Implementing Family‐Centered Cesarean Birth

Abstract

Cesarean birth is recognized as a physical and psychological stressor for many women. Maternity practices during cesarean birth should meet women's needs, while maintaining safety, to optimize the experience. Family-centered cesarean birth is a package of interventions that encourages a woman to participate in choosing interventions that would be helpful when undergoing a planned or unplanned cesarean birth. Included in family-centered cesarean birth is implementation of skin-to-skin care in the operating room for neonates who appear term and healthy. The process of attempting to implement family-centered cesarean birth at one academic center is presented, including steps for implementation, benefits, challenges, and areas for continued improvement and research. This article is part of a special series of articles that address midwifery innovations in clinical practice, education, interprofessional collaboration, health policy, and global health.

Doulas in the Operating Room: An Innovative Approach to Supporting Skin‐to‐Skin Care During Cesarean Birth

“…Previous reports have successfully introduced SSC in the operating room; however, doulas have not been included in the care team. Lack of space in the operating room has been reported as a barrier to including doulas in the care team, but this project successfully incorporated the doula at the client's bedside.…”

Impact of “natural” cesarean delivery on peripartum blood loss: A randomized controlled trial

“…26 Additionally, Newman et al reported that the term natural implies a process associated with fewer adverse outcomes than the traditional technique, although the practice changes suggested by Smith et al do not reduce any significant adverse effects related to CD. 27 To date, only small-sample-size studies regarding safety have been published, 28,29 with a lack of consistency and missing data that do not enable the drawing of conclusions.…”

Hospital routines promote parent–infant closeness and cause separation in the birthing unit in the first 2 hours after birth: A pilot study

“…Early mother–infant closeness is possible in the operating room if both staff and parents are trained and prepared. Early skin‐to‐skin contact in the operating room is one element of family‐centered cesarean birth . No adverse effects of early skin‐to‐skin contact in the operating room have been detected and it also seems to decrease maternal oxidative stress …”