Many bloggers have written incredible posts about the shocking cesarean rate, VBAC support, and resources for healing.
I’m not going to try to repeat what they have already so eloquently written.
I want to talk about the idea of family-centered cesarean birth.
I don’t attend many cesareans. The ones I’ve attended lately are so vastly different from the ones 5 or 6 years ago. Those involved babies sent to nurseries while mom was in recovery–sometimes alone. Waiting family members snapped pictures of this new life while mom caught only a quick glimpse in the operating room.
Now, I witness something astoundingly different. It is much more common to witness births in the operating room involving skin-to-skin contact, sometimes delayed cord clamping, moms with arms unstrapped, and recovery together as a family. Baby is often held skin-to-skin with dad when not on mom’s chest. Doulas are more frequently allowed to accompany the family for the cesarean.
Recently, one of my couples experienced a cesarean birth. After pushing for hours in every position imaginable, their posterior baby (with a 15 inch head, mind you!) was born by cesarean. Their medical team gave us all the time we needed to try every trick I knew. The couple was disappointed but they remained empowered throughout their birth experience.
They won’t be showing up for the 18 month cry.
I want to share a few of the pictures from their cesarean birth. The obstetrician called in to perform the cesarean was Dr. Danielle Harris. She immediately agreed to their wishes for delayed cord clamping and skin-to-skin. The family physician who had supported them through the birth was Dr. Keith Stafford. You know him on this blog as Dr. Polo Shirt.
Dr. Harris hands baby to Dr. Stafford who places him directly onto mom’s chest. He doesn’t dry the baby first or take a detour to the warmer first.
Dad steps in to help mom hold their son. Mom’s arm is free to touch her baby.
Here’s hoping that more babies who must be born by cesarean will experience a gentle welcome like this one.
Huge thanks to my clients for permitting me to share a little of their birth experience.
Inexplicable Ways 
My sister’s birthing class taught her that, if there were an unplanned C-section, one way to “still have a choice” would be to request the doctor to ask permission the moment before taking the baby. This may help some moms keep some of that empowered feeling…
It is so refreshing to see the change! I recently had a mom end up with a c-section and it went much the same way. A needed reform!
What a great story! Hope more mamas and babies get this treatment!!
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