Cesarean Births Video – Personal Stories – 22 minutes

1995. Available at http://www.injoyvideos.com/IJOneVolMultiVer.cfm?id=30 for $195

Interview –

Susan older caucasian mom – at first, I thought is was not a big deal – but it’s surgery

Meg. Older Caucasian mom – never thought it would happen to me (when saw movie in labor class – didn’t take it seriously)

Kathy – Hawaiian??  mom – wanted it to be somewhere warm – where first words he heard would be words of welcome (single mom)

Dani. African – American – ultimate goal is becoming parent of healthy baby

Around table interviews

Meg – and birthing assistant doula. Says had cesarean and VBAC

Ron (dad) and Dani (bi-racial couple)

Susan and Tom

Kathy and midwife Pamela – even though had to have dr, there for surgery

Complications can come up that lead to need for c-s even if take good care of self

Meg – first pregnancy, never asked questions, never interviewed dr, “whatever you think”.

Dani – interviewed several – looking for one who could relate emotionally

Kathy

Susan -

Meg – at hospital, walked the halls, but then they put me in bed, to check FHR, labor stopped, they wouldn’t let me eat, pitocin, extreme ctx. Had something for pain – made me feel so strange. Vomited. Got another medication – made me even more drowsy

Hadn’t urinated since morning when water had broken.

Even though I’m an RN, I didn’t stand up for my own needs

Lots of interventions whenever anything not going the way they wanted it to

Cervix swollen

Susan – in hospital for preterm labor. Had blood clots – abruption. Dr says prepare for c-s

Dani – bp so high I needed to go to hospital. They said c-s very strong possibility – we’d been aware of that for a long time

Kathy in labor for a while (7 hours – no good progress – did ultrasound – head extended, face presentation.

Reviewing Risks – infection, bleeding – signing consent form, blood tests, catheter, shave

Ron says seeing so much happening at one time

Susan said it helped to look in partner’s eyes, and have shoulders massaged. Emotional support. Dad says I wasn’t actually calm at all – laughed

Dad suiting up for labor. Down the hall to delivery room

Cold, bright, lots of people

You’ll hear about epidurals and how vulnerable woman feels – having to lie so still – needle has to be placed just so – anesthesiologist told me I might feel nauseous or might be shaky (one was nauseous – awful)

I had so many things on me: saturation monitor beeping continuously, bp cuff, blue drape. Dad says blood a little hard to take – a little weird for her to be talking with him while this happening. Another dad says very grateful for screen.

Doctors were talking with each other.

I couldn’t feel body being cut. Could feel pulling.

Shows head being lifted out of incision

Mom says I remember sounds, I don’t remember words

Midwife moved over to where baby was to welcome him

Because baby hasn’t traveled through birth canal, needs more suctioning

I was so thrilled, I cried

I don’t know what it felt like, but it didn’t feel like having a baby

I wanted to hold her and smell her, and I didn’t get to do that

I was given the choice of my husband was staying with me or going with baby

I kept asking for baby, and asking to nurse her. I’m so glad I spoke up for myself

They knew breastfeeding was important to me so they made sure it happened soon

I didn’t really realize I’d had surgery till I tried to get up the next day – major abdominal pain

You don’t realize how hard it will be to sit up and get up

I tucked the baby into bed with me

I had a lot of support from friends – I was exhausted. Didn’t realize how hard it would be to recover from surgery and take care of baby

It’s almost like you experience it as birth as performance, and then c-s is a failure

There’s a loss – you should be able to grieve. Find support group or supporters

Our goal was to have a healthy baby – I don’t feel like I missed a thing

Wasn’t until I was getting ready to deliver my second baby that I realized how important a vaginal birth is

Birth attendant talks about meeting a mom at home, and going with her to hospital, and avoiding going too early… mom has a nurse who was negative and insisted on her getting into bed… requested a new nurse – if you work with your body and understand what’s going on, it’s much better

Meg’s vaginal birth (shown from head)… it was exhilarating

Meg says “in active labor, it’s hard to process all that info. That’s why a birthing plan is so important, and so is a doula”

It’s important that you do talk to doctor ahead of time so you know what to expect

Very caring medical staff – very positive experience for me

Janelle’s summary – too long to use in normal class, and hard to break up into useful parts because of the way the stories are intermixed.

Probably good for cesarean class, but dated.

Cesarean optional after credits.

Reasons: FTP, CPD, Maternal Medical Complications, Fetal Distress, Malpresentation, Placental problems, prolapsed cord.

Anesthetized by epidural – shows it

Screened

Cutting and tugging apart tissues.

Baby taken out quickly, taken to warmer – baby brought over to you

May be able to have hand released so can touch baby

Layers of tissue closed with stitches or staples which will be removed before leave hospital

Taken to recovery room.

TOO FAST!!!!!!!!!!

1995