What Is a Gentle C-Section—and Is It the Right Birth Plan for You?
Many moms-to-be strive to make their birth experience feel as personal and special as possible. For those whose birth plan includes the possibility of a scheduled C-section, one consideration may be a gentle C-section. But exactly what is a gentle C-section? While it’s still a major surgery, a gentle C-section can offer moms a more serene childbirth, with the possible opportunity to have those skin-to-skin bonding moments typically reserved for a vaginal delivery. If you’re nervous about an upcoming C-section—or feeling disappointed about the more clinical setting—talk to your provider about whether a gentle C-section is an option for you. In the meantime, read on to learn more about this procedure.
A gentle C-section aims to take a more patient-focused approach to the traditional C-section surgery. Make no mistake—the actual procedure is the same. But a gentle approach is meant to bring parts of the vaginal delivery into the delivery room. “A gentle C-section is a surgical delivery that aims to make the experience more natural and intimate for the family,” says Jill Hechtman, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group in South Florida.
Nurses, midwives and doctors can do this in a variety of ways, like using clear drapes so that Mom can see baby being delivered. The ultimate goal of a gentle C-section is to offer the parents more involvement in the birthing process, which is something many people feel is missing from the typical C-section birth.
During a traditional C-section, a mom might feel a little separated from baby and the entire birth experience in general. There’s usually a heavy drape up so you can’t really see what’s going on, and baby is typically whisked away pretty quickly to be checked out by doctors. Basically, the whole thing can end up feeling a bit sterile. A vaginal delivery, on the other hand, offers parents more involvement with immediate skin-to-skin contact, a view of the entire birth and the ability to cut the cord. “The goal is to keep Mom and baby together as [soon] as possible,” Hechtman says.
A gentle C-section aims to feel more similar to a vaginal delivery. According to Michael Schifano, DO, MBA, FACOG, regional chief medical officer for midwest, Advantia Health and founder of Heartland Women’s Healthcare of Advantia, a major component of a gentle C-section is immediate skin-to-skin for Mom and baby. “Instead of taking baby immediately to a warmer, like they would during a regular C-section, as long as baby looks okay and is breathing well, they’re taken to Mom to let her have skin-to-skin interaction immediately,” he says.
Additionally, during a gentle C-section, Schifano says they can hang a special drape with a plastic window that allows parents to watch baby being born. “The whole table is sterile so you do have to take precautions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include the parents,” he says. He notes that as long as it’s safe, he’ll sometimes ask the anesthesiologist to drop the drape and put baby over it so they can look at each other. “That’s what we’re trying to protect,” he says.
Another difference is that a gentle c-section allows partners the possible opportunity to help cut the cord, which generally doesn’t happen with a traditional C-section since it’s a sterile environment. “When we have very involved partners, we will clamp the cord and tell them it’s a sterile field, hand the scissors to them and tell them not to hand the scissors back. Then they can reach in and cut,” Dr. Schifano explains. “The nurses can shoot photos with their phone.”
Other differences might be the addition of soothing music, handing the baby to the mom as soon as possible, and allowing parents to see the baby coming out of the abdomen.
The biggest benefit of a gentle C-section is that the parents get to be more involved in the birthing process. This type of close interaction is incredibly important for many moms and dads. “Nothing takes away from the first time that the mom and her partner see their baby,” Schifano says. “There’s a true benefit to having it happen immediately instead of 5 to 10 minutes later. It’s immediately a special experience. There’s no reason to take that away unless baby or Mom is in distress.”
And it’s true that Immediate bonding in the form of skin-to-skin contact is beneficial for both Mom and baby. Research has found that immediate or early kangaroo care can promote breastfeeding, induce earlier expulsion of the placenta, reduce bleeding, lower maternal stress levels and improve bonding. For baby, it can help ease the stress of being born into the big, wide, unfamiliar world.
There are also really no disadvantages to having a gentle C-section. The only thing to note is that if baby or Mom is in danger, the focus needs to be on keeping them safe over anything else, Schifano says.
If you think there’s a good possibility you may have a C-section or you have one pre-scheduled, and you’re thinking about a gentle C-section, it’s important to have some sort of birth plan in place. “Talk with your ob-gyn about your birth plan and let them know that this is something you’d like to try,” advises Hechtman. “Express to your delivery team your goals for how you envision your delivery.”
If you’re unsure on how to go about this, don’t be afraid to ask for ideas. Schifano says to talk to your provider about what you want to experience, ask questions and inquire about options. “Nine times out of 10, nurses will make recommendations, “ he says. “For example, they’ll say that if the parents want photos, they’ll take their phones and make sure pictures are taken. In the excitement, moms might forget. The nurses are good at taking that role.”
How to talk to your provider
Clear communication is important in any birth plan, including one for a gentle C-section. Start by asking your provider if the hospital has the ability to allow you to do a gentle C-section and/or if they’re able to provide curtains so you can see. Schifano recommends telling them if you don’t want heavy drugs and want to be present. Be clear and specific about what you want and ask them if they’re able to provide that. If not, find out what they can do instead.
Remember that even with careful planning and clear communication, childbirth via C-section or vaginal birth can be unpredictable. “It’s important to be flexible,” Hechtman says. “So many different things can happen that are out of your control, which is, of course, why we’re nervous in the first place. Trust your ob-gyn and the entire healthcare team.”
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Jill Hechtman, MD, is a board-certified ob-gyn and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group in South Florida. She earned her medical degree from the Ross University School of Medicine.
Michael Schifano, DO, MBA, FACOG, serves as regional chief medical officer for midwest, Advantia Health and founder of Heartland Women’s Healthcare of Advantia.
Acta Paediatrica, Skin‐to‐skin contact the first hour after birth, underlying implications and clinical practice, March 2019
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