• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

What is a family-centered or gentle C-section?

06/28/2018 by Brigham and Women's Hospital Leave a Comment

gentle c-section discussion

What is a “gentle” or “family-centered” C-section?

Anyone who has had a traditional cesarean section, or C-section, can tell you that the mechanics of the surgical procedure can distract from the celebration of bringing your baby into the world.  During a traditional C-section, the mom and child are frequently separated in the moments after birth when a connection to one another is especially important, both for the health of the baby and for bonding purposes.

Now there is a new option available called family-centered, gentle C-section, or “gentle-C.” This practice began in an effort to make your C-section experience as close to a natural birthing one as possible. Doctors have tweaked this traditional surgery by:

  • Using double drapes which can be lowered to a clear surgical drape, instead of the solid one, so that you can now watch your baby being born
  • Placing EKG leads on your back so that you can hold, interact and provide, almost immediate, skin-to-skin contact with your baby in the moments following birth, which research has shown to have important benefits for both mom and child
  • Background music of your choice to make the environment more comforting

Is a gentle C-section always an option?

In certain situations, a gentle C-section may not be recommended, but your physician can advise what type of delivery is best. If you are planning to undergo a C-section, talk to your doctor about whether or not this option is available for you.

http://healthhub.brighamandwomens.org/the-gentle-cesarean-a-new-option-for-moms-to-be#sthash.J4McCC29.dpbs

William Camann, MD, is the Director of Obstetric Anesthesia at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Louise E. Wilkins-Haug, MD, PhD is the Division Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Genetics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Filed Under: Pregnancy Questions Tagged With: c-section, caesarian, Cesarean, Childbirth, gentle c-section

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

05/11/2021 By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

03/28/2019 By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

home

How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family

11/21/2022 By Sammi DeRosia

baby shower

Just had a baby shower? Here’s how to store your new gear

06/29/2022 By Sammi DeRosia

Footer

Copyright 2021 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • Best Parenting Books: 28 Books That Will Change Your Life for the Better
  • Aligned Parents webinar
  • How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family
  • Just had a baby shower? Here’s how to store your new gear
  • Are You Ready to Adopt A Child? Here Are the Top 7 Indications 

Search

© Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT