Today I had the opportunity to observe a cesarean. Let me tell you I was not ready for what I saw. I went into thinking a c section no big deal, the doctor will cut an incision and the baby will be out in no time. What I was expecting was after the incision was made there were two doctors on either side of the patient and they counted to three and leaned back pulling on the patients abdomen. At first I could figure out why they would do such a thing. Was something wrong, why wouldn’t they just make a larger incision so the baby could fit. After the initial shock I was able to focus on the actual birth of the baby and what the steps were immediately after the baby was delivered. It was such an amazing experience seeing the dad come look at the baby, and the nurse took the baby over to the mom immediately so she could see her new baby boy. I was also able to view the placenta which was very interesting. It is so much different seeing it in person than it is seeing in the book. The maternal side and the fetal side are very distinguishable and exactly as described in class.
Immediately after the baby was born the nurse took the baby and went to work. She listened to the babies lungs and heart. Suctioned the babies mouth and nares, looked over the umbilical cord, she looked at the coloring of the infant. All this was done very quickly and after everything the baby was than taken into the nursery where further testings and medications were given.
After the c-section was done I still couldn’t get over the pulling of the abdomen. I had to find out why such a thing was done. Thankfully Jackie was more than happy to answer the question that myself and the other students had to know. She explained that the pulling of the abdomen is better as for as the healing process was concerned. That if the surgeons made a larger incision the healing time would be more painful and take a longer time. It was a good clinical day, however, i’m not convinced this is the area for me....