Recovering from a Gentle C-Section: What to Expect

It’s estimated that somewhere in the neighborhood of one million women in the US undergo C-sections every year. Some women choose a C-section for various reasons, and others end up with it as the only safe choice for mother and/or baby.

At both Physicians for Women and The Madison Midwives in Madison, Wisconsin, our board-certified obstetrician/gynecologists and certified nurse midwives offer C-sections for both groups of women, and strive to provide what’s known as a “gentle C-section” that leaves you feeling in control even if your birth plan didn’t go exactly how you thought it would.

Traditional C-sections

Traditionally, C-sections are a cold, sterile experience that can leave moms- and dads-to-be feeling nervous, scared, and out of-touch with what’s happening. When a woman chooses a vaginal delivery, she’s often offered a cozy room with gentle lighting, music if desired, and a team of support people or family present.

When the birth is by C-section, whether planned or because of emergent details that make a vaginal delivery unsafe, everything can feel quite different. Because a C-section is a major surgery, it has to take place in a surgical suite, which is naturally sterile and brightly lit so the doctor and nurses can see what they’re doing as they safely deliver the baby. 

In most hospitals, a drape keeps parents from seeing what’s going on, and their baby is often taken away right after birth for various tests and evaluations.This can lead to new parents feeling extremely disoriented and disconnected from what is one of the most powerful and meaningful moments in their lives.

The gentle C-section

Our skilled obstetricians and compassionate midwives have been working together as a team to offer a new and better way to manage the C-section process, known as the gentle C-section. 

While we do have to conduct your surgery in a surgical suite, we ensure it’s not bare, cold, and sterile. We allow more people in the room than a normal C-section normally does, so you can have your team around you and work to create a calming and relaxing ambiance. 

When it’s time, we make sure your IV goes in your non-dominant arm. We keep machines and other apparatus well out of the way, letting you concentrate on a monitor where you can see your baby being born.  

Once your baby is safely delivered, we give you instant skin-to-skin contact. Our lactation team will be standing by to help if you need them, and you’ll be able to enjoy early bonding time with your baby while we clean you up and close your incision. 

Recovering from a gentle C-section

While you’ll still have to heal from your incision, you should have far less emotional and mental trauma following a gentle C-section than a traditional one. Since our whole team is focused on keeping your experience relaxed and calm while the doctor gets your baby safely into the world, you can avoid a lot of stress.

Feeling happy about your birth experience (even if it wasn’t to plan) and powerful from bringing your child into the world can fill you with peaceful feelings. In our clinic, we’re clear that the best birth is one that concludes with a healthy mom and baby. That means there’s no blame or shame surrounding having a C-section.

As soon as you feel ready and have been cleared to return home, our team continues to support you by providing tips and tricks to make recovery easier. For example, keeping a small pillow handy to hold against your belly and rest your baby on is a great way to prevent sudden kicks or elbow jabs to the incision site. The firm, gentle, even pressure can also feel good if you suddenly need to cough or sneeze.

The best birthing process is the one that’s the safest and feels the best for you. Whether you choose a C-section or need to have one, we’re here to give you the gentlest, most holistic experience possible. For more information, call our office at 608-218-4835 today, or schedule a consultation using our online booking system.