Another couple reasons I've found for not doing STS in the OR:

-Moms don't WANT to.  I've tried with many, but the truth is that most of
them feel just horrible, especially if the OB exteriorizes the uterus for
closure.  They feel shaky and nauseated, very vulnerable just lying there on
the OR table, and not at all ready to physically handle their newborn at
that point.  

-Logistically, it can be difficult to get it set up.  I can't really
describe this without sounding like a possessive crackpot, but *I* feel very
out of control if I have additional people up in "my" tiny workspace at the
head of the bed.  And it's been my experience that moms need someone to
physically help them in order to feel secure, and dad is almost never
feeling comfortable enough to assist.  The nurse is usually "busy with other
tasks", and I really can't have someone else standing up at the head of the
bed anyway.  

So dad usually holds/cradles baby while mom is closed, and I help get the
baby in for frequent nuzzles and kisses from mom.  Mom then holds baby in
bed with her while we transfer her back to her L/D room and then they can
usually start nursing right away there.  Not ideal but most babies can get
latched on within an hour of birth.  I talk up STS with parents (I love
having a captive audience for the duration of the surgery) :) but it's not
at all emphasized at my institution.

-Sarah Reece-Stremtan M.D. (anesthesia resident who ends up spending far too
much time in cesarean deliveries when on call)

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