As someone who is newly experiencing the prospect of having a c/section, I became quite upset in my antenatal class tonight when most of it was about c/sections. She was explaining in the case of baby being fine and while mum is being stitched up and in recovery, dad and baby will be taken to the ward to wait an hour or two for me. All I will get is a quick cuddle before he is whisked away and I am left alone. DH repeated what she said about being separated and she just said "yes, that's how we do it". I couldn't even speak. My emotions are all over the place with this c/s / breech thing at the moment that I cried 3 times during tonights class (including watching a c/s dvd). I just feel like any control I may have had, is all out the window if we have a c/s.
What I don't really understand, is why they take baby away if he is fine? We want skin to skin, and we want to breastfeed ASAP, not 2 hours later. I don't understand how these hospitals call themselves baby friendly or breastfeeding friendly when they separate mum and baby so soon for so long.
Megan, what hospital are you going to?
Id suggest looking at the possiblilty of hiring a private midwife for the birth, so she can be with you in recovery - most common reason for speeration is that you need a midwife to be with you in recovery and they're not always avaialable
Te two reasons that I was given were -
1. It is to cold in recovery for a baby.
2. There is not a midwife available in recovery to be there for the baby if required, recovery staff are there for you.
Although I was told that as I was the last CS for the day that the midwife in the op with me could come to recovery with me as she wouldn't be required to set up and get ready for the next CS, my DD was taken directly to NICU so it turned out that I did not get to have her in recovery with me after all. It was so very important to me to breastfeed and not miss those precious first moments but it turned out that she had other plans.
Talk to your ob and discuss the importance to you, there ARE things they can do to accomadate you, if they choose.
ETA: I agree with rayray - if you can afford a private midwife, it is definatly the way to go.
I am hoping for a VBAC next time but I am trying to convince DH in spending the money on a private midwife to be there with me to ensure I miss out on nothing
Last edited by DaintreeDream; March 19th, 2009 at 09:05 PM.
: ETA listed.
I had a c/s nearly 4 months ago and I held bub as soon as she was born and then DH went and showed the grand P's while I was being sewn up but then bub was put on my chest in recovery and put on the breast and I held her the whole time! I was holding her when they pushed me back to my room and then she was placed in her bassinett and she never left my side at all - well only while they weighed her and did the blood tests they have to do - for the entire stay in hospiutal! Infact the following day I took over changing her and feeding her.
Id look into the hospital - as not all hospitals are like that at all.
I must admit that my emerg c/s was at 4 am in the morning and there were no others at the time so Im not sure if that made a diff or not??
rayray, I'm going to the Angliss in UFTG.
unfortunately hiring a private midwife is just not doable financially at the moment, especially with only a couple of weeks to go.
DD, I'll mention my concerns at my appt on Tuesday and see what she says.
Sterla, that must have been a bit of a shock. One minute he was there and then he was taken away. It upsets me now just thinking about it, and I just can't get it out of my head that it could have a serious negative impact after the birth as well.
KG, I wonder if it being an emergency c/s did make a difference? no idea! Mine would be considered "elective" due to breech presentation, so it could be a production line and busy.
i would keep stressing to them that you want a midwife with you in recovery, breasfbfeeding, skin to skin etc. your body heat if baby has skin to skin, and a warm blanket on top should keep bub warm int he theatre, its not like the baby s lying naked alone.
The way I see it and the way they explained it to me at my hospital is that if bub was fine then she was with me apart from weighting and measuring... and I had warm blankets and a silver tube put under the bankets that had warm air blowing from it... I was boiling so there was no way that DD was getting cold!
I would stress that that is what you want and if bub is ok then that what you should get!!
that's what I thought about skin to skin. even if the room is a little bit cold, your body temperature adjusts itself to keep baby warm, and if you can have a warm blanket over the top, it should be fine.
Last edited by Megan; March 19th, 2009 at 09:37 PM.
: can't spell
Megan - can I add, if worst comes to worst and you cannot have bubs with you in recovery. Do discuss with DH about your wishes.
I had asked DH that under no circumstance was anyone (family etc) allowed to so much as see a peak of my baby until I was there. I hate the thought of everyone sitting around bonding with my baby before me. I have heard of woman going under GA and coming out to grandparents cuddling there baby before they even saw them for the first time. To me this is horrible.
I don't mean to upset or scare you but it is best to discuss these things, just in case.
I do hope you get to have your precious baby with you.
I don't know why they do it, but this is what happened with my emergency c/s. DS was fine (but they checked him over first cause the c/s was due to fetal distress), they then brought him over to me for a few minutes. DH and DS then left. I was stitched up and in recovery - it was almost 2 hours before I saw DS again. I had no idea this would happen, and it still upsets me sometimes.
I have heard of other girls here on BB having better experiences where they get to hold bub and have skin-to-skin while they're being stitched up, etc.
I'm sorry I'm not more help. Good luck with everything .
Well- your story has prompted me to do my first ever post!!
I had two babies at the Angliss- in Sep 2004 and March 2006.
They were both caesarean deliveries- one due to a little breech boy, the other "CPD" (but who knows!).
The issue of separation was one of my biggest concerns. My first birth I'd attended the Birth Centre and was fortunate that the BC Midwife stayed with me throughout my c-section, recovery and back on the ward. This meant NO separation.
My second birth (breech) I was so anxious about routine separation that I started negotiating from early in the pregnancy.
Both births were beautiful caesareans with skin-to-skin AND breastfeeding in recovery- and no separation at any point except very briefly when my baby was delivered- to be wrapped up and returned to me, on my chest or held by my husband near me.
I would recommend making an appt with the Delivery Suite Manager- maybe even fax them- to discuss this and STRESS how important this is to you. Use all the stats about BF success etc. You need to assert yourself very respectfully but insistently that this is what you need for your birth and for your baby.
It has been done at the Angliss- I did it, it simply required a bit of staffing shuffling around.
This is a special moment of your life and your child's arrival into the world. It can be hard to deal with some of the emotions of a caesarean; but I believe having some control helps ease this. I can honestly say my birth experiences (&post natal too) at the Angliss were beautiful and my requests were met to ensure no routine separation.
Good Luck Megan.
Regards
Emma
ps- I also prenatally expressed colostrum with no problems. I will do so for my last baby due in July- (it's not silly, it is providing an option for feeding your baby should they need the extra feed)
Last edited by Meema; March 25th, 2009 at 12:34 PM.
: change terminology
I had an emergency CS. I got to see my son briefly and then he was taken away. I have been told that I will be having another CS if I have another "big" baby (HA! not likely). The only positive thing about my experience was that DH had strict instructions that NO ONE except him (and midwives)was to see, touch or hold my child. My hossie made it quite clear that baby couldn't stay with me. It was completely non-negotiable. In the event that I do need another CS the only way that I will agree is if 'they' agree that my baby stays with me.
My DH took video footage of Luke for me - it still upsets me to look at it. I try to tell myself that it was only 2 hours, but it was 2 hours that meant so much to me. Try very hard to negotiate with your care providers. It is amazing what you can get when you ask. I just wish that I had more energy to argue after 27 hours of labour!
Good luck. Do keep in mind though that no matter how baby arrives, you have given him/her life as well as 'birthing' them.
Megan they said the same thing in my hospital childbirth class, and I was/am upset about it too.
As far as I can tell, this is a cost-cutting measure on the hospital's part. They would need to provide a midwife (trained to spot problems with the baby) and a recovery nurse (trained to spot problems with you) in the same room at the same time. And they don't want to do that.
Now I think that's ridiculous, as the midwife who led the class said later that they are there to support us, no matter how long the labor takes, and they can be there in your room the whole time if you need that. Now, in other situations, you might be in labor and needing a midwife for hours and hours, not just the short time you'll be in recovery. So it's silly to suggest that they don't have the staff for someone to come be with your baby in the same room with you.
If I end up needing a c/s (uncertain, but kinda threatened for me, because baby is so large), I hope to express myself very clearly about this and kick up one hell of a fuss if they won't arrange things to allow me and my baby that time together. Even if we have to spend more time in the theatre or whatever. I will be priming my husband and my mum (who I expect to be there) to support me on this one too. I think it's important and I think it's probably one of those things that hospitals expect we will be compliant about, when probably we shouldn't be.
I suggest you discuss with your OB and anyone else you can think of, politely and firmly, until you get them to agree to what you and your baby need.
Meema, sorry I only just saw your post tonight. Thanks for sharing your experience with the Angliss and I am happy to hear that you had two positive experiences there. I am slowly coming around to the idea and will definitely be letting it known what my wishes are. The only thing I am concerned about now is that I will now be referred to an OB (as I am under midwife care) so I will have to start from scratch with someone new. DH is clear on how we want things to go, so if I am not up to it, I know he is capable of speaking up.
Do you mind me asking who your OB was?
shellbell, I was upset to read about your experience. Being told that it's "non-negotiable" is terrible. It's your baby, surely there should be some flexibilty. I can't stand being told there is no choice or being told that it's "hospital policy" when it comes to something as important as the birth of your baby. I hope your next birth is more positive.
Tenar, I think you are spot on and that it comes down to cost, and your point about how much time they would spend with you if you were having a VB is valid too. If they can spend4-5 hours with you in a delivery suite, then why can't they spare 2 hours for a c/s and recovery? I have found with my antenatal classes that we get 2 different stories. Last week we were told mother and baby are always separated after a c/s and this week (different midwife) we were told that it would depend on how busy the delivery suite is as to whether they have someone there who can stay with me.
We will definitely be pushing to have bub in recovery, but if it doesn't happen I think I have come to terms with it. DH has definite instructions and I will be asking to be out of recovery and back in my room ASAP.
Looking more and more likley I will be booking in next week. Bub doesn't seem to want to turn no matter how much I try and encourage him.
Just reading your notes re midwvies and VB - I was in labour for 27 hours before the c=section happened and I think I had the attendance of a midwife for probably 45 mins in total. I think it would depend on what type of hopsital you are at - I was at a public hospital in Central West NSW but I think unless you take a midwife with you you are unlikely to get much attention.
I think the other problem is when baby arrives. It was 1048pm when Luke arrived and I didn't get to him until 1am. The hospital had basically no staff at that time of night.
I am not trying to upset you - but I went into labour thinking I would have support from DH and the hospital staff and was disappointed. My mum was supposed to be there but had the flu and Dh was so upset by me being in so much pain that he was fairly useless in helping me fight for the birth I wanted, particularly when all teh doctors are telling you something else!
What are the reasons for separation after c/s?
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I do hope you get to have your precious baby with you.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the Angliss and I am happy to hear that you had two positive experiences there. I am slowly coming around to the idea and will definitely be letting it known what my wishes are. The only thing I am concerned about now is that I will now be referred to an OB (as I am under midwife care) so I will have to start from scratch with someone new. DH is clear on how we want things to go, so if I am not up to it, I know he is capable of speaking up. 
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