In just fifteen days, two hospitals in the Valencia Community, the University Hospital Dr. Pesset in Valencia and the University Hospital of La Plana in Vila-real (Castellón) they are in the news for the start-up of accompaniment in cesarean births.
In La Plana hospital it is allowed accompaniment in scheduled low-risk caesarean sections. At the Doctor Pesset hospital, this accompaniment is extended to emergency cesarean sections without complications.
The importance of accompaniment in caesarean sections
This represents an advance in the humanization of birth, thus following the recommendations of the Conselleria de Salud Universal y Salud Pública and the Ministry of Health.
Cesarean delivery It is still a birth, a unique event in the life of a woman and her partner. Scientific evidence shows that when a woman undergoes a cesarean section, her delivery experience is less satisfactory than if she had had a vaginal delivery. Feelings of loss, failure, anguish, difficulties in bonding with the baby and in initiating breastfeeding often appear. All these negative effects are drastically reduced if, during the intervention, the woman has the support of her partner or another person she trusts.
Accompaniment in caesarean sections is linked to the establishment of skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. This common sense practice and also supported by scientific evidence, benefits both mother and baby. It favors the establishment of the affective bond and breastfeeding, reduces maternal stress and also that of the baby. In addition, it facilitates the adaptation of the baby to extrauterine life by stabilizing the cardiorespiratory rhythm and glucose levels.
Protocol
As it could not be otherwise, the protocols of both hospitals involve all the services in charge of the care of women and the newborn: Delivery, Gynecology, Pediatrics and Anesthesiology.
According to the protocol, the companion must dress appropriately to go to the operating room (pajamas, robe, hat, leggings and mask). It must maintain aseptic conditions and be placed in a place where it will not interfere. If complications arose during the operation, you would have to leave the operating room.
Although more and more hospitals apply this accompaniment in caesarean sections, there are still many others where the mother has to live the caesarean section alone and be separated from her newborn after birth. These practices generate suffering in mothers and babies, and consequences that affect the health of both. As users of the health system, we should ask that protocols be adapted to people and scientific evidence.
I love your blog, a proof of what you comment is the photo of the childbirth with a doctor or father with a ring and a watch, it is to kill someone….
Hello Rachel, thank you for your comment. Regarding the photo with the ring and watch, notice that a few months ago, a woman I know told me that during her caesarean section, they did not let her glasses enter, necessary to be able to see her baby. The argument put forward was that the operating room was a sterile space… although that was not an impediment for someone from the medical team to enter their mobile phone…. Another example that a lot of awareness is lacking to be able to give a dignified treatment at such a momentous time as the birth of a child.