Hellobee Boards

This is the norm at the hospital where I gave birth. I was not strapped down or held down in any way, we had immediate skin-to-skin and I/DH had the option of watching the birth (we didn’t want to). My OB also talked me through every single step of what was happening, so I knew exactly what was going on and what they were doing at all times. LO wasn’t separated from me when they stitched me up (well, just the routine measure/weigh/check her for a few minutes, then I got her back) and we were wheeled together into the recovery room where we got the usual "golden hour".

As an aside, the first article headline really bugs me too – caesarean birth IS birth, whether “gentle” or not. It isn’t “more like” birth – it IS birth. It is also an operation, but it is giving birth. Stop the continued birth shame, journalists.

@yoursilverlining: I LOVE your last paragraph. So. Freaking. True.

I gave birth. It was also an operation. End of story.

This is the norm at my hospital regardless of whether or not it's an emergency c-section.

Gonna be honest, I let them wipe him down first because I'm super squeamish. But as soon as they were done I held him the whole time they were stitching me up and as they wheels me to the recovery room. Before heading from moms here I didn't really realize that wasn't the norm everywhere!