Cesarean sections are the MOST common surgery performed in the world.  There does seem to be quite a bit happening in the world of cesarean sections right now.  I’m  not saying that because I’m excited in any way about their overuse.  But it seems that some doctors and hospitals are making more of an effort to create an environment where Moms, Dads and babies can bond immediately after birth.  This is an effort I am ECSTATIC about and hope others will get on board as well and pass all this wonderful information along. 

I’m not a fan, in the least, where our c-section rate is in America. 33% is WAY to high a number.  After we reach about 15% in c-sections rates, we stop seeing mortality rates change which means just because we’re doing more of them doesn’t mean we’re saving more lives. I do recognize though that there is a time and a place for them.  Absolutely!  How WONDERFUL it is that c-sections CAN and DO save lives.  

On top of that, c-sections are safer than they’ve ever been.  Now, there is a down side to that.  That being that women are feeling more comfortable requesting a c-section (because of fear of birth really) believing that because its safer many of the risks won’t happen to them.  But, unfortunately they still do.  

Below is an EXCELLENT video I show in my childbirth classes.  Of course, the changes that are taking place to help bonding with families during a c-section are happening in the UK but my hope is that this can also happen in the United States.  I even thought about downloading this video and passing it along to our local doctors here with the hopes they might investigate a more natural approach to c-sections.  

My hope is that an awareness of how we’re treating Moms and babies during c-sections will open for those performing the c-sections.  My hope is doctors/nurses/hospital staff will recognize and apply in action the importance of emotional stability and clarity ESPECIALLY for the woman being given the c-section.

I remember when I spent a month in the ICU, I was IMMENSELY grateful for the doctors/nurses who compassionately explained to me what test they were doing BEFORE they did.  I think its easy to forget, in our society, that our babies are living, feeling, sensational beings who are entering this world hoping and expecting to be LOVED in a gentle way.  To treat them otherwise is nothing less than abuse.  And this abuse imprints on their brains and their systems as LOVE.  They then spend the rest of their lives believing that abuse equates to love. 

All of the withdrawing our babies from their mothers and then returning them only after tormenting them is TRAUMATIC for both Mom and baby!  It instills LIFE LONG pain and wounding that can take YEARS to work through.  

I understand that there are times when a c-section is very needed but I believe it doesn’t have to be so harsh and cruel.  That we can be tender, gentle and kind.  Its IMPORTANT that we all REMEMBER that ANY test on baby can be done RIGHT in the mother’s arms.  There is NO need to take babies away from Mama’s.   

Chris skin to skin RIGHT after birth with Mabel

Even when resuscitating a baby, you can leave baby right next to Mom.  In fact, keeping Mom close by with the umbilical cord intact can stimulate a quicker response from baby to breathe.   Babies actually regulate themselves when they are skin to skin with their mothers.   

Mabel resting skin to skin with Daddy

Dean holding Mabel skin to skin

This is the information as stated in the Natural Cesarean video below.  I appreciate how well he/she states the importance of creating immediate bonding between Mom and baby.

“Although much effort has gone into promoting early skin-to-skin contact and parental involvement at vaginal birth, caesarean birth remains entrenched in surgical and resuscitative rituals, which delay parental contact, impair maternal satisfaction and reduce breastfeeding. We describe a ‘natural’ approach that mimics the situation at vaginal birth by allowing (i) the parents to watch the birth of their child as active participants (ii) slow delivery with physiological autoresuscitation and (iii) the baby to be transferred directly onto the mother’s chest for early skin-to-skin. Studies are required into methods of reforming caesarean section, the most common operation worldwide.“

HERE is a link to a very informative transcript where a doctor named James Prescott, Ph.D. called “The Origins of Love and Violence and the Developing Human Brain.” James is discussing the effects of withdrawing an infant monkey from its mother immediately after birth.  It does have LONG term effects.  I recommend you go and read the whole transcript.  

“We often miss the impact fear and anxiety have on human development. Fear has been used by our religious systems for centuries to control pleasure. Today the medical and scientific community use fear very effectively to keep woman, her pregnancy and birth under their control. We force them to do all sorts of unnatural things. 

Having her lay flat on her back during delivery, for example. No other mammal gives birth on its back. We know that premature cutting of the umbilical cord is damaging and the benefits of placing the infant to the breast of the mother right away, and of maintaining close physical body contact. 

But the medical profession routinely intervenes and takes the baby away from the mother. Deny direct contact with the mother and we set the stage for fear, anger and rage right at the start. No other mammal separates the newborn from its mother at birth.”

Isn’t this what Harlow did back in the 50’s – he separated mothers and infant monkeys at birth with devastating consequences?

“We need to begin before Harlow. Rene Spitz, John Bowlby, and Wayne Dennis noticed that many children reared in orphanages or institutions had arrested emotional, social and intellectual development. Bowlby found a link between these early separation experiences and later delinquency—findings that my cross-cultural studies, which we will go into later, supported.

Spitz noticed that these many of these institutionalized infants, who had the best medical and physical care but no “mother love”— nobody touched, held or hugged them, had depressive and autistic-like behaviors. Spitz called this Marasmus—sickness and death due to depression associated with loss of mother love. With deprivation of physical affection and body contact, which is the biology of love, these infants and children withdrew into their own world and in extreme cases, they gave up and died.”

HERE is a link to an article called “10 Tips for Avoiding a First Time Cesarean.” Her tips are right on and very helpful to avoid a c-section.  You should find it very helpful to aid you on your journey of creating a BLISSFUL birth experience.

Just as we strive to make birth, in and of itself, more compassionate for all involved….I believe c-sections should be no different.   Even in the rush and anxiety with a baby in distress, we can open ourselves to a tenderness that is VERY needed for the survival of the life that is striving to be saved.   

My prayer is that we not forget who we REALLY are as human beings.  That we are truly deeply feeling and connected people who LONG for soft touch, warm skin and arms ready to envelope and LOVE us at any moment.  As we remember this, I believe we can change ourselves to help create a more peaceful, giving, loving world.

In Peace, 

Rachel

Delivered safely by caesarean with his mother’s hands  

(Click words above to go directly to the article)

Assisted caesarean: Naomi Chapman just seconds after using her own hands to give birth to her son, Thomas.
Photo: Eamonn Mcnulty

How I helped deliver my baby boy