’Kangaroo Care’ during Elective C

Lauren was born at 38 weeks and they put her straight on my chest in a towel and wollen hat! Maybe because she was 9lbs they could do that though??

Doesn't really anwser your question does it

DH held her next to me...naked but well wrapped up by them.....and when i was done they put her onto me (asked if i planned to BF) and she latched and stayed on the entire time they finised up and the whole trip down corridors back to my room.....was best thing we could have done...and she fed so well im sure as a result...

BTW she was elective at 38 weeks. Took a bit longer to stitch me up as they removed a fibroid but cause her apgars were both 9 they left her with DH and beside me while they were doing it

Good luck for tomorrow!!!!!!!!

My arms were strapped down but I don't remember when they unstrapped me, cause when Hannah was born they brought her around to see me, wrapped in a towel (she was 40wks and 9/10 agpar) and I stroked her face. But I was not able to hold her in my position - so unable that it wasn't even offered. But my DH got some cuddles

Why do they strap your arms can I ask? Mine were free to do whatever I wanted with them.

kangaroo cuddles would prob work if baby is cleaned and dried very well to stop any evaporation etc then if placed against chest with hat and booties on then dad's clothes over top plus plenty of blankets. The main thing is they'd have to check bub over first, and also make sure that baby's initial temp isn't too cold as otherwise it can just take too much to get warm again. Depends on weight too, if it is small as she said, then initially it could cause baby to get very cold, there shouldn't be any reason why you couldn't do it later in the ward or whichever, but you'd need to make sure baby is directly skin to skin with you then very very covered over top.

There has been research done to show though that it is most effective at keeping temperature with mothers as there is something in their body's innate abilities that when baby is placed between the breasts on the chest, the mothers area there will warm up to keep her baby warm.. fathers just don't have that ability.

Talk to your M/W about it and set down some requests and go prepared with woolen hat and booties and as Kelly said warm blankets. I think the hardest thing will prob be accomodating this in theatre as with c-sections they're usually pretty crowded although i'm sure that maybe while you're in recovery you could do it even if you don't get to do it in the first moments.
The main thing is still getting to do it, but keeping baby warm.. cos when they get too cold or if kangaroo cuddles are done incorrectly with baby not kept covered etc.. it takes an age to get baby warm again. We get alot of cold babies through to see us simply because they weren't kept warm properly with backs and heads and feet covered.

Edited by mum2paris

peachy wrote: Why do they strap your arms can I ask? Mine were free to do whatever I wanted with them.

I had an emergency c/s and my arms were shaky uncontrollably at first from the speed the epidural was put in. I suspect that's why the strapping - maybe they just held my arms, I can't remember.

Hey all,
Thanks so much for all your responses - thought I would just update you and let you know that while Rowan was dressed in the Op theatre (which was only about 20mins) as soon as I got to recovery they stripped her down to nappy, booties and hat and put her on my chest . So I was pretty happy about how it was handled - plenty of time for bonding. They left her there when they wheeled me through to the Maternity suite too so she got a good hour or so on me.

My arms weren't strapped either in the end, though it was a bit awkward to hold her as I was flat on my back and had the IV lure in the back of one of my hands. DH held her for me and I did have enough movement to touch her and interact with her.

All in all I was very happy with the whole experience and have to say NSH were absolutely fantastic!