Doula Support For Cesarean

[tlcdoula]

Well, I am happy to announce that I have just had two births in two weeks (in fact, it was two weeks to the day I haven't had two births that close since last December, and I loved it LOL Both births were threw the hospital I work for, so no fears or worries about anyone overlapping or anything. Honestly I hope to start averaging two births a month at the hospital because that would be so nice, but of course there are no guarantees because it truly is the luck of the draw on who is on call the day a mom goes into labor. Although with the mom yesterday I told her it must have been fate that we would be working together because when she was admitted last week I was on call too, and got the alert that a birth might happen that night. She went home and then the next time I was on call (yesterday) she came in again.

One was a vaginal birth and the other was a cesarean, and the cesarean yesterday I actually watched. I have been to three other cesareans, but never watched them for fear of getting sick or passing out since I freak out when I see stitches, cut myself, etc. All I can say is WOW. I found it to be so amazing. At first I started just taking peaks over, and then found that I was able to watch, and actually told mom what was going on which she loved (dad was right by mom's head so there really was no room for me, but mom did keep looking over at me and watching my eyes - she told me this later - she said my eyes were "smiling and she knew she was okay.")

So has anyone here watched a cesarean in real life? If so what did you think?

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula So has anyone here watched a cesarean in real life? If so what did you think?

I REALLY would like to do this, too! I have supported Cesarean births all the way through the prep and wheeling Mom into the operating room. I stay to help dad prepare until he goes into the operating room, then patiently wait until Dad comes out with the baby (I'll usually wait right at the door so I can hear baby's first cries). He and a nurse then take the babe to the nursery until mom comes out of recovery. Dad and I usually end up waiting in the PP room until mom comes out of recovery (I've never been allowed in recovery either...but worse...neither has Dad). Then, I stay a while for Postpartum support.

I do feel like I'm always treated as a professional at the hospital except for this one instance (Cesarean birth). I truly do not understand why doulas are frequently not allowed to attend the Cesarean birth along with Dad. I was told it has something to do with their JCAHO policy and a limitation of # of support persons in there (being just ONE). So....why not treat me as the Childbirth Professional that I am and not count me as just another 'support person' who just walked off the street??!!!

Sorry for the rant.... I'm trying to get my CNM friends to find me a way in there!!

[DL]

I got carried away with my 'pity-party'....sorry! I do want to say "Congratulations on 2 births in 2 weeks!!" That is really great, and I can almost hear the joy in your typewritten words!!! Good for you!!!

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula_Lori I I do feel like I'm always treated as a professional at the hospital except for this one instance (Cesarean birth). I truly do not understand why doulas are frequently not allowed to attend the Cesarean birth along with Dad. I was told it has something to do with their JCAHO policy and a limitation of # of support persons in there (being just ONE). So....why not treat me as the Childbirth Professional that I am and not count me as just another 'support person' who just walked off the street??!!!

First of all never be sorry for ranting LOL. It makes us feel better when we do it. As for what you said above - yes they might treat you like a professional, but it is obvious they do not view you as one - as in viewing you as an equal. I have always had a problem with that!!! Of course, I am NOT saying you are doing anything wrong - to the contrary I am sure you are very, very professional, but what I have found is doctors, nurses, anesthisiologist say and treat people one way when it is a vaginal birth and completely another way when it is a cesarean birth.

As for me - this was my fourth cesarean. I have been able to go in for all of them, but only the two at the hospital I work for was I let in right with mom - meaning when mom walked from the postpartum room to the operating room I was right by her side. Dad had to wait and then they brought him in later on, but I was there for the spinal and everything. The thing is for me this is a little different because I am a hospital employee, so we get a little more "priviledges" LOL

[Kim Trower]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula So has anyone here watched a cesarean in real life? If so what did you think?

Yes, 2 of my clients had cesareans. I have watched both just because it intrigues me and this last one recently the doc let me take pics of the uterus (outside the body) it was wild to say the least. The smell kind of bothers me but other than that it's pretty crazy. I think the moms need even more support in these situations because they are not in control, they can't see what's going on, they can't see the baby immediately, and they are strapped down..how scary, I can only imagine.

[tlcdoula]

Oh yes, I totally agree - how absolutely scary. The cesarean I was just at though the mom saw the baby as she was emerging. It was awesome - as they started pulling baby from mom's uterus they lowered the drape and the anesthesiologist lifted mom's head so she could watch her baby being born. It was the most amazing thing ever!!! The took baby out and flipped her onto mom's chest just like a vaginal birth. Mom and dad got to see the sex of the baby and announce it immediately. Mom got to give her about three or four kisses and then they took her off mom's chest. The drape then went back up.

[Kalamazoo Doula]

Yes, I witnessed my first c/birth last week! It was amazing! The doctor and midwife (who was assisting in the birth) allowed my to move around and get different angles of the birth! At the point the baby was coming out, I was about a foot behind the midwife! Nothing about the surgury bugged me, I was worried when we first started to go in, because it had been awhile since I had eaten, but there was no time to get something! But I stayed cool as a cucumber (well I have to admit, I really don't like the masks, they can get hot). This did not surprise me, because when I was younger, I really wanted to be a surgeon!
I still would take a vaginal over a c/birth, but it was an honor that the anestisiologist allowed me to come in!

Luckily I'm employed by the hospital where I am a doula. Our doula program is hospital based. So I'm allowed in to all c/s even the emergency ones, where the dad isnt even allowed in. Our docs, nurses love us..the surgery crew used to complain at first but now they know that we aren't leaving so why argue about doulas in the OR.

[susan1]

Wow! I have never heard of a mom seeing her baby came out on a cesarean birth before.

Susan

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula Oh yes, I totally agree - how absolutely scary. The cesarean I was just at though the mom saw the baby as she was emerging. It was awesome - as they started pulling baby from mom's uterus they lowered the drape and the anesthesiologist lifted mom's head so she could watch her baby being born. It was the most amazing thing ever!!! The took baby out and flipped her onto mom's chest just like a vaginal birth. Mom and dad got to see the sex of the baby and announce it immediately. Mom got to give her about three or four kisses and then they took her off mom's chest. The drape then went back up.

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan1 Wow! I have never heard of a mom seeing her baby came out on a cesarean birth before. Susan

Yeah.....I thought that was cool, too! If a momma has to have a Cesarean birth, then if at all possible, that's the way to do it!