What? What do we mean by “the C-section we want“?

Well, to say the truth, we actually do not want any C-section! We are not going to lie to you. We abominate the idea of a cut on our belly!

However… as we never really know what is going to happen, as it is part of a conscious and responsible humanization to know that we cannot control everything, then, if, by any chance, it would be necessary… we want some things to be different than usual.

First of all, will want a C-section only if we were quite sick and an surgery would be the only way to protect our baby and us. And we also want to be assured and clearly convinced that the procedure is necessary, without drifts conversations, difficult words and ambiguous attitudes of the health care professionals.

Then, in the case we are not ill, we want a C-section only when, during the labor, we will recognize – the physician and us – that this is the only way to go. We want to be able to choose a C-section, freely and responsibly, being aware of its necessity.

In the operations room, besides our companion close to us all the time, we want the obstetrician telling us about each step of the procedure; we also want everything to be done respectfully, without those strong lights and loud noises we usually see. Be quiet. As we know, in some C-sections doctors tell jokes and funny stories one another! Thus, please, do not talk about silly things during the birth of our babies. If, for you this is just a routine, for our babies and us this is a very special moment. So, be silent. Reduce the light as much as possible and, besides being competent, try to feel the beauty of this moment.

Before the cut, we want to be checked if the anesthesia is working, if it was sufficient and adequate, in order not to have any problem, neither pain nor headaches afterward. If we can choose, we prefer to receive an epidural. The side effects of the raquianesthesic can be very bad. If we must be submitted to a C-section, we want to feel nothing, but, at the same time, will want to remain awaken and lucid. It’s important for us being able to experience birth in the most active and intimate way as possible.

We also want our arms to be free. Humanized C-sections implies that women have the minimum of awareness not to wave their arms crazily during a surgery, pinching the butt of some doctor! So, please, let us follow the operation without being tied as if we were on a cross.

Also, do not apply the Kristeller Maneuver indiscriminately! Beyond the physical risks we know exist, for us, women, is very unpleasant to have somebody rolling his arm over our wombs as if we were a tube of toothpaste. Apply this procedure only it is really necessary.

We also want to be able to have our babies in our arms as soon as he or she is born; we want him or her on our chest, for our first look, a loving eye-to-eye contact. We’ll miss it if it won’t happen. We do not want to see our baby passing by us whistling, as a rocket. We need to feel his or her smell, speak to him or her, and give him or her lots of kisses. Thus, this is one of our demands: we want to have our arms free to snuggle our baby, and be well woken up in order to live intensively each moment of his or her birth.

Our babies must be respected: they can feel cold, and they smell, listen and see more than you seem to be able to imagine. Hold them gracefully, and bring them to us as soon as possible, for they can feel the warm and tenderness coming from their mothers and recognize the sound of our voices. There is no need for rush. If possible (which almost always it is), wait for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before cutting it.

We want the pediatrician to observe our baby next to us. We don’t want like to lose sight of our baby neither for a moment. And, finally, after the surgery, we really want to be kept awaken. Why do you drug us in the first hours of our maternity?

We want to breastfeed our baby still in the delivery room, and, if it’s really not possible, we’ll appreciate our companion to hold him or her until we’ll be able to do so. Therefore, we require the chance for our babies to be breastfed in those first moments of their lives.

In the post anesthetic recuperation, don’t leave us alone; we want our partner and the baby the whole time with us. That said, we’ll appreciate a joint lodging. In the postpartum, we really desire an appropriate handling by the nurses: they should treat us well, with consideration, having in mind that we’ve just passed through a surgery. We want to use a streak, or girdle, well tight, to help our womb in the recuperation and we also want our pain to be respected, without being pushed to walk, stand, go to the toilet or any another thing like that.

Finally, our voice must to be heard, our message taken seriously and our obstetricians not being intimidated by conscious women who raise their needs. Childbrth is ours, but we might not be really comfortable. We believe that our demands combine with the ethics and responsibility of any health care professional that knows the strength, beauty and joy that each birth brings.

* Débora Meister is a mother of two, student of Psychology and collaborator of the Friends of Birth Association in São Paulo – Brazil.

**Tricia Cavalcante is an advertising agent and collaborator of the Friends of Birth Association in her hometown, Fortaleza – Brazil

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