The Family Centered C-Section

There are three different kinds of cesarean sections (c-section).

• The first would be the Emergency C-Section. This term is usually the one that is most misused. An emergency c-section will be done in the case of emergency (ie. within minutes of being diagnosed)  if there is time to sit around and discuss it then at that moment it is NOT an emergency c-section (we will get to what type that is momentarily). Those types of c-sections can turn into an emergency, but in the case of most emergency c-sections general anesthesia will be used and you will be being wheeled to the OR as they tell you what is happening because the situation is so serious.   
• The second would be a Medically Necessary C-Section. These are usually scheduled in advance or are done for things like "failure to progress" quickly enough to a doctors wishes. They are not elective (that is the third kind) but they are done because of a condition either the mother or baby suffer from. 
• The third is an Elective C-Section. This is one where it is not an emergency and there is no medical indication for it but for whatever reason a mother has chosen this as the manner in which she would like to birth her baby.

The most common forms of c-sections are elective and medically necessary (medically can often be misnamed emergency). Emergency c-sections are thankfully pretty rare. In the case of an emergency c-section a family centered style is usually not going to be an option because the mother is usually unconscious and the father is not permitted in the OR. For medically necessary and elective a family centered will often be available if requested. This video is of a "family centered c-section" I do not own this video, I found it on YouTube you may find the link here if you wish to look up more info.

There are very rarely going to be any reasons why a hospital cannot offer a family centered c-section, but you still may find it difficult if you are the first person at your hospital to request one. However, these are clearly more beneficial for the mother, baby and father. If your hospital of choice or OB doesn't offer family centered births there are several options:
1) Find a new hospital
2) Ask your OB if they know what a family centered c-section is and if they have ever done one (write out specifically your wishes and show them this video). Depending on their answers you may need to find a new OB. However, if an OB is interested in doing one and you feel like they will really honor your wishes (and you have a doula present to help advocate for you) there is no reason not to let them (unless of course you just don't feel comfortable).
3) Talk to the administrators at your hospital of choice. Sometimes they simply have never thought of changing their systems because they don't know there is a better way. If you can get hospital policy changed that will benefit many women to come.

Sometimes a c-section is not only necessary but also beneficial to mother and baby. If more hospitals across America will begin implementing this system I believe we will see more women satisfied with their births, and more confident in breastfeeding as well as mothering in general.