When we get pregnant, one of the most recurring thoughts is the birth of our baby. We dream of a positive and respected birth experience, and we look forward to everything going well. Therefore, when complications arise or it becomes necessary to opt for a cesarean section, we tend to feel overwhelmed, because in most cases it is not the birth we dreamed of.
In addition, archaic hospital protocols still persist where the woman cannot be accompanied, and mother and baby are separated after birth. Luckily, more and more hospitals are joining the concept of a humanized caesarean or provinculus as part of their respected delivery protocols.
And it is that although the cesarean section is not an easy path, the experience can be wonderful and positive if the means are put in place for it. And that’s how these four mothers wanted to share it with us: four stories of respected and humanized caesarean sections that have marked the lives of these women.
“Being able to see how my daughter was born was something I will never forget”
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Raquel is from Valencia and she wanted to share with us her experience with the cesarean sections of her children, born in 2012 and 2015. Her pregnancies had passed normally, but after several hours with contractions and uterine activity, they had to perform a cesarean section because she did not dilate .
“I had been in labor for many hours but had not delayed anything. I was exhausted, and when the doctor told me that I had to go for a cesarean section I felt stunned and very scared , but my gynecologist quickly reassured me. With great tact and affection he explained to me what the operation consisted of, and asked my husband if he wanted to go into the operating room with me “
Her first child came to the world in a respected and accompanied cesarean section, although Raquel says that three years later, with the birth of her second daughter, the protocols had changed so much that the cesarean section was more humanized if possible:
“During the operation, the doctor encouraged me to sit up to see how my daughter would come out , and it is something that I will always be grateful for because it marked me a lot. Also, unlike the first cesarean section, this time it was not my husband who held her in his arms. our daughter but me. The nurse put her on my chest when she was born and we were both skin to skin while they sewed me. “
“I wanted a vaginal delivery after two previous cesarean sections, but it couldn’t be. Still, it was a wonderful experience.”
When Almudena became pregnant with her third child, she sought out a doctor who would respect her wish to have a vaginal birth despite her two previous cesarean sections. Along the way, he met a midwife who told him something that would change his mind, and helped him deal with his third cesarean in a positive way:
“The midwife told me that we all want a dream birth, but that it is important to be flexible and adapt to the new reality when things go wrong . This reflection helped me a lot to face my third cesarean in a different way, because when the doctor told me that I would have to go through it again, initially I fell apart “
And it is that although the gynecologist who had carried Almudena’s pregnancy respected her desire to attempt a vaginal birth , the data released by the latest monitors led this mother to undergo surgery once again:
“The monitors came out altered and the baby had to be taken out as soon as possible, although without urgency. As it was not possible to induce labor due to two previous cesarean sections, another cesarean section had to be scheduled. But this time I faced it in a different way, because the fact that it was a Caesarean section scheduled and not emergency, -as happened to me the other times-, it gave me peace of mind “
Almudena’s cesarean section was humanized and respected. Her husband accompanied her at all times, and also a trusted midwife whom she had hired in the final stretch of her pregnancy, and who was a very important emotional and physical support for her:
” Having by my side and exclusively a trusted midwife was wonderful . At all times she told me what was happening, and she treated me with incredible affection, although in reality the entire medical team did, especially the anesthetist who was there. very aware of me at all times “
“When my son was born I could not put myself to the breast because some complications arose that forced my husband to leave the operating room with the baby . But at all times the humanized delivery protocols were respected and he was not separated from him to measure or weigh him; they did later in the room, with us present.
“During the time I was in resuscitation, the anesthetist was very aware of me, and the midwife came and went telling me how my baby was and being interested in my condition. She even suggested taking me colostrum so that the father could offer it to him using the finger-syringe technique. , in case my stay in resuscitation got longer. “
“After two traumatic deliveries, the cesarean section of my third baby helped me heal my wounds”
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Monica’s story is very different from the ones we have just shared, because it was she herself who chose the cesarean section to deliver her third child , after two previous vaginal deliveries that left her with very traumatic experiences.
Her first childbirth took place in León, where she resides, and she has painful memories of him. Monica affirms that she suffered obstetric violence , her husband was not allowed to enter the delivery room, he had a large episiotomy that later became infected, and her baby suffered a broken clavicle at birth.
For her second childbirth, she moved to Madrid in order to live a different experience, and although she felt listened to and respected by her doctor at all times , she could not enjoy a good delivery either, as her son was born very large and as a result of this presented shoulder dystocia and brachial nerve rupture. This and subsequent factors plunged Monica into a postpartum depression from which it took time for her to recover.
“I had such a bad time that despite wanting a third child it took me a long time to decide. So when I got pregnant it was clear to me that I wanted to live a humanized birth and enjoy their birth; something that I had not been able to do with my other two children. “
Added to the traumatic experiences she had had was a clotting problem that makes Monica’s pregnancies risky, so all this led her to consider the option of choosing a cesarean section to give birth to her third child , and to do it again in Madrid.
“Initially, the gynecologist encouraged me to give birth naturally because I had already given birth twice and told me that it was a pity that I opted for surgery. But in the review he made me in week 38 it was seen that my The baby was macrosomic, and it also came with two turns of the cord, so in the end he decided to do a cesarean section “
Monica affirms that at all times she felt cared for and listened to, and that the respect that both the doctor and the midwife showed her has made her heal the wounds from her previous deliveries . In addition, she underwent a humanized cesarean section, her husband was able to be by her side, and both he and her baby accompanied her during the four hours that she remained in resuscitation.
“My son was born a week ago, but my recovery is being very good, and I know that it is partly due to the emotional state I am in. I am very happy and that influences. I have finally been able to enjoy my postpartum my newborn “.
“After a dehumanized cesarean section, I was able to enjoy the birth of my other two children”
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And I also want to add myself to the testimonies of humanized cesarean sections by recounting how the cesarean section of my third child passed , because unlike my first experience, this was a wonderful moment that I want to share with you.
For medical reasons (uterine malformation and thrombophilia) and two previous cesarean sections, I knew in advance that my third cesarean section had to be scheduled , so I had time to prepare a cesarean delivery plan and discuss it with my gynecologist.
He was the one who also treated me in my second cesarean section, and although that experience was wonderful, respected, humane and full of affection on the part of the entire medical team, an important piece was missing: the accompaniment of my husband.
And that was how I faced a caesarean section again, the third for me and the first for my husband , who also had full freedom of movement to sit next to me or stand up and see how the doctors worked, witnessing the precious moment when they took our son out of my womb.
Throughout the entire operation, the medical staff acted with great delicacy and tact , informing us clearly of what was happening, speaking in a soft and respectful tone of voice, and worrying about me at all times.
Unlike my first cesarean section, my arms were not tied, so I was able to hold my son as soon as he was born. The minutes in which the three of us merged into a relentless hug and kisses were magical, but unfortunately short, as I suffered a sudden drop in blood pressure due to a hemorrhage and my husband had to leave the operating room in a hurry with our baby in his arms. .
Still, the matron explained how it should be placed on the chest to make skin to skin, and lowered the blinds in the room to dim the light and make the room more welcoming for the newborn.
Due to the complications that arose, I had to spend more time in resuscitation than desired, although at no time did I feel alone. When they finally brought me to the room, my baby greeted me crying in my husband’s arms , covered in vernix and naked. At that moment I put him to the chest and we never parted again.
