Hmmm. Interesting, but I have some concerns. 

Being a C Birth mom, this option did not seem very appealing to me. My first 
labor was 57 hours, with then, 3 hours of second stage, and Sarah did not 
even reach the 0 station. I then had a C Section. The Second baby, 
Rebecca,  26 months later, 26 hour labor, 2 hours of pushing, baby almost 
reached +1, but no further. (I have an android pelvis.) My third baby, 13 and 
11 years after the first two, respectively, was a planned, section, based on 
my body signs and evidence that Hannah's lungs were mature and she was 
near term.

Quote from the article: Why, for example, did they need to be done so quickly, 
when slowing them down would give the parents more chance to participate in 
their child's delivery and might give the baby a gentler experience of coming 
into the world? 

My response: I didn't want my babies to get any more of the medication from 
the epidurals with the first two section, nor from the Spinal (much stronger, 
IMO) with the third. I felt the morphine and fentanyl hit me like a ton of 
feathers, and told my OB, "Please, get the baby out, I don't want all that 
morphine getting into the baby's system." He agreed, (I was already on the 
table and prepped) and Hannah was out in about 2 minutes. She had no signs 
of drug exposure. A regional anesthetic is necessary during C Section, but I 
think most mothers really don't want all those drugs getting to the baby. I 
know I didn't. The drugs do eventually get to the placenta, the cord and then 
to the baby, so getting the baby out quickly is a concern. 


Article Said: Why, too, was it so important for the parents to be screened off 
from the mother's abdomen? And was it really essential for the baby to be 
whisked off for an immediate medical examination, rather than delivered into 
the arms of his mother?

My response: There was a screen. My doctor put a mirror up, so I could see 
my children born, though. But, my husband was free to stand up and look over 
the screen, and with the last baby, invited to come around to cut the cord, 
after Hannah was born. Keeping a sterile field IS still important. 

The article said: "What I realised was that caesareans were done a certain 
way because they've always been done a certain way, but in fact they can be 
done differently - and in a way that parents love," says Fisk. Other doctors 
are sometimes shocked when they hear what he is doing. "They say, but 
surely you have to get the baby out fast so she can get oxygen straight 
away? And I say, when the baby is being born she's still attached to the 
umbilical cord and is still getting oxygen from the placenta. 

My response: None of my children were put on O2 "right away" in fact, they 
weren't put on O2 at all. They were placed next to my cheek, quickly 
examined at the Peds table, and then handed to my husband. (We found out 
after Hannah nursed, about 20 minutes after the birth, they didn't even waste 
time putting a diaper on her. She got my dh with the first stream!) As for the 
U Cord, yes, the baby is still getting O2 through it, with a prolonged C Section, 
as well as any drugs that Mom is getting through the IV, the Spinal or the 
Epidural. 

My babies were born wide awake, aware and pretty happy. Perhaps this 
method may be for some, but I do have reservations. When C Section was 
inevitable, I wanted my babies then out of my body ASAP, so they would be 
safe, and so my husband and I could hold her, and so I could nurse them. 
Also, I react rather unfavorably to regional anesthetic. My BP bounces around, 
I get terribly nauseous, I would not want the experience to last any longer 
than it already does. 

Also, many sections are done due to distress, either in the baby, the mother 
or both. I can't see prolonging a C Section in any of these cases. Also, if there 
isn't distress, there is rarely reason for a C Birth. 

IMO, this Method would have very limited use. A C Section is not a "normal" 
way of giving birth. It happens to save lives. (If done for the right reasons.) In 
many cases, there is simply no time to spare. 

Your mileage may vary. Just my view, having been there three times. 

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLL
Private Practice 

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