Not as Sibley but I was able to request a clear drape - it was a double drape and right before they pulled my daughter out they lowered the blue one so I could see her and everyone cheered. They took her to the table for suction and apgar. My husband was able to go stand near and take videos and pictures. It was a few minutes. Then while still in the OR they put her up on high on my chest/neck and the nurse took out first family photos. They finished and took the baby back while they got me on the recovery bed. Again just a few minutes. Then handed her back and I got to keep her on me the entire time in the recovery room. Our nurse had her latch and helped me express some colostrum. I had GD so she needed her sugars checked but was just fine. I got to hold her as we went up to postpartum. It was the best case scenario for a medically scheduled and planned C-section. I agree. That some things you just leave up to the Dr and some that you think you want like a playlist go out the door when it's time and never really mattered. But others like if possible having a clear drape so I can see the second she hits this world was so important to me and I'm so glad I asked and they were helpful in making it happen

Anonymous wrote:I had a C section but not at Sibley. You can’t get immediate skin to skin because as other posters explained the pediatricians have to do delayed cord cutting, Apgar tests, and very importantly suction out fluid in the lungs (normally that fluid is squeezed out through the birth canal). They’re working on stitching you up during that time though and the moment I was out of the operating room they handed me my baby for chest skin to skin for at least an hour. So you will still get the skin to skin ASAP just not *immediately*

This was our experience with a C-section at Sibley. It didn't matter for us, because my wife was not emotionally able to hold the baby right after delivery (she said no when they first asked and I took her), but I know we were out of the operating room before it was offered.

^^the baby right on your chest
(sorry, weird typo)

OP, your incision site is a sterile field. There is a sterile drape between where your face and upper body is and your abdomen, and your abdomen is fully draped with sterile cloths except for the area of the incision.

There isn't a way to just lift the baby up and put it on your chest, and then dry the infant on you to help keep them warm, as can be done if everything goes okay with a vaginal delivery. In that case, the work can be done with the baby right on your van before the cord is cut. A surgical field just doesn't facilitate that.

But a few minutes is a different matter, so long as things go well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi — curious for those of you who have had a c section at sibley whether you were able to immediately have skin to skin with the baby? How quickly was the baby brought over to you?

Please have a trusted friend with you at all times in the hospital. You need your own advocate isn’t afraid of the medical industry.

This is not a good idea. Too many people don't know what they don't know and are frequently wrong but rarely in doubt. Doctors and nurses are not your adversaries.

I had a C section but not at Sibley. You can’t get immediate skin to skin because as other posters explained the pediatricians have to do delayed cord cutting, Apgar tests, and very importantly suction out fluid in the lungs (normally that fluid is squeezed out through the birth canal). They’re working on stitching you up during that time though and the moment I was out of the operating room they handed me my baby for chest skin to skin for at least an hour. So you will still get the skin to skin ASAP just not *immediately*

I delivered my first at Sibley years ago. It wasn’t a c-section but due to blood loss / feeling faint I wasn’t able to hold her and do skin to skin. I felt really depressed about that - like I’d missed our one chance to start out on the right foot. (My husband did so skin to skin with her, but I didn’t feel up to holding her without blacking out for a few hours.) 12 years later she’s amazing and snuggly and we have a great connection. I wish I hadn’t stressed as much about it. I know that doesn’t answer your question, but just an FYI.

For some definition of pretty good, maybe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked about this and they need a few minutes to work on the baby since it didn’t go through the birth canal. Babies have much better outcomes after cesareans when they go through whatever the nurses need time to do. All I know is I advocated hard for immediate skin to skin until they handed me research and I was like oh ok, do your thing then. Don’t be your own doctor during or after surgery is my recommendation.

This. Please let the doctors doctor and not Dr. Google.

I've found Dr. ChatGPT to actually be pretty good.

Planned or emergency? It will differ.

Anonymous wrote:Hi — curious for those of you who have had a c section at sibley whether you were able to immediately have skin to skin with the baby? How quickly was the baby brought over to you?

Please have a trusted friend with you at all times in the hospital. You need your own advocate isn’t afraid of the medical industry.

Anonymous wrote:I asked about this and they need a few minutes to work on the baby since it didn’t go through the birth canal. Babies have much better outcomes after cesareans when they go through whatever the nurses need time to do. All I know is I advocated hard for immediate skin to skin until they handed me research and I was like oh ok, do your thing then. Don’t be your own doctor during or after surgery is my recommendation.

This. Please let the doctors doctor and not Dr. Google.

I asked about this and they need a few minutes to work on the baby since it didn’t go through the birth canal. Babies have much better outcomes after cesareans when they go through whatever the nurses need time to do. All I know is I advocated hard for immediate skin to skin until they handed me research and I was like oh ok, do your thing then. Don’t be your own doctor during or after surgery is my recommendation.

They usually need to take 3&5 min apgar and then will place for skin to skin

Hi — curious for those of you who have had a c section at sibley whether you were able to immediately have skin to skin with the baby? How quickly was the baby brought over to you?