There are times when giving birth the natural way isn’t the best option. Cesarean delivery — commonly known as a C-section — is a surgical procedure used to deliver your baby through an incision in your abdomen, rather than vaginally. Latest figures indicate that cesarean deliveries now represent about 30 percent of all births. Some C-sections are planned due to pregnancy complications or because you’ve had a previous C-section. Some women choose to have a cesarean birth instead of a vaginal delivery (see elective cesarean birth in Chapter 24). However, in many cases, the need for a C-section doesn’t become obvious until labor has already started.
Knowing what to expect can help you prepare if a C-section is necessary.
WHEN IS A C-SECTION DONE?
There are many different reasons why cesarean births are performed. Sometimes the decision to have a C-section has to do with the mother’s health, while other times it’s related to concerns about the baby. Sometimes the procedure is done when both mom and baby are healthy. This is called an elective C-section, and it’s controversial.
WHAT ABOUT ELECTIVE C-SECTIONS?
Some healthy women choose to have cesarean sections with their first babies — typically to avoid labor or the possible complications of vaginal birth. Sometimes doctors even suggest a C-section so that baby can be born at a more convenient time for mom or doctor or both.
These C-sections aren’t performed for health reasons. Instead, they’re done out of fear or wanting to avoid an inconvenience. And they’re not good reasons to have a C-section.
As elective C-sections become more common, they’re also becoming more controversial. For more information, see Chapter 24.
Labor isn’t progressing normally One of the most common reasons that doctors deliver babies by C-section is because labor isn’t progressing as it should — it’s moving along too slowly or stops altogether. The causes of slow or stalled labor are varied. Your uterus may not be contracting vigorously enough to dilate your cervix completely. Or your baby’s head may simply be too big to fit through your pelvis.
Baby has an abnormal heart rate pattern Certain fetal heart rate patterns are very reassuring in labor. Other patterns can indicate a problem with the baby’s oxygen supply. If heart rate patterns cause concern, your care provider may recommend a C-section. Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns can arise when the baby isn’t getting enough oxygen, the umbilical cord is compressed or the placenta isn’t functioning optimally.
Sometimes, abnormal fetal heart rate patterns occur without indication of any real risk to your baby. At other times, the findings can indicate a serious problem. One of the most difficult decisions in obstetrics is determining when the risk is genuine. To help make that decision, your care provider may try certain maneuvers, such as massaging the baby’s head, to see if this triggers a heart rate improvement.
Deciding when a C-section is necessary depends on many variables, such as how long labor is likely to continue before delivery and what other problems may add to the significance of the abnormal patterns.
Baby is in a difficult position Babies whose feet or buttocks enter the birth canal before the head are in what’s known as the breech position. Most of these babies are born by C-section, because of increased risk of complications with a vaginal birth. Sometimes, a care provider is able to move the baby into a more favorable position by pushing on the baby through your abdomen, before labor starts, thereby preventing the need for a C-section. If your baby is lying horizontally across your uterus, the position is called a transverse lie. This position, too, calls for a C-section.
For more information on breech and transverse positions, see baby in an abnormal position in Chapter 28.
Baby’s head isn’t ideally positioned Ideally, your baby’s chin should be tucked down to the chest so that the back of the head, which has the smallest diameter, is leading the way. If your baby’s chin is up or head is turned so that the smallest dimensions aren’t leading the way, a larger diameter of the head has to fit through your pelvis. For some women, having baby faceup, instead of facedown, doesn’t pose a problem, but for others problems can develop.
Before a C-section is done, your care provider might have you get on your hands and knees with your buttocks in the air, a position that causes the uterus to drop forward and seems to help babies turn. Sometimes a care provider may try to turn the baby’s head by way of a vaginal exam, or with forceps.
You have a serious health problem A C-section may be performed if you have diabetes, heart disease, lung disease or high blood pressure. With these conditions, situations may arise where it becomes preferable to deliver the baby earlier in the pregnancy. If starting (inducing) labor isn’t successful, a C-section may be necessary. If you have a serious health problem, discuss your options with your care provider well before the end of your pregnancy.
Another unusual cause for a C-section is to protect a baby from acquiring herpes simplex infections. If a mother has herpes in the genital tract, it can be passed to a birthing baby, giving rise to serious disease. A cesarean birth can prevent that complication.
You’re carrying multiples Approximately half of all women who have twins have C-sections. Twins can be born vaginally, depending on their position, estimated weight and gestational age. Triplets and other multiples are often a different story. Studies show the vast majority of triplet births are done by C-section.
Each multiple pregnancy is unique. If you’re carrying multiples, discuss your birth options with your care provider and decide together what’s best for you. Remember to stay flexible. Even if both babies are head down during your examinations, that may not be the case after the first baby is born.
There’s a placental problem Two problems with the placenta may warrant C-section: placental abruption and placenta previa.
Placental abruption occurs when your placenta detaches from the inner wall of your uterus before labor begins. It can cause life-threatening problems for you and your baby. If electronic fetal monitoring shows that your baby is not in immediate trouble, you may be hospitalized and monitored closely. If your baby is in jeopardy, immediate delivery will likely be necessary and a C-section performed.
With placenta previa the placenta lies low in your uterus and partially or completely covers the opening of your cervix. The placenta can’t be born first because the baby would no longer have access to oxygen. Therefore, a C-section is almost always done.
There’s an umbilical cord problem Once your water has broken, it’s possible that a loop of umbilical cord can slip out through your cervix, before your baby is born. This is called umbilical cord prolapse, and it poses grave danger to your baby. As your baby presses against your cervix, the pressure on the protruding cord can block your baby’s oxygen supply. If the cord slips out after your cervix is completely dilated and if birth is imminent, you might still be able to deliver vaginally. Otherwise, a C-section is the only option.
Similarly, if the cord is wrapped around your baby’s neck or is positioned between your baby’s head and your pelvic bones, or if you have decreased amniotic fluid, each uterine contraction can squeeze the cord, slowing blood flow and the delivery of oxygen to your baby. In these cases, a C-section may be the best option, especially if cord compression is prolonged or severe. This is a common cause of abnormal heart rate patterns, but it usually isn’t possible to know for sure where the umbilical cord is until after birth.
Baby is very large Some babies are too large to deliver safely vaginally. Baby’s size may be of particular concern if you have an abnormally small pelvis, which may prevent his or her head from passing through. This is rare unless you’ve had a pelvic fracture or another deformation of the pelvis.
If you’ve developed gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, your baby may have gained a lot of weight. If your baby is overly big, a cesarean birth is more likely.
Baby has a health problem If your baby has been diagnosed in the womb with a health condition, such as spina bifida, your care provider may recommend a C-section. Discuss the factors that apply in your situation and your options with your care provider.
You’ve had a previous C-section If you’ve had a C-section before, you may need to have one again. But this isn’t always the case. Sometimes a vaginal birth is possible after a cesarean delivery, (see vaginal birth after a cesarean birth in Chapter 25).
THE RISKS
Cesarean birth is major surgery. Although considered a very safe procedure, it carries certain risks, as do all surgeries. An important point to remember is that C-sections are often performed to resolve life-threatening complications. Therefore, it’s to be expected that more complications would arise in women who have them.
Risks for you Childbirth carries certain risks. These risks are often higher with C-sections than with a vaginal deliveries.
Increased bleeding. On average, blood loss during a C-section is about twice that of a vaginal birth. However, rarely are blood transfusions needed during a C-section.
Reactions to anesthesia. The medications used during surgery, including those used for anesthesia, can sometimes cause unexpected responses, including breathing problems. In rare cases, general anesthesia can lead to pneumonia if a woman aspirates stomach contents into her lungs. But general anesthesia is not often used in C-sections, and precautions are taken to avoid these complications.
Injury to your bladder or bowel. These surgical injuries are rare, but they’re recognized complications of cesarean birth.
Endometritis. This condition, which causes an inflammation and infection of the membrane lining your uterus, is the most frequent complication associated with cesarean birth. It occurs when bacteria that normally inhabit your vagina make their way into your uterus.
Urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections, such as bladder infections and kidney infections, rank second to endometritis as a cause of complications after a C-section.
Decreased bowel function. In some cases the drugs used for anesthesia and pain relief may cause the bowel to slow down after surgery, resulting in temporary distention of the abdomen, bloating and discomfort.
Blood clots in your legs, lungs or pelvic organs. The risk of developing a blood clot inside a vein is about three to five times greater after a C-section than a vaginal delivery. Left untreated, a blood clot in the leg can travel to your heart and lungs where it can obstruct blood flow, causing chest pain, shortness of breath and even death. Clotting can also occur in the pelvic veins.
Wound infection. Wound infection rates following cesarean birth vary. Your chances of developing a wound infection after a C-section are higher if you abuse alcohol, have type 2 diabetes or are obese.
Wound rupture. When a wound is infected or healing poorly, it’s more likely to split open along the surgical suture lines.
Placenta accreta and hysterectomy. With placenta accreta, the placenta is attached too deeply and too firmly to the wall of the uterus. If you’ve had a previous C-section, your risk of developing placenta accreta in a subsequent pregnancy is increased. Placenta accreta is currently the most common reason why a hysterectomy is done following a cesarean birth.
Re-hospitalization. Compared with women who deliver vaginally, women who deliver by C-section are twice as likely to be hospitalized again in the two months after giving birth.
Death. While a woman’s risk of death after a C-section is very low — estimated at about 2 in 100,000 — it’s about twice as great as delivering vaginally.
Risks for your baby Cesarean birth can pose potential risks for your baby.
Premature birth. With an elective C-section, it’s important the gestational age is accurate. Delivering a baby prematurely may lead to difficulty breathing and low birth weight.
Breathing problems. Babies born by C-section are more likely to develop a minor breathing problem called transient tachypnea. This condition is marked by abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth.
Fetal injury. Rarely, accidental nicks to the baby can occur during cesarean surgery.
IS THERE A LIMIT?
Most women can safely have up to three C-sections. Each repeat C-section is generally more complicated than the last, however.
For some women, the risk of surgical complications — such as infection or heavy bleeding — increases only slightly from one C-section to the next. If you had a long and difficult labor before your first C-section, a repeat C-section may be less physically taxing, although the healing process will take at least as long. For other women — such as those who have significant internal scarring — the risk of each repeat C-section increases substantially.
Repeat C-sections appeal to many women. But after you’ve had three C-sections it’s important to carefully weigh the surgical risks of another C-section against your desire for more children.
DEALING WITH THE UNEXPECTED
Getting the unexpected news that you need a C-section can be stressful, both for you and your partner. In an instant, your expectations about giving birth may abruptly change. To make things worse, this news often comes when you’re tired and discouraged after many hours of labor. In addition, there may not be much time for your care provider to explain the procedure and answer your questions.
It’s normal to have some worries about how you and your baby will fare during a cesarean birth, but don’t let these worries get the better of you. Almost all mothers and babies recover well after a C-section, with few problems. Although you would probably have preferred a vaginal birth, remind yourself that your health and the health of your baby are much more important than is the method of delivery.
If you’re feeling anxious about a scheduled repeat cesarean birth, discuss your fears with your care provider, childbirth educator or partner. Sharing your feelings will probably make you feel less worried. Tell yourself that you made it through once before — and you can do it again. Recovery may be easier this time around because you know what to expect.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Regardless if your C-section is planned or unexpected, it will likely go as follows:
Preparation A series of discussions and procedures will take place to prepare you for the surgery. In an emergency, some of these steps might be cut short or left out entirely.
Anesthesia options An anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist may come to your hospital room to discuss your anesthesia options. Spinal, epidural and general anesthesia are all used for C-sections. Spinal and epidural anesthesia numb your body from the chest down, and you remain awake for the procedure. You feel little or no pain, and little or no medication reaches your baby.
The differences between spinal and epidural anesthesia are fairly small. With a spinal block, pain-relieving medication is injected into the fluid surrounding your spinal nerves. With an epidural, this medication is injected just outside the fluid-filled space surrounding your spinal cord. An epidural takes about 20 minutes to administer, and it lasts almost indefinitely. A spinal block can be performed more quickly but usually only lasts about two hours.
General anesthesia, in which you’re completely unconscious, may be used in emergency C-sections, when your baby needs to be delivered quickly. Some of the medication does reach your baby, but this generally doesn’t cause any problems. Most babies show no effect of general anesthesia since the mother’s brain absorbs the medication promptly and to a large extent. If necessary, your baby can be given medications to counteract any effects of the anesthesia.
Other preparations Once you, your doctor and the anesthesiologist have decided which type of anesthesia you’ll have, preparations begin in earnest. These typically include:
An IV. An intravenous (IV) needle is inserted into your hand or arm. This will allow you to receive fluids and medications during and after surgery.
Blood samples. Blood samples are taken and sent to the hospital lab for analysis. These tests give your doctor a more complete picture of your presurgery condition.
Antacid. You may be given an antacid to neutralize your stomach acids. This simple step greatly diminishes the possibility of damage to your lungs if you were to vomit during anesthesia and stomach contents were to enter your lungs.
Monitors. Your blood pressure may be monitored during surgery. You may also be hooked up to a cardiac monitor through electrodes stuck to your chest, to monitor your heart rate and rhythm during surgery. A saturation monitor may be clamped onto your finger to monitor the oxygen level in your blood.
Urinary catheter. A thin tube is inserted into your bladder to drain urine so that your bladder will stay empty during surgery.
The operating room Most C-sections are performed in operating rooms designed specially for that purpose. The atmosphere may be a lot different from what you’ve experienced in the birthing room. Because surgery is a team effort, many more people will be there. If you or your baby have a complex medical problem, members from several medical teams may be present.
Getting ready If you’re going to have an epidural or spinal block, you’ll likely be asked to sit up with your back rounded or lie curled up on your side. The anesthesiologist will likely scrub your back with antiseptic solution and inject a medication to numb the site. Then he or she can administer the blocking medication by inserting a needle between two vertebrae and through the tough tissue next to your spinal column.
You may receive just one dose of medication through the needle, which will then be removed. Or your anesthesiologist may thread a narrow catheter through the needle, slide the needle out and tape the catheter to your back to keep it in place. This allows you to receive repeat doses of anesthetic as needed.
If you need general anesthesia, all preparations for surgery will be done before you receive the anesthetic. Your anesthesiologist will likely administer the medication by injecting the drugs into your IV. Once you’re anesthetized, you’ll be placed on your back with your legs positioned securely in place. A wedge may be placed under the right side of your back so that you’re turned to the left. This shifts the uterine weight left, which can help ensure good uterine blood flow.
Your arms likely will be outstretched and secured on padded platforms. A nurse may shave the hair on your abdomen and clip a portion of your pubic hair, if it will interfere with surgery.
A nurse will likely scrub your abdomen with an antiseptic solution and drape it with sterile cloths. A drape may be placed below your chin to help keep the surgical field clean.
Abdominal incision Once you’re ready, the surgeon makes the first incision. This will be the abdominal incision, made in your abdominal wall. The incision on your abdomen will probably be about 6 inches long, going through your skin, fat and muscle to reach the lining of your abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Bleeding blood vessels can be sealed with heat (cauterized) or tied off.
The location of your abdominal incision will depend on several factors, such as whether your C-section is an emergency and whether you have any previous abdominal scars. Your baby’s size or the position of placenta also is considered.
The most common incisions are:
Low transverse incision. Also known as a bikini incision, this type of incision curves across your lower abdomen along the line of an imaginary bikini bottom and is the preferred abdominal incision. It heals well and causes the least pain after surgery. It’s also preferred for cosmetic reasons and gives your surgeon a good view of the lower pregnant uterus.
Low vertical incision. Sometimes, this type of incision is the best option. A low vertical incision allows faster access to the lower portion of your uterus, allowing your surgeon to remove your baby more quickly. Occasionally, time is of the essence.
Uterine incision Once your abdominal incision is complete, a surgeon moves your bladder off the lower part of the uterus and makes an incision in the wall of your uterus. Your uterine incision may or may not be the same type as on your abdomen. The uterine incision is usually smaller than the abdominal incision.
As with the abdominal incision, the location of the uterine incision will depend on several factors, such as whether your C-section is an emergency, how big your baby is, and how your baby or the placenta is positioned inside the uterus.
The low transverse incision, made sideways across the lower portion of the uterus, is the most common, used in the majority of cesarean births. It provides greater ease of entry, bleeds less than incisions higher on the uterus and poses less risk of bladder injury. It also forms a strong scar, presenting little danger of rupture during future labors.
In some cases, a vertical uterine incision is more appropriate. A low vertical incision — made in your lower uterus where the tissue is thinner — may be used if your baby is positioned feet-first, rump-first or sideways in your uterus (breech or transverse lie). It may also be used if your surgeon thinks your incision may need to be extended to a high vertical incision — what doctors sometimes call a classical incision.
A potential advantage of the classical incision is that it may provide easier access to the uterus to remove the baby. Occasionally, a classical incision may be performed to avoid bladder injury, or it may be used if a woman has determined this is her last pregnancy.
Birth With your uterus open, the next step is to open your amniotic sac so that your baby can make his or her grand appearance. If you’re awake, you’ll probably feel some tugging, pulling or pressure as your baby is pulled out. This is because your surgeon is trying to keep the incision in your uterus as small as possible. You shouldn’t feel any pain.
After your baby is born and the umbilical cord has been clamped, your baby will likely be handed to another member of your health care team. This person makes sure your baby’s nose and mouth are free of fluids and that he or she is breathing well. In just a matter of minutes, you’ll have your first look at your baby.
After birth Once your baby is delivered, the next step is generally to detach and remove the placenta from the uterus, followed by closure of your incisions, layer by layer.
The stitches on your internal organs and tissues can dissolve on their own and won’t need to be removed. With the incision on your skin, your surgeon may use stitches to close it or may use a type of staples — small metal clips that bend in the middle to pull the edges of the incision together. Throughout this repair, you may feel some movement but no pain. If your incision is closed with staples, your doctor or nurse can remove them with a tiny pair of pliers before you go home.
Seeing your baby While a cesarean birth typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour to perform, your baby will likely be born in the first five to 10 minutes of the procedure. If you’re feeling up to it and are awake, you may be able to hold your baby as your surgeon closes the incisions in your uterus and abdomen. At the very least, you’ll probably be able to see your baby snuggled into your partner’s arms. Before giving your baby to you or your partner, your health care team may suction your baby’s nose and mouth and do the first Apgar check, which is a quick assessment of a baby’s appearance, pulse, reflexes, activity and respiration taken at one minute after birth.
The recovery room After surgery, you’ll be taken to a recovery room. There, your vital signs are monitored until the anesthesia has worn off and your condition is stable. This generally takes an hour or two. During your time in the recovery room, you and your partner may have a few minutes alone with your baby so that you can get acquainted.
If you’ve chosen to breast-feed your baby, you may be able to do it for the first time in the recovery room, if you’re feeling up to it. When it comes to breast-feeding, the sooner you start, the better. However, if you’ve had general anesthesia, you may be groggy and uncomfortable for a few hours after surgery. You may want to wait until you’re more awake and have received pain medication before beginning breast-feeding.
AFTER SURGERY
After a couple of hours in the recovery room, you’ll likely be moved to a room in the maternity unit of the hospital. Over the next 24 hours, your care provider and nurses will monitor your vital signs, the condition of your abdominal dressing, the amount of urine you’re producing and the amount of post-pregnancy bleeding you’re experiencing. During the course of your hospital stay, your health care team will continue to carefully monitor your condition.
Recovery The typical hospital stay after a cesarean birth is three days. Some women are discharged as early as two days after surgery. During your hospital stay and when you return home, it’s important that you take good care of yourself to speed your recovery. Most women recover from a C-section with few, if any, problems.
Pain In the hospital you’ll receive pain medication. You may not like the idea of taking pain medication after surgery, especially if you plan to breast-feed. But it’s important to be medicated for pain when the anesthesia wears off so that you can stay comfortable. Comfort is especially crucial during the first several days of your recovery, when your incision is beginning to heal.
If you’re still experiencing pain when it’s time for you to be discharged, your care provider may prescribe a small supply of pain medication for you to take at home.
Eating and drinking You may be allowed only ice chips or sips of water for the first few hours after your surgery. Once your digestive system starts to function more normally again, you’ll be able to drink more fluids and probably eat some easily digested food. You’ll know you’re ready to start eating if you begin to pass gas. It’s a sign that your digestive system is waking up and getting back to work. You typically can begin eating solid foods the day after the surgery.
Walking You’ll probably be encouraged to take a brief walk a few hours after surgery, if it’s not too late in the day. Walking may be the last thing you feel like doing, but it’s good for your body and an important part of your recovery. It helps clear your lungs, improve circulation, promote healing, and get your urinary and digestive systems back to normal. If you’re having gas pains, walking can help relieve them. Walking also helps prevent blood clots, a possible complication of surgery.
After your first little stroll, you’ll probably be encouraged to take brief walks a couple of times a day until it’s time for you to go home.
Vaginal discharge After your baby’s birth you’ll experience what’s called lochia — a brownish to clear discharge that lasts for several weeks. Some women who have C-sections are surprised by the amount of vaginal discharge they experience. Even though the placenta is removed during the operation, the uterus still needs to heal and this discharge is part of the process.
Incision care The bandage on your incision will likely be removed the day after surgery, when your incision has had enough time to seal shut. During your hospital stay, doctors and nurses will probably check the incision frequently. As your incision begins to heal, it may itch. Don’t scratch it. Applying lotion is a better and more safe alternative.
If your incision was closed with surgical staples, they’ll likely be removed before you go home. Once you’re home, shower or bathe as usual. Afterward, dry the incision thoroughly with a towel or a hair dryer at a low setting.
Your scar will be sore and sensitive for a few weeks. You’ll likely want to wear comfortable, loose clothing that doesn’t rub. If clothing does tend to irritate the scar, placing a light dressing over the wound may help. Occasional pulling or twitching sensations around the incision site are normal. As the scar heals, you can expect it to itch.
Breast-feeding Certain techniques may be helpful when you start breast-feeding after a C-section. For example, you may want to try the football hold (see football hold in Chapter 22), in which you hold your baby much the way a running back tucks a football under his arm. This breast-feeding position is popular among moms who’ve had C-sections because it keeps your baby from putting pressure on your still-sore abdomen. The first few days after your C-section, you may also want to try nursing while lying down (see side-lying hold in Chapter 22).
Restrictions During the first week at home after a cesarean section it’s important to restrict your activities and concentrate on taking care of yourself and your newborn.
Avoid heavy lifting or other activities that could put a strain on your healing incision. Also make sure to support your abdomen. Use good posture when you stand and walk. Hold your abdomen near the incision during sudden movements, such as when coughing, sneezing or laughing. Use pillows or rolled up towels for extra support while breast-feeding.
Take medication as needed. Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to relieve pain. If you’re constipated or bowel movements are painful, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter stool softener or a mild laxative, such as milk of magnesia.
Ask your care provider for recommendations about what you can and can’t do. You might feel very tired when you first try to exert yourself. Give yourself a chance to heal. After all, you did have an operation. Once they begin to feel better, many women find it difficult to adhere to their restrictions.
Until you can make quick movements with your legs or torso without pain, don’t drive. Although some women recover from a C-section more quickly than do others, the typical no-driving period is two weeks.
Avoid sex. Don’t have sex until your care provider gives you the green light — often four to six weeks after surgery. You don’t have to give up on intimacy in the meantime, though. Spend time with your partner, even if it’s just a few minutes in the morning or after the baby goes to sleep at night.
Once your care provider gives you the OK, begin exercising. But take it easy. Swimming and walking are good choices. By the third or fourth week after leaving the hospital, you’ll likely feel like resuming your normal activities at home.
Possible complications In general, report these signs and symptoms to your care provider if they occur once you’re home from the hospital:
Fever of 100.4 F or higher
Painful urination
Vaginal discharge (lochia) that’s heavier than a normal period
A tear in your incision
Redness or oozing at the incision site
Severe abdominal pain
A C-SECTION: YOUR PARTNER’S INVOLVEMENT
If your C-section isn’t an emergency requiring general anesthesia, your partner may be able to come into the operating room with you. Many hospitals allow this. Your partner may be thrilled by the idea, or he or she may be squeamish or downright scared. It can be difficult to be so close to surgery when it involves someone you know and love.
If your partner chooses to be present for your C-section, he or she will have to wear surgical scrubs, a hair covering, shoe covers and a face mask. He or she may watch the procedure or sit near your head and hold your hand, behind the anesthesia screen. Having your partner close by will probably make you feel more relaxed. There is, however, a potential disadvantage: Partners have been known to faint in the delivery room, giving rise to a second patient who can’t be given too much immediate attention.
Most hospitals encourage taking photos of your baby, and the surgical team may even take some shots for you. Many hospitals, though, don’t allow direct filming of the operation. Before your partner starts snapping photos or rolling tape, make sure he or she asks permission.