For those who have had cesarean sections, the experience can feel disconnected. Or in other words, a little surgical.
Let’s look at an example of a specific C-section that many who have been through a C-section may relate to:
“When the decision was made to have a cesarean section, I was wheeled into the operating room, given a re-bolus of my epidural. They laid me down, tilted me to the left, and then wiped my belly clean with sterile solution. Then the drapes went on, which are blue. The blue drape is strategically placed to keep gory stuff hidden from the mother. This also hides the birth from her as well. Eventually, my husband was called in and he stood by my side at the head of the bed. He couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t see anything. We could hear everyone talking. And then finally, the surgeon warned me about the pressure, and oh what a feeling. It felt like the assistant was standing on my chest. Then the pressure ended and boom, I became a mother with the birth of my baby boy. A minute later, they showed him to us and brought him to the warmer where they cleaned and dried him. My husband went to the warmer and stayed with him the rest of the time. Eventually, I got to hold him after we were in the recovery room, which was about 1 hour later.
This account sounds a little sterile, and surgical, and distant. I didn’t feel like I was a part of the delivery. But, having a cesarean section is not a simple procedure. It is a major surgery and gets treated like that. Complications can happen within minutes, and for that reason, the people at the head of bed aren’t included in the surgical part of the procedure. With a cesarean section, whether it is planned or not, it feels like a surgery instead of a delivery.”
Why This Matters
Having a vaginal birth is totally different than having a C-section. Mom is involved every step of the way. In fact, we can’t have the baby without mom being involved the entire time. It’s her body, her input and bodily functions that determine all stages of labor and delivery.
Studies reveal that women who have cesarean sections are less satisfied with their childbirth experience than those who deliver vaginally. There’s also concern about bonding between mom and baby and breastfeeding outcomes after a cesarean section. Being involved in the delivery is very important to many women and this desire has guided the medical field to search for ways to accomplish this request.
Contact MetroPartners OBGYN
At MetroPartners OBGYN, we strive to make every C-section as comfortable as possible. If you have any questions about your upcoming C-section, give MetroPartners OBGYN a call and schedule an appointment.