As a mom, you’ve probably seen all sorts of new trends when it comes to pregnancy and delivery. You’ve also probably heard of gentle C-sections and wondered, “what are gentle C-sections, and would they work for me?”
Well, we’re here to answer all of your questions about this newfangled form of delivery!
What are gentle C-sections?
In regular C-sections, doctors deliver the baby by making an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus, and delivering the baby that way. Compared to natural delivery, C-sections can have more complications, bleeding, and infection. But for the most part, with the advances in modern day medicine, C-sections are safe and most moms have nothing to worry about.
However, regular C-sections are still a surgical procedure, so all protocol regarding safety, cleanliness, etc. are strictly followed. This means that unlike vaginal births wherein the baby can be cleaned immediately and given to the mom for breastfeeding, moms who undergo C-section need to wait before they are able to start breastfeeding and bond with their baby.
A gentle C-section has the best of both worlds. It takes some techniques that are commonly used in vaginal births and apply them in a C-section setting. In a gentle C-section, the surgical drapes are lower, so that parents can see their child being born. The baby is also slowly removed from the mother’s abdomen, and parent’s requests such as playing music or dimming the lights are followed.
Another big change that happens in gentle C-sections is that mothers are given just enough anesthetic to numb the pain so that they feel comfortable, but not too numb.
The great thing about gentle C-sections is that there’s not an increased risk compared to a normal C-section, while it provided better breastfeeding rates as well as a better overall experience for the mother. It feels less like surgery and much more closer to a natural birth.
Is it right for you?
The great thing about gentle C-sections is that the process can be done instead of a regular C-section without any problems or major concerns. So long as the hospital offers this service, and if your doctor gives you the go signal, then you can safely have this procedure.
Honestly, the hardest part of having a gentle C-section is finding a hospital and doctors who are able to do the procedure. Since this is a relatively new procedure, doctors have to create safety protocol to help ensure that the risks are minimized whenever they do this procedure. It also requires training which not all doctors have.
As always, it’s best to consult with your doctor and ask them if they recommend a gentle C-section since they’re the ones who will be able to gauge if a procedure is right for you and your baby.
Source: edition.cnn.com
READ: WATCH: What really happens in a gentle C-section?