Clear drapes allow mothers to watch the birth of their child via C-section

Apart from the obvious, C-sections are different from vaginal deliveries because they’re often seen as impersonal. A drape is hung so mothers are unable to witness the birth of their child, and then shortly after their child is born they’re typically taken away.

A new trend is hoping to make C-sections more intimate.

“A gentle C-section allows a woman to be almost as involved as if her birth was happening vaginally,” David Garfinkel, M.D., attending physician at Morristown Medical Center told Parents.com.

Compared to a regular C-section, a gentle C-section aims to involve the mother as much as possible.

“The most common requests that I have seen included in a gentle C-section birth plan call for immediate skin-to-skin contact after delivery and the initiation of breastfeeding in the [operating room],” Allie Sakowicz, a certified birth doula through DONA and a member of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine research team at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said.

Many mothers also choose to use a clear drape instead of an opaque drape during their C-section.

Very kind nurses demonstrating how new clear drapes work for c-section deliveries. #uamshealth pic.twitter.com/RHOJCrz5yz

— Katrina Dupins (@KatrinaDupins) October 19, 2015

When a clear drape is used, a solid drape is still used when the initial incision occurs, then just before the delivery, the doctor can drop the opaque portion so the parents can witness their child’s birth.

Watch your baby being born! CLEAR C-section drapes have been invented so mothers can see their child come into the world – so would you use them? pic.twitter.com/YrQXDCaZpt

— Hans Solo (@thandojo) November 24, 2017

Tracey Abney, a doula and photographer, who gave birth via C-section but has had clients who have had gentle C-sections, believes gentle C-sections helps mothers feel connected to the birth.

“Clear drapes help the mother feel like she is part of the birthing process,” Abney said. She can see her baby before it is taken to the warmer. She can see the baby when everyone else does, the moment the baby is born. She can match the sound of the baby’s cries while watching the quiver of the baby’s little chin.”

What are your thoughts on using a clear drape during a C-section? 

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