Article on Gentle C-Sections:

T- I'm guessing that with this one you will have that opportunity since it will be scheduled and not emergent. I follow your posts like a stalker, I must admit... For a number of reasons. I couldn't remember how old your DD is. I'm looking forward to hearing your birth story this time around!!

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My c section in 2010 wasn't bad at all my arms were strapped down, my dr ripped a hole in the little curtain so I couldn't see anything but when he took out my first dd he said happy birthday and kind of put her through the hole so I could see her and put her kind of close to my face, it actually freaked me a little cause I wasn't expecting it and they let dh hold her, same for other dd (twins). I didn't do skin to skin never even thought about it, they did ask me if I planned on breast feeding I said no so maybe that's why
And I was up and walking as soon as they took the catheter out yes I had back pain but it wasn't horrendous. I think I had a pretty good experience

Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Mine was very similar to that except for the lowered curtain. No thank you, I'm so glad I didn't see that although my husband did. He got to hold the baby right away, and she was wheeled from the OR to recovery on my chest. I even nursed her in recovery before the nurse came over to bathe her. With my 1st DD I didn't do that, but that was 5.5 years ago. I hated having to have two Cs, but all in all they weren't bad. I was just disappointed to have surgery and not the birth I hoped for.

Article on Gentle C-Sections:

My emergency cs was pretty gentle all things considered. We went in knowing something was wrong with the baby but had no idea what. The OB, who I'd only met an hour or so before, held my hands while they did my spinal and reassured me. My arms were not strapped down but when she was pulled out I really didn't get to see her right away. DH went over and saw her and took pictures and showed them to me while they were working on her. When they finally brought her over for me to see her I suddenly felt like I was going to puke and really thought I was going to throw up on her for a second. I can't imagine holding her then but I got to touch her and take some pictures before she was taken to the nicu. I don't think I'd want to see through the curtain, you can never unsee that! My recovery was great for the most part. I honestly think if I had a planned cs I'd probably have a harder time bc I'd have a lot more time to think about it beforehand. My whole experience was so surreal and I really just didn't let myself think about any of the what if's. The doctors and nurses definitely helped keep things calm and lighthearted bc if I knew then about what could have gone wrong I would have been a lot more freaked out. Thankfully everything went really well! I don't know if I'll have another but if I have to have another cs I really don't think I'd be upset at all.

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Article on Gentle C-Sections:

I wish they did this at lij. My scheduled a few months ago was not like that. I didn't get to hold my baby until recovery.

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i was a scheduled c-section, no complications at north shore manhasset but i didnt get to hold dd until after recovery. it was hours later. it was upsetting. dh got to hold her and bond with her though, but I was disappointed.

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i did not have a gentle csection at LIJ. My anesthesiologist is in the background of all my pics booking his ski trip to switzerland. That was the topic of discussion the entire time, I was so irritated.

I switched practices and the first thing my midwife showed me was a pic from a gentle csection that they practice at Winthrop. I am attempting a VBAC but will be ok if I have to have one of those.

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Article on Gentle C-Sections:

I think a lot of too is that, for these doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists - they do this all the time. We don't. So while this is routine to them, they know what's going on, a scared and helpless mom who is worried and nervous needs reassurance and compassion at that moment. There can be a HUGE disconnect when it comes to how medical staff treat and react to new moms in these situations, they can be dismissive and condescending. So pair that with the trauma of a major surgery and the fears of a new mom and it definitely isn't a "gentle" experience. I would say that if hospitals choose to employ gentle C practices, they should also make sure the staff is "gentle" as well.

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Message edited 3/12/2015 11:46:53 AM.

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Article on Gentle C-Sections:

My OBGYN is a very big hockey fan, as are my husband and I. When he (finally) pulled and tugged my son out, he said "It's a goalie!"
I said "No! Goalie equipment is too expensive. He can be defense!"

My husband got to cut the cord and take pics and then the baby got wrapped up and my husband got to hold him. I wasn't allowed to since my arms were strapped down but I was able to look at him. I told my husband it wasn't right that I carried him for 9 months and he got to hold him first! lol

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I'm sorry - but a C section is a surgical procedure. There are certain precautions and procedures that have to remain in place, and IMO it's NOT healthy for the parents to witness the mother's body cut open and moved around and, and, and .......... If that's something you feel you need to do, OK - but what happens if youi can't handle it? What happens if youi pass out? What happens if your husband passes out? ALL things that the clinical staff do NOT need to be dealing with while you're open and on the table -

And I will NEVER ever for the life of me understand this whole idea of being a failure or being cheated out of a 'natural birth' when you have had a C section .......

WHO CARES how the baby comes into the world as long as he's healthy?
You have a healthy child, get OVER yourself. The fact that you didn't push him out means nothing. It doesn't make anyone less of a mother, or better of a person by delivering surgically or naturally (for whatever reason, by choice or by necessity), drug free or not .......

the first time DH got to hold the baby immediately - I couldn't b/c I was too exhausted and strapped down - but he laid him with me and held him.
The second time I was fine, and held him with DH right away too -
ETA - the staff for both of my deliveries was great. They talked to me and DH, they didn't pretend we weren't in the room - No one was booking their vacation ......THAT is something entirely different and totally inappropriate! I'd be upset in that case as well

Message edited 3/12/2015 12:34:47 PM.

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Posted by MarisaK

I'm sorry - but a C section is a surgical procedure. There are certain precautions and procedures that have to remain in place, and IMO it's NOT healthy for the parents to witness the mother's body cut open and moved around and, and, and .......... If that's something you feel you need to do, OK - but what happens if youi can't handle it? What happens if youi pass out? What happens if your husband passes out? ALL things that the clinical staff do NOT need to be dealing with while you're open and on the table -

And I will NEVER ever for the life of me understand this whole idea of being a failure or being cheated out of a 'natural birth' when you have had a C section .......

WHO CARES how the baby comes into the world as long as he's healthy?
You have a healthy child, get OVER yourself. The fact that you didn't push him out means nothing. It doesn't make anyone less of a mother, or better of a person by delivering surgically or naturally (for whatever reason, by choice or by necessity), drug free or not .......

the first time DH got to hold the baby immediately - I couldn't b/c I was too exhausted and strapped down - but he laid him with me and held him.
The second time I was fine, and held him with DH right away too -

Message edited 3/12/2015 12:47:22 PM.

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Posted by Kitten1929

Posted by MarisaK

I'm sorry - but a C section is a surgical procedure. There are certain precautions and procedures that have to remain in place, and IMO it's NOT healthy for the parents to witness the mother's body cut open and moved around and, and, and .......... If that's something you feel you need to do, OK - but what happens if youi can't handle it? What happens if youi pass out? What happens if your husband passes out? ALL things that the clinical staff do NOT need to be dealing with while you're open and on the table -

And I will NEVER ever for the life of me understand this whole idea of being a failure or being cheated out of a 'natural birth' when you have had a C section .......

WHO CARES how the baby comes into the world as long as he's healthy?
You have a healthy child, get OVER yourself. The fact that you didn't push him out means nothing. It doesn't make anyone less of a mother, or better of a person by delivering surgically or naturally (for whatever reason, by choice or by necessity), drug free or not .......

the first time DH got to hold the baby immediately - I couldn't b/c I was too exhausted and strapped down - but he laid him with me and held him.
The second time I was fine, and held him with DH right away too -

I think it comes down to your own personal beliefs. I don't think it's fair for you to tell someone to "get over" themselves - it has nothing to do with that. I am not sure how many times I need to say in this thread that not everyone has a great C experience regardless of how you got there. Everyone reacts to things differently. I do not feel like a failure because I had a C, I was upset because I felt like I had put my needs ahead of DS' in the days leading up to his delivery. I had an idea of how I thought things would play out, but when your body doesn't cooperate, and you are physically and emotionally spent from that ordeal, to have to go into a major surgery is very difficult. It would be difficult for anyone to switch gears that quickly.

Maybe it's not for you. Maybe you're better equipped to deal with things. But not everyone is. And to scoff at other peoples feelings is downright mean. As mothers, we are only sharing our experiences. Some have good ones and some have bad ones. No one is saying they are less than a mother because they had a C. I'm just saying, if a woman can have a natural birth with candles and music and incense, a woman having a C should also be able to have it be as calm of an experience as possible (barring any extenuating circumstances).

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Posted by Dolphinsbaby

I'm confused about the arm straps? When I had my twins via c-section the epidural did not work. I kept screaming in pain. They finally had to knock me out totally. DH said that I kept moving my arms and was hitting the curtain so they had to tie my arms down. I think my poor DH was traumatized. I don't remember them being born obviously. If he hadn't told me I was strapped down I wouldn't have even known. Is that what they mean?

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Posted by Dolphinsbaby

I'm confused about the arm straps? When I had my twins via c-section the epidural did not work. I kept screaming in pain. They finally had to knock me out totally. DH said that I kept moving my arms and was hitting the curtain so they had to tie my arms down. I think my poor DH was traumatized. I don't remember them being born obviously. If he hadn't told me I was strapped down I wouldn't have even known. Is that what they mean?

Article on Gentle C-Sections:

I don't think it's fair to say "get over yourself" when a mother is upset that they didn't get to have a natural delivery. I am one of those mothers. I am BLESSED to have a healthy and strong son, I'm thrilled that he was healthy, and only had to spend 5 days in the NICU. But I WAS cheated out of having a "normal" experience. I was RUSHED into an induction, and after 3 days and multiple tries of various things, at 36 weeks my son was delivered via c-section. I had a fast section, and a VERY quick recovery. I am one of the lucky ones.... BUT I NEVER GOT TO EXPERIENCE LABOR. And I never will, most likely. If you think I'm selfish for feeling cheated, then you can feel that way, but I know how I feel and NO ONE is going to make ME feel bad for that.

For ME, I do feel like a failure in a way, because my body failed my son. My body was not able to carry him to term (though I think had things been handled differently that first night, I could have delivered a week or two later). I completely believe that had I gone out on Maternity leave the week prior when I was starting to feel like I couldn't handle work anymore, my bp would NOT have escalated the way it did. My son had breathing issues, was born 4 weeks early, spent 5 days in the NICU and I felt and still feel VERY guilty for all of that.

Message edited 3/12/2015 2:21:52 PM.

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

I just want to comment from the V birth side, that just because you are having a V birth, does NOT mean it's calm and gentle.
There were no candles burning, no incense, no soft music,
There was me, screaming like my throat was being cut, and the nurse closing the doors because I was scaring the other women in L&D with my God awful shrieks.
There was me, feeling like my assh0le was being ripped open with a steak knife
BEGGING the doctor to please reach up and get her out of me.
Screaming BLOODY MURDER.

In my case, a C section probably would have been a lot more peaceful because I would have been strapped down, numb from the chest down.

Message edited 3/12/2015 2:20:56 PM.

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Posted by NervousNell

I just want to comment from the V birth side, that just because you are having a V birth, does NOT mean it's calm and gentle.
There were no candles burning, no incense, no soft music,
There was me, screaming like my throat was being cut, and the nurse closing the doors because I was scaring the other women in L&D with my God awful shrieks.
There was me, feeling like my assh0le was being ripped open with a steak knife
BEGGING the doctor to please reach up and get her out of me.
Screaming BLOODY MURDER.

In my case, a C section probably would have been a lot more peaceful because I would have been strapped down, numb from the chest down.

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

Re: Article on Gentle C-Sections:

I know that SOME people have traumatic Csections.
I did not. It was an emergency csection, after a failed induction. After 12 hours, I was failing to progress past 3 centimeters and DD's heart was going into distress. I have a heart condition, so we decided for the safety of DD and I to do the csection.

I was not strapped down to anything. I was calm and comfortable- talking and joking with everyone in the ER. As soon as DD was born, she was shown to me. Then quickly cleaned off and handed to me. We did skin to skin while I was being stitched up- with DH and I both holding her. Then I held her while I was wheeled out of ER into recovery for my family to meet us. I then felt sick from the meds- dizzy, light headed and nauseous, so they took DD and my family into an empty labor room and let them hold her and take pics.
I was in recovery a few hours and then brought up to my room- had some more time with DD and then passed out since it was the middle of the night and I'd been up almost 24 hours. They woke me up exactly 12 hours post csection and I walked and they washed me up. cath and IV were out shortly after.
I had a GREAT recovery and do not feel like I ever missed out on anything having a csection.

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Posted by NervousNell

I just want to comment from the V birth side, that just because you are having a V birth, does NOT mean it's calm and gentle.
There were no candles burning, no incense, no soft music,
There was me, screaming like my throat was being cut, and the nurse closing the doors because I was scaring the other women in L&D with my God awful shrieks.
There was me, feeling like my assh0le was being ripped open with a steak knife
BEGGING the doctor to please reach up and get her out of me.
Screaming BLOODY MURDER.

In my case, a C section probably would have been a lot more peaceful because I would have been strapped down, numb from the chest down.