A Natural C-Section – A New Birthing Technique

Keep Reading ↓

Moms who are medically required to have a caesarian (C-Section) birth often feel robbed of that bonding experience of a natural birth.

Soon, there may be another C-section option which will make a birth a lot closer to “natural”. A new study by a leading London hospital will introduce an option that will give Moms and their babies that “skin to skin” interaction.

The video below, taken at a hospital in London, shows the procedure for a “natural c-section”.

Warning: Contains graphic content.

Often referred to as the “natural C-section” or the “slow birth”, the procedure will be tested at the University College Hospital in Central London this coming Summer.

The process itself is much longer than the traditional C-section. After  a small incision is made, Doctor’s ease the baby’s head out. The baby is then left to maneuver its shoulders out alone, which could take up to four minutes. The Mother is able to see all of this and can also get the chance to hold their baby while the umbilical cord is still attached.

A midwife consulting on this study, Belinda Green says,

“So many women say the bond with their baby is stronger after a skin-to-skin cesarean, and there is evidence to suggest it reduces a number of complications after birth. The demand for this type of birth continues to increase and I am constantly being contacted by women who want it.”

Of course this is a great option to have if you are forced to have a C-section, however it’s probably not something that all Mom’s would want to go through. It may just be a bit scary to watch. Some woman may just prefer to have everything happen behind a curtain.

If the trials are successful, the news of this alternative option will surely spread across the world.

In the US, a similar technique and term “family centered cesareans” is slowly becoming known. Anne Arundel Medical Center in Maryland recently made some changes at the hospital, after Dr. Marcus Penn agreed to give his patient Kristen Caminiti, the “family centered cesarean” she asked for.

Caminiti was alert and was able to watch the delivery of her son, while her husband recorded the event. With the umbilical cord still attached, the baby was placed right on Caminiti’s chest.

Some hospitals may offer small changes to the procedure to make it seem more like a birth rather than a surgery, but until there is scientific data and clinical studies behind this new birthing technique (like the study and trials the University College Hospital in London is conducting), many hospitals will be wary of altering their caesarian processes.