Have You Ever Heard of Natural C-Sections?

Have You Ever Heard Of Natural C-Sections?

Photo by Irina Murza

When I was in Peru, I interviewed a well-regarded OBGYN named Dr. Antonio Lévano. He is a pioneer in his county for natural c-sections. Natural c-sections originated in the United Kingdom in 2008, but in 2010, Dr. Lévano was the first OBGYN to implement this technique in his home country of Peru.

It has been well-researched that babies that reach full-term are healthier than premature babies. Babies that are born premature may have respiratory problems such as sleep apnea or require ventilators, and may even have asthma and allergies throughout their lives. Mothers have a harder time breastfeeding babies which are born via c-section too. To remedy these issues, natural c-sections also called gentle c-sections were created.

Lévano described to me how he does natural c-sections in Lima, Peru. These c-sections are planned. Women decide ahead of time that they would like to have a c-section over a vaginal delivery. Unlike scheduled c-sections, after the mother begins contractions, not before, she arrives to the hospital to delivery her baby. Unlike regular c-sections with this style, a mother can hold her baby right after the surgery; her back is propped: she is not lying flat. Her baby is immediately placed on her chest while still connected to the umbilical cord. The cord pumps briefly (for 2 to 3 minutes) and then is clamped to avoid bleeding. While she holds her baby the curtain is raised and her wound is stitched up. This allows the mother and baby to bond, to have skin-to-skin time, and for breastfeeding to start right away. With traditional c-sections mothers don’t have the strength to hold the babies and they are connected to so many cords and told they must remain still.

This newer method is preferred by many mothers because it makes them feel more a part of the process to see the baby wiggling out of the womb (if they so desire) and then to see the baby immediately (not waiting for the baby to be cleaned up or to be stitched up) and to know matter-of-factly, that the baby is safe and healthy. This way takes away a lot of unnecessary fear many mothers experience with traditional c-sections.

Before Dr. Lévano performed the natural c-sections, he worked at one of the best hospitals in Lima; many mothers had c-sections. At that time, after the baby was out, nurses whisked the baby to be checked and cleaned. The mother quickly saw her baby for a brief photo before the baby was tested and Lévano finished stitching. Almost every time, the mothers became paranoid.

She asked him again and again, “Where is my baby? Is he safe? Is something wrong? Is everything okay?” She didn’t feel reassured by not being able to see or hold her baby.

Understandably, mothers were vulnerable and very protective of anything happening to their child. Even though, Dr. Lévano tried his best to reassure them again and again, that the baby was fine while he stitched them, he witnessed the emotional anguish. The baby was in another room, so he didn’t know exactly what was happening and the mothers became very fearful and emotional. Finally, the anesthesiologists knocked the mothers out, to relieve the anxiety, but still the experience was bad for mothers. Lévano thought, there must be a better way.

Luckily, he heard about natural c-sections in England and decided to bring this alternative to the women of Lima, Peru. Natural c-sections remove fear and anxiety for mothers and provide better health for the babies since more often, they are full-term and arrive when the baby is ready.

If you would like to know more about my fantastic interview with Dr. Antonio Lévano, he is featured in my new book about childbirth around the world. Click here to join the list and be notified with the book is published plus receive updates for this blog.

Comment below. Had you heard of natural or gentle c-sections before reading this article? Did you have a natural c-section? Are natural c-sections available in your area? Would you prefer to have a natural c-section over a traditional c-section?