Recovery Done Right

I've accompanied several mothers through cesareans as their doula and one of the biggest practical challenges at the time of birth was the recovery period.

Their always seemed to be a struggle between what the parents wanted and what the hospital claimed they needed for "the safety" of the recovering mother and newborn. For example, the hospital I did most of my work in previously required the newborn to be in the nursery - away from the mother - for 2 hours, at least post cesarean. And, then even after the 2 hours it was a fight for the parents to have the baby with them, and the first golden hour of bonding and breastfeeding was obliterated.

This always frustrated me as a doula and the most I could do was to encourage the parents to continue to voice their wishes and needs and to speak up for themselves. Furthermore, I encouraged them to write letters of complaints to the hospitals afterwards complaining about the unnecessary separation of mother and baby during the postpartum period. Sadly few of them ever did.

Well, I am extremely happy to tell you that the routine separation of mother and baby - even post cesarean - is not a practice at the hospital I work at now.

I've been to several cesareans already, and just the opposite is true. The mother and baby spend the recovery period in their room together. A nurse is committed to the room for one full hour, monitoring both mother and baby AND promoting bonding and breastfeeding.

In fact, at one cesarean the mother was transferred from the operating table to her bed in the OR, then her baby was tucked in bed beside her and they both were wheeled out of the OR and down the hall to their room while snuggling close together.

None of the crucial post-op monitoring of either mother or baby had been compromised at all.

I just wish more women would realize that even though it is "routine" or "policy" does not mean that it is evidenced based. And, that they have the right to request and demand change based on current research and not accept the "routine" as necessary.

But, all too often we shrink in the face of big hospital policy and sacrifice precious moments in the process. If we allow them to continue things as they always did, just because, then they certainly will. If only consumers of healthcare could realize the collective power they hold. Voice your concern and disappointment. Stand up for yourself and your family. Do not compromise in the name of "safety." Educate yourself and realize there is a better way.