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Childbirth

Natural C Section

20 replies

009 · 04/07/2007 11:35

I saw a doc on TV some time ago describing something called a Natural C Section. Anyone else see it or heard of it? Or better still anyone ever experience it? Just wondering how widely available it is.

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Luxmum · 04/07/2007 11:38

What's a NATURAL c-s? Where your belly opens up itself?? Where you ahve major abdominal surgery with no drugs and just some deep breathing exercises? Sorry, never heard of it, maybe someone else out there in MN will enlighten both of us?? I had a CS, nothing natural about it, it's still surgery..

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hippopotamouse · 04/07/2007 11:44

I think I watched that on tv a few months ago.

They make the hole they take the baby out of a bit smaller, mum pushes a bit and the baby gets squeezed out, bit by bit, I think it takes longer and is more gentle for mum and baby.

Its supposed to help with getting baby alert and breathing faster as it would if it was delivered vaginally. I think! It was a long time ago!

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muppetgirl · 04/07/2007 11:45

I'm sorry but that sounds absolutely hideous to me!

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Klaw · 04/07/2007 11:46

It's what i'll be demanding if I ever have to have a CS again....

Natural C-section. There was also some footage of it on the Channel Five Live birth programme. It was amazing to see how much of a difference it could make, and seems so logical to me in situations where it's not a dire emergency. So many 'emergency' Cs are actually just perfomed as unplanned CS after labour does not go to the HCPs plans.

CS is still less safe than vaginal birth and should not be undertaken lightly.

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hippopotamouse · 04/07/2007 11:47

Here's an article about it here

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hippopotamouse · 04/07/2007 11:48

God I'm so slow at typing, Klaw got in there first!

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Klaw · 04/07/2007 11:58

Never mind Hippopotomaouse! Great minds think alike It's something I pounced upon as soon as it was published, as a VBACer trying for a normal birth is important to me, but making the best of a CS can be just as empowering.

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suwoo · 04/07/2007 12:01

I had elective at largest maternity hospital in Manchester. When I asked about a natural C section I was nearly laughed out of the room and told not a chance!! When it came to the delivery, I was told (much to DH relief) that they wouldn't even lower the curtain, never mind the other natural aspects of it, due to cross contamination.

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lljkk · 04/07/2007 12:08

According to the time table in the link below it took 5 minutes from first sighting of baby out of abdomen to baby being totally out in the "natural Csection". How much faster is it in an ordinary elective Csection?

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hippopotamouse · 04/07/2007 12:08

It seems like a good idea from the babies point of view but I don't really know why anyone would want to watch!

My DP was so shocked from having a wee peek 'down there' when I was delivering ds that I didn't want to look when the midwife asked me!

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Klaw · 04/07/2007 12:09

That's a shame Suwoo, pity they couldn't have at least contacted Prof Fisk for advice etc to try to help you achieve what you wanted.

Unfortunately their costs and targets are more important than your mental well being

and then there's the mentality of "we've always done it this way" so they don't like to research any other ways which may be beneficial to mum and baby. After all it's not like the mum and baby are important, the Trust's targets and figures have priority.

Cynical, moi? just a tad!

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009 · 04/07/2007 12:12

Good lord Suwoo. How dissapointing. That's not encouraging news for me. I had DD by em CS and unlike many so called it was actually an emergency. I declined the offered CS when it was suggested to me as my baby was in Brow Presentation. I was so against the idea of CS that even after 3 days of labour I wanted to give birth normally. It didn't work out. DD got stuck and was in so much trouble that I was given GA. It took 40 mins plus vontous just to get her out through the section. I'm so hung up about my next baby doing the same thing. I was told that Brow was very rare but I know a lady who had all 3 in brow. I couldn't take that emergency again. So that's why I'm interested in elective CS and the so-called 'natural' CS.

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muppetgirl · 04/07/2007 12:13

Have just read most of the article but still feel it's not really for me. I can understand the slowness resluting in a calmer expeience and the benefits if this, I just don't like the idea of being able to to see a head coming out of my tummy whilst the rst is still inside

I think the rather large incision would put me off but then I am a girl who doesn't even like bloodtests....

Great, if that's what you'd like but I think it's definately not for me.
..also, what about the husbands? WOuld you like to watch heart surgery performed on your own dh?

Thanks for the article though was very interesting!

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Klaw · 04/07/2007 12:19

009 my first emCS was a brow presentation after an augmented labour. Very often induction, and in particular ARM, will create poor presentations. Were you induced? Had your waters broken?

For my VBAC labour started spontaneously at 42wks cos I point blank refused induction (which is far riskier on a scarred uterus anyway) and my waters broke naturally during labour.

I don't believe that your previous experience would automatically be repeated.

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suwoo · 04/07/2007 12:33

The natural CS just seemed so perfect as a compromise as I was unable to have vag del due to complications with DD 5 years ago. Klaw, I agree with your cynicism, it was exactly like 'this is how we've always done it'. Even on my gynae consultants recommendation, they were loath to do a section at all, so I suppose beggars can't be choosers.

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009 · 04/07/2007 12:42

No the brow pres. wasn't due to induction. My waters broke naturally at 37.5 weeks and labour commenced albeit very slowly from there. I was told that it would be very unlikely to have another one in brow but as I say a lady I know was told the same when her first was in brow "oh it won't happen again" but it did. Twice!

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Mintpurple · 04/07/2007 12:56

Have a look at this

www.birthrites.org/OliverBS.html

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Klaw · 04/07/2007 13:10

Fabulous Mintpurple, thanks for posting it! I'm off to show my VBAC board now......

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Caroline1852 · 04/07/2007 13:20

Sigourney Weaver in Alien kept popping into my head whilst reading the account of natural c-section. I am having an elective c-section a week on Monday..... I hope the surgeon keeps the screen up!

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funkimummy · 04/07/2007 13:31

lljk - it's slower! with an AHEM 'normal c -section' the incision is made, sack opened (like a tesco's carrier bag! ) and then they pull the baby out. That's it really!

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