“The Natural Cesarean” is a current trend being widely discussed. At first it may sound a little barbaric – natural surgery? But fortunately that is not what is meant with this shift in a surgical birth. Often, surgery consists of a cold, sterile, unfriendly environment, out of keeping with the warm, embracing, loving visions that many women have of birth. The Natural Cesarean reclaims the beauty behind a surgical birth, offering parents an intimate way to welcome their newborn into the world.
This softer procedure also allows the mother to feel more involved with the process and less like a “sickly patient.” Studies continually show that if a woman feels respected, supported, and heard, she will view her birth as a positive experience. This, in turn, lowers her chance of developing postpartum depression, and she forges a more powerful bond with her baby.
How can we support The Natural Cesarean?
Talk about your expectations.
Whether you are facing a scheduled cesarean or not, it is beneficial to have a conversation with your doctor regarding your expectations. This will clarify if your doctor is comfortable and on board with your requests.
Learn about the procedure.
By educating yourself about how the surgery is done, you will quell some of the fear surrounding the process. Additionally, by knowing what an operating rooms looks and feels like, you can further ease tension. Ask your doctor if there are specific details that are unique to your hospital. For example, do they allow more than one person to come into the operating room with you? Or, when is your partner allowed to enter the room?
Lower the screen with autorecuscitation.
A screen will be placed around your chest region to prevent you from seeing the surgical procedure taking place at your abdominal region. You can request for this screen to be lowered a bit so you can see your baby being delivered from your uterus. You can also request that the “delivery” be slower and thus more gentle for the baby. This is called Autoresuscitation. After delivery of the head, the baby establishes respiration while still attached to the placental circulation. Pausing with the head in this position allows external compression from the uterus and maternal soft tissues to expel lung fluid.
Make skin to skin contact and talk to your baby.
If all is cleared with the pediatrician, request to have the baby come to you as soon as possible. Since you, the mother, will be somewhat tethered up from the surgical procedures, you can bring the baby to your cheek and upper part of your chest, or have your partner do skin to skin contact. Newborn procedures can also be done with your baby on your chest.
The September 2010 perinatal care journal, Birth, featured a study involving 37 healthy infants born to first time mothers after an elective cesarean. The study showed “When placed in skin-to-skin contact and exposed to the parents’ speech, the infants initiated communication with soliciting calls with the parents within approximately 15 minutes after the birth.” The authors, who were searching for early vocal interaction in conjunction with a larger study on parent-infant interaction following a c-section concluded that, “these findings give reason to encourage parents to keep the newborn in skin-to-skin contact after cesarean section, to support the early onset of the first vocal communication.” (Midwifery Today, Winter 2010/2011 issue page 65)
Breastfeed as soon as you are comfortable once the surgery is over. You can breastfeed right away if you would like. You may need a nurse to prop you up and get comfortable, and you will want to avoid putting the baby on your sore belly, so the “football” hold may be the best position to start. However, it is also important not to push the breast on the baby if the baby is not ready for it. Often babies are groggy after a cesarean due to the medications. So take your cues from your little one. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when it comes to breastfeeding!
Take pictures.
Record these first beautiful moments of your baby’s life! You will treasure these photos. Also, having a camera on hand is useful if the baby can not immediately come to you. Your partner can snap a few pictures and you can see what your new precious bundle looks like.
Truthfully, these tips are not asking too much of your care provider and can make a world of difference for you and your baby.
Happy birthing!
Source
Midwifery Today, Winter 2010/2011 issue page 65
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Debra Flashenberg, CD(DONA), LCCE, E-RYT 500 is the director of the Prenatal Yoga Center. After several years as a yoga student, she decided to continue her education and became certified as a Bikram Yoga instructor. In 2006, Debra received her certification as a Lamaze® Certified Childbirth Educator. In September of 2007, Debra completed a Midwife Assistant Program with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and many of the other Farm Midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee. Drawing on her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula and childbirth educator, Debra looks to establish safe and effective classes for pregnancy and beyond.
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