That was my reaction when I read a recent post by my friend Ananda Lowe who writes a blog, thedoulaguide, about childbirth issues of all sorts. (Disclosure: she is also my co-author on a book we wrote on how to have a fulfilling and fully-informed birth experience.)
Ananda explains that a new “natural cesarean technique” is being developed here in Boston at Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
While talking with my friend Dr. William Camann, director of obstetric anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston, I was surprised and excited to learn that he recently helped the hospital adopt components of what is being called “the natural cesarean” technique. Bill is co-author of the book “Easy Labor: Every Woman’s Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth,” and the Brigham is Boston’s largest maternity hospital, so its adoption of these methods is good news. In the past, some mothers reported feeling “a disconnection from their cesarean baby because they did not actually see or feel the baby born,” according to the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). The natural cesarean technique offers parents the option of viewing the emergence of the baby if they wish. (For years, ICAN has been a pioneer in proposing guidelines for family-centered cesareans, as well as advocating for other reforms related to the use of cesarean sections—I encourage everyone to support their work!)
I spoke with Camann today and he said the preferred term for the new technique is “family-centered Cesarean,” or “gentle Cesarean.” The concept has been evolving for several years, he said, with some elements of it — like early skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby in the operating room — becoming more standard. The newest element — a clear surgical drape that allows the mom to actually see the birth — just started a few months ago. “To my knowledge, the Brigham is the only hospital doing that,” Camann says. “It was my idea; the patients love it.”
A “natural” or “family-centered” Cesarean section. (Photo courtesy Dr. Bill Camann)
But a bird’s eye view of a surgical birth isn’t for everyone, he added, and some new moms don’t want to see anything. “You pick up cues from the patients and other providers,” Camann says. “It’s very much a judgement call.”
Here, Camann offers more details on the technique:
A growing movement is attempting to make the cesarean delivery a more natural, or family-centered, event.
Modifications of the standard technique include:
· Early skin-to-skin contact in the operating room (with either mom or dad)
· A slow delivery (with intent to mimic the “vaginal squeeze”) Continue reading
