What do you think about a Caesarean Birth Support Person/Attendant

[~mamaspice~]

Hi Ladies, do you think you would have/would benefit from the services of a Caesarean Birth Attendant? (additional to your partner)

Someone who can be an advocate for your wishes regarding the type of caesarean birth you want. Someone who could video/take pics of your bub whilst you are in recovery (if bub cannot be there with you)or perhaps even video the birth, or someone who can stay and support you whilst in theatre and recovery if bubs & DH have headed off to the nursery. Someone who can lend an ear with debreifing your birth experience and support you during the post natal period.

I am in NO WAY trying to promote caesarean birth here. I just feel that cs mums can be somewhat disadvantaged and I know that I think I would have really benefited having the extra support during and after my cs birth experience.

Any thoughts welcome

[BellyBelly]

Melanie Cane has doula'd a few c/s - perhaps she could post in here.

[~mamaspice~]

Oh cool! Would love to hear Melanie's thoughts!

[PinkPalace]

If the hospital will allow it - then go for it.
However from experience working in anaesthetics for c/s i know that it is usually not an option for a number of reasons.

* the theatres arent that big and already have average 6-7 + mum and partner in there already to perform the procedure.
* There is more often than not time for a nurse to take photos for you(i always made a point of doing this for the births i attended)
* it adds another infection control issue having another person not scrubbed in
* There is a lot of communication between anaesthetics, the surgeons, ob, midwife, scout and scrub nurses and another person speaking in the middle of a procedure could cause choas and distract the staff from doing what they are trained to do.
* recovery is not a place for another person (advocate or not) to be standing about, it is usually an open room with other patients, often indecent in their clothing due to close observations and i think it would be inappropriate to have someone standing there just so they could tell the NUrse (which is not always one on one) what to do.

But like i said, i am all for it if the hospital you are going to allows it to happen.

[kirsty_lee]

I would of loved to have someone else. they made me choose between my mum and dp to come in when i wanted them both so mum had been with me and dp through the whole labour process right through, and in the end didnt get to see the birth.. it sucked

[~mamaspice~]

Oh Kristy-lee, to you.

PP, I hope you didn't misunderstand me. I'm certainly not incinuating that a support person would be trying to tell the medical staff what to do in recovery etc. I just felt it would be very upsetting for a caesar mum to be lying in recovery on her own for an hour or so whilst her partner and baby are down at the nursery and that it would be nice to have a familiar face sitting with them at the head of their bed. I did not realise recovery was one big open room without particians. I was out to it when I was wheeled to recovery (I had a general). And when I woke up out ot the anaesthetic crying the recovery nurse was right there and my student mid, my DH and my mum all came into recovery straight away with my little girl and she was placed on my chest before wheeling us down into one of the delivery suites to attempt a first b/feed. I can't imagine what it would have been like if I'd woken up and and had not been able to meet my baby and see DH & Mum straight away. Especially as I was so emotional when I came to.

[Lulu]

I think you are totally entitled to that sort of support, I suppose its just up to the hospital. I can certainly say I wouldnt like to be alone without my baby any time, having a hand to hold would be nice if you had to wait and see bubs...
Melanie - where are you??!!! he he

[PinkPalace]

spice - not at all, i am not leaning either way, i was just trying to give an insight on why they wouldnt perhaps let another person in a c/s
Recovery for a spinal is usually only about 20 minutes anyhow if all ok(general anaesthetic might be longer - but then there would be no one there - not even DH present as you would be asleep). As you know

It is hard as yes it isnt a single room for each patient in recovery - and usually family are brought in when you are well enough or come to enough to notice

but i definately understand - especially in an emergency sense when it isnt a book c/s and makes it all that much scarier!

[{sarah}]

I would have loved someone in recovery with me. The first time I was on my own as it was 1.30am but it wasn't too bad as I slept for a lot of it having been in labour for the 36 hours prior. The second time I was also on my own, maybe because it was a Saturday? This time I was wide awake just starting at the clock wondering when I could see my baby.