The "New" Cesarean: Family Centered Cesarean Birth

I have been aware for a while that more and more hospitals were allowing women to hold their babies skin to skin on their chests.  This promotes bonding and breastfeeding while the surgery is going on. 

Recently, I came across a video on "family centered Cesarean birth".  It incorporates the skin to skin aspect while in the OR, and more.  The video can be seen at www.SeeBaby.org I would encourage the viewer to enlarge the video instead of trying to watch the smaller version.

Dr. Brad Bootstaylor is trained as an OB and a perinatologist.  He is a strong advocate for women being fully informed about their options and encouraging them to choose where and how they want to delivery their babies.  His works respectfully with midwives and provides hospital backup when they need to transport a mother they are attending at a home birth.  He bases his practice on research evidence.  He also provides consults to other OBs in difficult cases, due to his specialty in perinatology.  There is a very interesting article about him, published originally in Midwifery Today.  To read it click Midwifery Today article.



After reading this article and seeing the C-section video, I wish every woman had access to a Dr. Bootstaylor and his team.   

This medical practice also promotes 3D and 4D sonographic imaging during pregnancy, thus the "SeeBaby" name.  I am still a bit wary of many sonograms being done during pregnancy while the baby's brain is developing so rapidly.  I would encourage women to do an online search of the pros and cons of routine and repeated sonography during pregnancy before having repeated photos of the baby as it grows.  

Dr. Bootstaylor is based in Atlanta, Georgia.  Kudos to him and his staff for making C-sections more special for women and their partners, for being willing to be a back up hospital based physician for women who are planning a home birth or birth center birth, and for respecting women enough to provide them with the information they need to make informed decisions about their birth experiences.