Gentle C-section

I thought this Q&A by Michel Odent at Mothering.com might be of interest.

Q: We now find ourselves preparing for a cesarean birth. We are wondering what things would be helpful to keep in mind/plan for/request in order to have the gentlest birth possible considering the circumstances.

A: The best way to deviate as little as possible from the physiological model of birth would be that the medical team is comfortable with the principle of an elective in-labor cesarean. In other words, the medical team would accept to wait until the day when you are in labor to perform an "in-labor non-emergency cesarean." This way it is a guarantee that the baby will have given a signal indicating that his or her lungs are mature. We know today that the baby participates in the initiation of labor. Furthermore, during labor contractions, the baby is exposed to hormones that make more complete the maturation of his or her lungs. This is why, as all pediatricians know, there is an increased risk of respiratory problems during the days following a cesarean performed before labor starts. And—we never know—if you have the possibility to be in labor with nobody around but an experienced, low-profile, and silent midwife, the birth might go faster than what you can imagine. Many women who gave birth by cesarean to their first baby because the pelvis was much too small give birth easily by the vaginal route to their second baby—if they are in a situation of absolute privacy.

~s~