Doulas in the Operating Room

sumama · 06-27-2007, 09:09 AM

I'm just curious. Another thread on another website got me thinking... how common is it for Doulas to be "allowed" in the OR for a c-section? I've not been allowed in one yet, but according to some other Doulas on another website it's common where they live..

earthgirl · 06-27-2007, 09:18 AM

I did not vote. I have not had the experience of a c/sec ...yet. But I don't think I would be allowed in if partner was present (they only allow one person in OR), but I think it would depend on the anesthesiologist. If the c/s was planned and you had his OK before hand. I would hope that I could support Mom after the birth, if Dad went with baby.

missilla · 06-27-2007, 09:27 AM

did not vote. i have yet to be faced with a c-section. i had one myself but no one was aloud in the room but my DH

AussieDoula · 06-27-2007, 09:37 AM

Our operating rooms are tiny! I doubt they could physically fit an extra body in there even if you pulled out all of your determination and put your foot down, lol. For safety and sheer maneouverability, they only allow one person to accompany mama.

Tiffany · 06-27-2007, 10:00 AM

There is only one support person allowed in the ORs here. I've gone in once for a teen that didn't have anybody with her.

UtahDoula · 06-27-2007, 10:06 AM

There's no option for my experience, which is sometimes I get in and sometimes not. Sometimes I only get in because I am the only support (or because dad declines because he is afraid he'll faint) and sometimes 2 people are OK. Even within the same hospital it changes. It all seems to depend on the whim of the anesthesiologist.
But off the top of my head, I think I've been in the OR slightly more times than I've waited outside. Maybe 3 times I've waited - 5 I've gone in - including one set of twins born vaginally in the OR.

tlcdoula · 06-27-2007, 10:09 AM

I have been in the operating room along with the support person and then as the sole support person, but it depends on the hospital. There was also one birth that I wasn't allowed into, so for me it really varies.

1stimestar · 06-27-2007, 10:13 AM

I have been allowed in when I was the only support, as well as after delivery when dad goes with baby, but this last time I was allowed in with dad. Talk about crowded though... I don't know why they let me in this time or if it will now be standard. It may have been because dad slept though a lot of the labor and they could see he was not that great in the support dept.

teachinmamaof4 · 06-27-2007, 10:24 AM

You beat me to it Susan! LOL I was going to post a similar thread b/c that other one had me curious.

I've only had experience at one hospital here so far. As an extra support in addition to the partner, doulas are not allowed in the OR.

The only exception I've seen so far is with the Dr my preceptor has a good relationship with. We had a transport (homebirth turned breech at 41wks) and he told the mw she could come into surgery with her clients. The anesthesiologist said no but the Dr talked to him and talked the anest. into it. lol The Dr had her stand right by him so she could see the procedure.

BirthBuddy · 06-27-2007, 11:15 AM

I have been in for 3 Caesareans, but each time I was the only birth partner. I don't think I would have been allowed in otherwise...

I watched the last one (the first 2 MADE me stay behind the screen) as the screen was low and I was a bit to the side and I was FASCINATED by it.

I would still never chose to have one though!!

DoulaRena · 06-27-2007, 11:16 AM

I've been allowed in at different hospitals, it seems to depend on the Doctor(s) or if the nurses like you well enough to push having you in there.

I also let my parents know during the prenatals if this becomes necessary and if they would like to have me in there they need to request it, so it's not just some pushy doula... and that I like to go in because once dad goes away with baby to the nursery (unless we fight to keep mom and baby together) then I want to remain with mom, running interference when mom is in recovery (so dad knows mom is well, and mom knows baby is well)... and get them reunited soon!

Mile High Doula · 06-27-2007, 11:41 AM

I have been in for c-sections both as the sole support person and accompanying the mom and dad/partner. I am not allowed all the time and hear the same excuse (they only allow 1 person or the rooms are tiny). That's just a cover actually. Most rooms are plenty big because they have to be able to deliver twins or more in there and that requires more room. It's up to the Dr. and the anesthesiologist on whether or not you go in so usually I have my clients ask them.

I have also had clients use some bargaining power such as, "If my doula can't come in, then no students or other non-essential personnel are allowed in." That line works ALOT. I don't encourage them to "threaten" but I have told this story during prenatals and they must pick up on it.

jesscardona · 06-27-2007, 11:47 AM

Here I guess it would depend on the Dr. and the hospital.. my sister is having a c-sec for her twins, and she asked her dr. if her doula could be in there.. and the dr. said no, that she would have enough people in there including her dh and all the extra people that twins required!

sumama · 06-27-2007, 12:26 PM

Interesting. Thanks for all the responses. I guess I just haven't come across the right Dr. then. No one has allowed me in yet. Of course, maybe I need to tell the moms in our prenatals from now on that if they want me in the OR (if it ends up going that direction) they need to request it. I'm mainly dissapointed because my last client had her baby vaginally but in the OR and I should have been there! They wheeled her back for a c-section, but checked her one more time before the put the epi. in and started to cut and low and behold the baby was right there about to come out!! so she pushed him out in the OR. The mom didn't get pictures of the baby being born or anything

she had a professional photographer at her birth and the actual birth wasn't even photographed

DL · 06-27-2007, 12:47 PM

I've had two of my moms have Cesareans so far, each at different hospitals. Both moms had dad present in the OR. I wasn't allowed in at one hospital, but I was at the other. For the one that I did attend, mom was exhausted and fell asleep after the baby was born and dad went to the nursery with baby. I stayed with mom, and as she slept, the OB showed me her uterus and fallopian tubes. No, I really didn't want my client to have to go through a Cesearean, but for me it was a very cool experience educationally.