The natural caesarean: a woman-centred technique

[whitleysgirl]

I wish my c-sections had been like this. How wonderful!

[amazonqueen]

@cassiecolg never heard of ICAN but I will definitely look it up. Thanks for the information.

[Peacho19]

beautiful

[whatruin2]

why would a stranger care if another stranger has a natural or none natural birth? why being pro one or the other method? let's mind our own business and judge only our own decisions. And for those that had a c section: you dont need to justify anything to anyone. It's your body, it's your choice.

[lauraoldacres]

thankyou so much for posting this video. i had my third c-section last week and wrote my birth plan from this video. it was a wonderful experience this time and i was lucky to have supportive care providers, who were happy to facilitate skin to skin in theatre along with everything else i requested. thank you for making this more natural experience an option for c-section moms.

[brendaf103]

Wonderful video! I love this team of doctors!! I had a c section and although I had a wonderful experience it definitely was nothing like this. There was no participation allowed.

[birthspring1]

Fantastic! I have to have a cesarean with this pregnancy (I have had a total of 8 uterine surgeries, making a VBAC much more risky.) I am not looking forward to the surgery, but I am sending this to my OB in hopes that he will agree to do this. I am also a doula and childbirth educator, and see how helpful this video could be. Thanks!!

[LPASolutions]

I commend this team for implementing such a wonderful practice for C sections! This is the best case scenario for parents when vaginal birth isn't possible. What also needs to change is the mind set that mothers have failed in some way when they don't have a "natural" vaginal delivery!!! As an Neonatal Intensive Care nurse, I've seen countless vaginal deliveries go horribly wrong because parents had refused a C/S. Lets focus on delivering our babies healthy in the safest setting possible.

[amazonqueen]

I had complete placenta praevia and was hurriedly put into a emergency c-section. I was asleep and was unable to see my baby until the evening the next day ( had my son in the morning, so it was about 36 hours later) If this was an option I would have loved it. The experience left me feeling strangely empty for a long time, because I didn't feel like I had the full "experience" having my first child. I was told that I would never have "natural" childbirth, that makes me sad. I would love natural

[cassiecolg]

@amazonqueen You sure can have natural child birth after a cesarean. I just had a wonderful home water birth after a cesarean not 2 weeks ago and it was one of the most amazing things I have ever done! As long as your placenta is in a good location next pregnancy and there are no other complications (ie- gestational diabetes, pre-ecclampsia) I would say go for a VBAC! Have you checked out the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) ?

[kipperklock]

pre eclampsia stopped me having a natural home birth and resulted in an organised unhurried section that was so unlike this one. if one is destined to have a section then doing it in this manner is more preferable and better for all involved. id like to see this practice copied in all hospitals .

[MonkeymagicsMum]

I'm going to ignore the ignorant comments below (acidstars9, rfoxxi) and say that caesarean is ALWAYS going to be necessary, like it or not, and it will always save lives where vaginal birth is not feasible, and this is the way to go, if only it had been available for me in 2004. And for those that disagree, perhaps they like the idea of a dead baby and maybe even a dead mother as well in the mindless pursuit of 'natural', vaginal birth with scant regard for the consequences.

[acidstars9]

It should be called a "gentle" cesearean, but not a "natural" cesearean. Cutting a baby out of the womb is not natural.

[hcjfctc]

While I'm a huge advocate for natural birth (had 2 home births myself), unfortunately we live in an imperfect world and c-sections are necessary in some situations (complete placenta praevia for example) and this is exactly how it should be done. Cesareans should rarely be done, but when they are done, this is how they should be done!

[kimmills83]

this makes me so sad. my c section was the opposite of this and i believe it caused my post natal depression. i already felt like a failure and i just wanted to hold my baby. im having another baby in 3 months and they are talking about another c section, which just makes me cry. if i have to have one i want a natural one like this. but knowing my hospital they'll prob just say no and keep me and my baby seperated all over again. another fail for me :-(

[BeaDandelion]

@kimmills83 You dont have to have a CS... contact a local midwife or a local ICAN group. If you cant find one, contact the local Le Leche League. There are plenty of alternatives. I have many friends who have had VBACs

[MonkeymagicsMum]

@kimmills83 Congratulations! Perhaps you need to speak to your midwife asap and tell her of your wishes, make sure you get this info down on your birth plan and you can always send them this link so they know what you are talking about! My experience tells me that if you expect something without asking you won't get it, you have to be explicit about what you want. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you get the best birth available in your circumstances, and don't be afraid to ASK!

[kipperklock]

@kimmills83 -get a doula darling. you have a voice and you must make yourself heard. you can have what you want but be prepared and well read so you know ALL your options

doula.org.uk/

[lovelara2]

Wow. they make c-sections sound so natural and normal...

How did we let such a sacred event such as birth become so sterile?

Still, in the event of a c-section, this seems a more compassionate approach...

[reoz7]

I love this video!!

If I ever get another c-section I want it to be like this<3

[rfoxxi]

I think a more appropriate name is required- there is nothing NATURAL about a Caesarean.

[sjbirthclass]

@rfoxxi Yes, there is nothing "natural" about it...but by that "closed minded thought" I guess there would be "nothing natural" about saving the life of a baby and mother who have the unfortunate complication of a complete placenta previa. I would hope it is natural to save our mothers and babies. This is a beautiful video that can give woman back their lives and allow them to enjoy their birth! If it needed a new name (which it does not) it should not what you suggest.

[stephaniebuzzella1]

Does anyone have any sources of information to add to this video? I want to bring as much supporting information to my OB as possible to try to have this type of procedure for my c section in December. Thanks in advance.

[Xakana]

This is amazing, but I had to stop watching, because now I'm just bawling about how this is what I asked for in the event of a cesarean with my first and when she was actually born that way, they wouldn't do ANY of it. Not even lowering the drape or giving me my baby while they stitched me up. It was as dehumanizing as it could be.

[tuckers2plus2]

I love this option, and I wish it was done for EVERY non-emergency c-section. In our local hospital, mom and baby are separated for an hour or more after surgery. No other options.

One thing I saw with this video and with every c-section is how "stoned" mom looks after birth - she is holding baby and she loves her child, but there is just something missing. It's like her emotions are in a numbed state.

I had a c-section of twins and know that feeling. Disconnected. The medications alter mood.

[andyjxcn]

Good!

[samsarahmail]

These requests should be part of every mommas birth plan - in the case of a necessary section.

[royalbuff123]

OMG....every little baby is such a miracle. Lovely

[midwifeleslie]

Will you possibly be able to make it available to purchase a copy of this DVD. I would love to buy it for my clients to view.  Awesome!

[torchwoodangel]

i so want my planned section to b like this althou tbh i am not expecting my nhs hospital to be quite so accomodating. Defo gona mention my wishes thou at my next apmt in 2 wks time!

[201roadrunner]

I am basically floating right now!!! One of my clients shared this with her OB and he advocated to make sure that this was the kind of birth she got! (She had a complete previa, thus the need for the c-section.)

[LeslieDoula]

That is AMAZING! I worked as a surgical assistant for OB/GYN's at hopsital and saw hundreds of sections. I have never seen a more desirable way for a team to give Mom and Dad a fantastic birthing experience during the invasive surgical method. Absolutely wonderful!

[artvamp]

I showed this to he midwives at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and asked them to show it to the doctors and policy makers. They are now implementing these same methods on all scheduled c-sections! YAY! If you want change, let your hospital know. Share this information. It can happen! And thanks so much for posting this!

[kcparker]

@artvamp That is so great to hear! I am a doula who frequently attends births at UIHC, and those midwives are the BEST (and the OBs aren't far behind them, apparently)!

[akoons76]

I loved this video! I am desperately trying to find a dr in the states that is willing to do this. I most likely will need a cs with my next baby. I brought the concept up to an ob in my area and was refused. I refused to have a cs with my last baby because I was unwilling to give up the opportunity to hold him immediately and see his birth. This was to both of our detriments, but still I would not submit to a cs without the ability to see baby being born and holding them immediately

[ZwillingsMonde]

barbie ist giving birth... omg!!!

i love my five homebirth kids, twins at last ;-)

[jobeehill]

I love the attempt to simulate a vaginal birth process for the baby and family centered approach to a medical, surgical delivery... What I find absurd is coining this approach a "natural cesarean". Not all natural processes are necessarily "good" ones, as medical processes, like surgical birth, are not inherently negative. To confuse the two is to lose the meaning here; there are many natural (vaginal) births that are not done in a family oriented manner. - certified nurse midwife

[seksee1986]

I wish my csections would have been like that

[purpleturtleday]

I had a natural c-section second time round, after a traumatic emergency c section first time. It was so valuable to me and my husband to have such a calm and loving start to our baby's life. I don't think anyone chooses surgery lightly: a vaginal birth involves so much less healing, but wasn't the right thing for us. This was definitely the next best thing, and was actually a lovely experience.

[richardinventura]

Very well done, thank you! My wife is a birth doula, and teaches birthing classes in California. We would buy this video from you,were it available as a DVD!

[rach03k]

What an amazing video. I wish my c-section had been like this.

[susanalexander2]

Love this! I wish my cesarean could've been like this....

[newlynappynat]

Fantastic video, already spreading the word at the Antenatal classes that I teach in London!

[jentlechildbirth]

So pleased that there is so much feedback on our latest video. Please do follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all our other educational videos that we plan to launch and keep in touch with us.

[KaelaCarver]

Now all we need to do is lower the c-section rate to what it should actually be, and we've got a GREAT system here.

[MrsWJAA]

If I'm ever required to have a c/s for medical reasons, I would be more comfortable with this mode of cesarian than what is typically available. More hospitals should look into this, especially for non-emergency sections.

[Lissa10279]

My C-section December 18, 2010 was very similar, although I didn't see anything--wouldn't have wanted to, either. I couldn't physically hold my daughter but my husband put her in my arms and held her above me and we had skin-to-skin the whole time I was being sewn back out. As soon as I went to recovery, I breastfed. It was a beautiful experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[mylovesofmylife]

This was good

[clearyfam]

This was exactly like my c-section experience! Wish more women would know that not all c-sections have to be so "medical" and cold. My only regret was not doing more research on OBs and looking at their c-section rates in the first place...

[rachiekins]

This is an absolutely amazing video! I really hope this is adopted UK-wide for sections.

[MrsWJAA]

@rachiekins I hope it is adopted World-wide, not just UK:)

[rachiekins]

@MrsWJAA Very true! It would be great if this were the norm for sections all over the world! :)

[keelyshires1612]

This is so lovely to watch and keeps the mum so involved in the birth. a truely refreshing viewing.

[claff09]

Beautiful. Incredible. Needs to be done everywhere! Thank you for sharing!!!

[AnnaxAcid333]

My C-section was horrible.  Separated from my baby for hours and hours. My next four births AT HOME were wonderful!!!!

[hjeannejohnson]

@deliciouspear -- I am a doula and have been allowed in the OR twice.

[hjeannejohnson]

@deliciouspear -- I am a doula and have been allowed in the OR twice.

[deliciouspear]

I'm wondering if a couple had a doula - would they allow the doula in the OR?

[manteifan]

Fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



[youratlantadoula]

What a beautiful birth video. Thank you for sharing your birth story, as well as the concept that cesarean can, and should be, more family friendly than it currently is. As a doula in the USA, I can tell you that this is NOT the cesarean that I witness time and time again. Sadly, moms and babies are often separated for hours, even in situations of preferred cesarean (not emergency, elective or scheduled, but it seems that this may be a good option given the current status of labor.

[stephaniered87]

Okay, I have a few problems with this video. Obviously this was a scheduled C-section and although I don't know why it was scheduled, it bothers me that they didn't give a reason (that I could hear anyway) why she was having it.

The other thing that bothers me is this: this was NOT an emergency c-section. From what I've seen, most emergency c-sections are done because the baby is in distress and has to come out NOW. Many times moms are put under general. So most moms won't experience this.

[TinaaLee]

@stephaniered87 i think the point of the video was to demonstrate what a family orientated/natural c-section was like. That would be why they gave no reason for the section, i suppose they didnt find it relevent. Also I had an emergency section and it was all very relaxed. The vast cases of 'emergency' sections arent exactly emergencies. This is just a term that shows it was unplanned. It does make it quite confusing though lol! Also women can have sections for all kinds of reasons.

[TheKikintina]

@stephaniered87 If you watched the entire video, the OB/Surgeon specifically mentions that it is for elective (or planned, which the woman alludes to when she says "I should be used too all this by now") cesarian sections.

[Micandme97]

I'm having my 4th c-section in a week. My first two babies were breech (first one, we didn't know until my water broke and I was in transition). One of my c-sections was MORE like this, but still not AS family-centered. I wasn't put under for the first (semi-emergency), but it was still scary! Emergencies are emergencies, and I want a safe baby as first priority. My next 2 were more relaxed and could have been like this. Hoping this one can be more like this.

[gatorgirl11]

Wish I had seen this before my 2 c/s.

[hypnomamasharon]

Is there anyway that I could get a copy of this video for my classes and/or to share with OB's in my area?

[jmcqbigler]

Thank you so much for showing this I was trying to find a family centered c-section for my natural childbirth classes so my student know there are more option if they need a c-section. Passing this on!!!!!!