Maternal-assisted Caesareans

**~mamaspice~** · February 19th, 2008, 12:03 PM

Hi everyone, I know that there are always going to be personal and medical reasons why some of us choose to have an elective caesarean as I am one of those people. And although I am hoping for a VBAC next time around I wanted to find out what I could do to make my birthing experience better next time should I end up needing another caesarean - as my CS with my DD was under a general anaesthetic, which resulted in breastfeeding problems and bonding issues and PND.

I have found out about maternal-assisted caesareans and I just wanted to share this option with you all as I know that not many people know about it. Basically once the OB delivers the head and shoulders out of the incision the mother can reach down and pull bub onto her chest. And aside from bub being taken away brieftly for any medical checks, the mother gets to have skin on skin contact with her baby whilst being stitched up and whilst in recovery.

I have dissussed this option with my OB and should I need another caesar my OB is happy to let me have a maternal-assisted caesarean.

I am all too aware though that many hospitals are still very old school when it comes to allowing mums that precious bonding time whilst in theatre and in recovery.
It has been proven that having that initial time with baby decreases the chances of breastfeeding problems and PND. So if you do have an elective caesarean be sure to discuss your options with your care provider so you can have a positive caesarean experience. Even if the thought of pulling your baby onto your chest doesn't appeal, I think we should all have the right to have that instant prescious skin to skin contact with our babies.

Just thought I would share this with you all and I'd love to hear your thoughts

This is a great story about a maternal-assisted caesarean by a woman from the gold coast. Sorry Kelly if there is a problem with having this link here, Just delete the reference to it.
http://www.birthrites.org/OliverBS.html

SamanthaP · February 19th, 2008, 02:52 PM

I am going to go out onto a limb here! I think it further disempowers women. It's seems to be a way to normalise something which shouldn't be regarded as normal or a 'choice'. It cons women into thinking that they are getting an experience equal to a natural vaginal birth - and it's not.

**{sarah}** · February 19th, 2008, 02:58 PM

I think it's a wonderful idea for those that *have* to have a c/s. It would be so much better for a bub that has to be born by c/s to be able to hve that first contact with mum before anyone else & get the skin-to-skin which we all know is so important. Sure it's not the most ideal birth as we know a vaginal birth is best for bub the majority of the time, but for those that need to use it I think it's great.

One of our members actually did this not too long ago, she started a thread here if you want to check it out.

**~StarBright~** · February 19th, 2008, 03:06 PM

Samantha, for some women its not exactly a "choice" and it gives them a good opportunity to have "as close" to a natural experience as possible under these circumstances. No one is kidding them selves into thinking maternal c section and vaginal birth are equal or even similar- it is just a chance to give some women who may not have a "choice" a little flexibility in how they can possible make a c section less about the clinical surgical side and more about bonding.

I had to have an emergency c section with my daughter, who sadly died. I am now pregnant again, however as my daughter died, i am pregnant sooner than i would be if she was alive and well,due to it being a very quick emergency c section and as there hasnt been much time between my last c section and this birth there is a high risk of me having a vbac delivery- i have been advised to have another c section- i.e this is not exactly a "choice" i have made on a whim, it is for saftey and medical reasons, and i would gladly welcome something like a maternal assisted c section to inhance what would other wise be a very clinical delivery.

I'm sorry if i have taken your statements too personally samantha, but maybe this isnt the thread to go out on a limb with out thinking about how ppl in my situation may take it.

Thank you charli's mumma for giving me some info that i can now take to my dr and request the possibilty of a maternally assisted c section.
SB

**BellyBelly** · February 19th, 2008, 03:19 PM

I can understand where Samantha is coming from, this is often discussed in birth circles... and I will tread very lightly here.

Caesareans are already at a dangerous level - waaaaay more than the WHO recommendation of 15%. So to make a c/s more enticing in a HEALTHY pregnancy I think is dangerous - its a wonderful option for someone who does need a c/s, it gives them more connection and feeling of birthing their own baby. But it is scary to think it may encourage or make people think more highly of c/s because they can do that, where they are not informed and understand that c/s is not a choice to be made lightly and as many c/s women will tell you - its definitely not the easy way out. It can involve a painful recovery, you lose mobility, you can get infections and all that bizzo. So I think thats what we need to be careful of... and I dont think Samantha meant it in that no-one should be able to do it.

**tiggerandpooh** · February 19th, 2008, 04:02 PM

How wonderful Charli'smumma that you can have a maternal assited c-section. I have had three c-sections - for medical reasons - and my last was my best birth experience. While I didn't help pull Aston out (don't think I could do it - but that's just me) he was laid skin to skin within 2 mins I reckon. He was put to my breast, still covered in vernix... and stayed there while they stitched me up, in recovery, being wheeled back to my room - me and him skin to skin with a blanket over us both - snuggled and cosy and warm and safe - it was beautiful. I still get all *****ly when I think about it. I felt like it was just me Dh and Him, and there was noone else around... which is insane really - because I was in a theatre lol... but everything else around us just faded away... One of the theatre nurse took photos and video for us - there was a midwife with us, and in recovery I was lucky enough to have a theatre nurse who was studying to be a lactation consultant!! and all of this in a public hospital.

And while I agree that babies should be birthed how they are supposed to be, for those of us who can't do it that way - for whatever reason - having a protocol that allows for the best possible circumstances for a mother and baby to bond, feed, and feel good about their birth experience is fantastic. This is something that has only happened in recent years, as my first two births were entirely different - my DD (12years ago) I was in recovery for about an hour and half, and send her father with her to get weighed etc, so that one of us was with her... I had my first cuddle about 2 hours after she was born. DS1 was an emergency c-section - and after seeing him briefly after he was born, I didn't see him again, other then holding a photo of him for ten hours, which was when I first got to breast feed him as well. The nurse who was looking after me was too busy to wheel me up to special care!

Anyway - things have changed and for the better!!

**~mamaspice~** · February 19th, 2008, 06:12 PM

Hello Everyone

Thankyou for your replies so far. I just wanted to make it clear that I do not think that a maternal-assisted caesarean is a good alternative to a vaginal birth. Nor did I start this thread to promote it that way. A vaginal birth is the safest, most natural way of bringing a baby into the world and it is all I ever wanted for the birth of my DD. Unfortunately what I got was a horrid birth experience. Well I don't even consider my daughters comming into the world a birth experience actually. If you read my birth de-brief you will understand what I mean.

The birth of my precious girl Charli

Boy, what I would give to even know what a contraction feels like and to be able to birth my own baby and hold and bond with them straight away.

I will be doing everything in my power to have a VBAC for my next birth. But if for medical reassons I have absolutely no alternative but to have another caesar, then to me a maternal-assisted caesarean is the next best thing.

I just wanted to make this option known to those who, like me just may never have the option of having a vaginal birth.

**~StarBright~** · February 19th, 2008, 06:13 PM

I aploogise again if i got a bit too offended- sorry samantha, kelly has said what i wanted to say in a much more diplomatic matter!!

I think i am a little emotional today as this was a discussion i had today with a mid wife, so i was a little raw on the topic- sorry again!!

I am pro vaginal birth, but support c section when the need is there, i actually would prefer a vbac, and may still argue my point to my dr and attempt one, as i want the natural experience, however right now i am being encouraged to have the c section, and i was delighted to see that with this option i may get that bonding magic i feel i would be missing by having a c section.

Sorry again!!

**tiggerandpooh** · February 21st, 2008, 11:50 AM

for the sake of Charli'smumma - I just want to stick my hand up ladies and remind you that as Charlismumma already stated - she started this thread to give women who HAVE to have c-sections the opportunity to explore a possibly different avenue for them. She was sharing knowledge, and knowledge is power...

Different strokes for different folks... makes the world a far more interesting place.

**Hoody** · February 21st, 2008, 11:59 AM

Well said astnatlaur. After reading through the whole thread i was about to post something similar

I have had 2 CS's emergency and elective and did not know that this option was available although i dont think it would be for me the more knowledge the better so thanks for sharing charlismumma.

**BellyBelly** · February 21st, 2008, 12:08 PM

Let's get back to topic folks and can we please be respectful of people's choices, either way? I love helping people where I can too, but it's much more effective/useful where advice is being asked for. Perhaps we could start a maternal assisted c/s discussion thread in the general labour forums? I also love a good debate but everything must be done tactfully and respectfully - we lose all credibility when we stop using respect.

Continue on ladies...

**meow** · February 21st, 2008, 12:22 PM

I have to say I think maternal assisted c-sections are a great idea. What a way to empower the woman and child through the birth process when the means to go naturally aren't possible!

I'm actually glad to read of the 'negative' side of them of though as I really hadn't considered how they could increase the possibility of elective c-sections. It's given me some food for thought.

Currently maternal assisted c-sections seem to only be available to women who have a scheduled c-sec though so I'm all for these women pushing for a change... so that one day if any of us discovers we need one in an emergency hopefully the whole process will be different and maternal assisted c-secs will be available for all!

**Lily J** · February 21st, 2008, 12:23 PM

I'm only new to this section and I have to say that I'm a little disappointed to find the heading of "caesarean support" a little misleading...

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of "support"...

I thought Charli'smumma had a great question - sad to see that actual answers got overlooked in exchange for judgements...

Maybe we need to have a "caesarean" section for general questions/comments as well as a "caesarean support" section for people who don't want to be judged for the circumstances/decisions surrounding their birth...

Lily

**{sarah}** · February 21st, 2008, 12:30 PM

Lily, that is exactly what this section is for & steps have been taken to rectify the situation within this thread.

Kelly posted an apology when she realised which section this was in as well -

I have to admit, I accidentally posted here without looking at which section it was posted in, so that was my bad!

**BellyBelly** · February 21st, 2008, 12:53 PM

I've also posted saying let's move on, any more off track / unsupportive posts will be removed. So can we please move on and stay on track with the OP please.

EthansMumma · July 2nd, 2008, 11:31 AM

Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to update everyone on the surprise early edition to our little family!

At 35 weeks 4 days, I woke up at 3am with niggling stomach cramps. It felt like Braxton Hicks only a bit stronger and more regular. I tried to ignore it but it wouldn't go away. By 6am I realised that I was gripping the bed-head and focussing on my breathing as each contraction hit... time to take this seriously! So off we all headed off to the hospital, toddler still in her PJs and with no brekkie in her belly.

The only thing they could do at the hospital was just wait and see. If the contractions tapered off then it would be just a false alarm. If they got stronger then obviously it would be the real thing. So I ended up labouring all day. By late afternoon it became apparent that the baby wanted out NOW.

A caesar was hastily arranged for that evening (due to my previous medical complications, another vaginal birth was not advisable). I hadn't yet had a chance to discuss my wishes for a "Maternally Assisted Caesarean" with any of the hospital staff, as the birth was still meant to be more than a month away. Everyone in the operating theatre was on a STEEP learning curve as I explained to them how I hoped things would run. Thankfully they were all really receptive and worked together to improvise a way to make it work.

7.20 pm My "Maternally Assisted Caesar"...
My arms were scrubbed down with a sterilising solution, then a sterile gown was placed on me. The body section was cut off the gown so that I could have skin-to-skin contact with my baby. Then sterile gloves were placed over my hands. (They didn't have any long gloves available in the theatre, thats why they had to improvise the "gown-arms & short-gloves" solution.) There was no screen placed in front of me - I was able to see everything as it happened. The obstetrician made his incisions, and used forceps to deliver the baby's head. She let out her first cry as her face hit the air. Then he told me it was time for me to birth my baby. I brought my hands down and grasped her tiny body. I lifted her out of my belly, out into the world and onto my bare chest. It was AMAZING. No-one else had been able to see whether the baby was a boy or a girl, as I had placed her straight onto my chest. They all kept asking but I kept it my little secret for a few minutes before I told anyone

The paediatrician allowed her to stay on my chest for ages while they stitched me up. It was such an amazing, wonderful way to birth my child. I am still buzzing from the experience.

My little girl is now 3 weeks old. She came home from the Special Care Nursery a week ago and is breastfeeding beautifully! Despite giving me a big shock coming so early, everything has turned out wonderfully!

(I have some photos but cant for the life of me work out how to include them in this post... I'll blame that one on sleep deprivation)

P.S.
My baby was born in a private hospital in Geelong, Victoria. I was pleasantly surprised how little resistance I faced when I proposed the idea to my Obs at 25 weeks. A HUGE thankyou to all the women who have gone before me in having a MAC/S. I believe the info you provided was pivotal in convincing my Obs that this was a reasonable request. I would be happy to share more specific details with other women wanting to do something similar if you contact me directly.