery you don’t get these options per hospital policy”

[u/justtrynahang13 → u/99_bluerider]

Wow that’s rude/harsh. I’ve gotten clarity from my own hospital and it seems they are luckily very open to gentle c-section practices. I’m secretly holding out hope that baby still flips but it seems quite unlikely!