(Decision made during birth after some labor)

When it comes to a secondary cesarean section the mother has already done some birth work in contact with the baby. This is actually very positive for the baby. However there can be some negative emotional influences caused by the stop in the birth process, which can lead to frustration. In addition to this, the fact that the baby has to go backwards in the birth canal before the cesarean can be done, is the opposite of the forward movement in life. This child can also experience a great deal of tension due to the contractions which pushed its head against the mother's pelvic bones maybe for hours.
In spite of these added possible complications, a secondary cesarean section is still advantageous for the child since the child could "choose" the time for its birth. It could say "I'm ready to come!" Additionally it has experienced the labor work together with its mother.
See also "Primary Cesarean Section"

My Recommendation
The same recommendations from the primary cesarean apply except that the possible tensions on the head and resulting stress are more likely. Because the baby was possibly pushed against the pelvic bones during labor for a long time, I recommend smoothing out the tensions as soon as possible with sessions with osteopathic therapists or cranio-sacral therapists.
Also see recommendation in "Primary Cesarean section"

Without contractions

One of the complications which standard medicine also connects clearly with a primary cesarean section is the so-called "wet lungs". In the natural birth process the babies lungs are compressed, forcing out the amniotic fluid so they can best perform their function immediately after birth. Children born using a planned cesarean section have a higher tendency to develop respiratory distress because of this reason. Most often this is only temporary, but it is a clear physical sign that important components, such as the compression of the lungs as it happens in the natural birth process are very important, and that their absence can result in complications. Lack of the complete labor process can cause important impulses to be omitted.
We observe that with a planned cesarean section, the craniosacral system often develops problems, sometimes even more than if it went through intensive labor (See also explanation under Main Problem).
Most often the craniosacral rhythm is weak and flat. It is possible that shocks occur because of the sudden opening of the amniotic bag, and the resulting sudden drop of pressure. This can be compared to a sudden ascent of an underwater diver. The sudden expulsion out of the comfort of the mother's womb, in addition to the absence of any cooperative labor effort from the mother, are also emotional shocks for the baby. There is no time to make contact or let go emotionally. There is no preparation. The baby is taken out of the "silence". Shock - the soul is somewhere. At the least, the energy and sensitivity with which the doctor performing the procedure removes the baby, is very important. When the baby is pulled out by the head, as is the usual procedure, there is the same effect on the neck and spine, and thus the dura mater spinalis, as with the vacuum.

My Recommendations
Before and during the cesarean it is very important that the mother and child are inwardly in connection with each other. The mother should speak to the child and explain what is happening, comfort the child by telling it that she and the father are with him or her. Practically every mother talks to her child during pregnancy, Spoken communication during birth is especially significant. Your child feels it when you are emotionally and mentally in "touch" with him or her.

In Switzerland and in other countries in Europe it is usually the father who gives the first bath to the child assisted by the midwife. At this time the child needs to hear the voice of the father and to be held closely by him. After all, the father's voice is the voice the child knows best next to the mother's. If it's not usual in your country that the father gives the first bath, we would like to encourage you to ask if you can do it with the help of the midwife. After cesarean birth the child is, for the first time, separated from the mother and especially needs at this time the assurance and love of the father.

Immediately after the caesarian when the baby is brought back to the mother, the baby should be ideally laid naked with only the diaper directly on the mother's stomach or breast. In this way both can experience skin contact as soon as possible and the baby can smell the mother's breast already. This is done in order to ensure bonding. In this way the breast feeding will be easier to encourage.

I further recommend an appointment with an osteopathic specialist or cranio-sacral therapist within the first year of the child's life in order to give the child the massage impulses it missed not having gone through the birth canal. During a normal birth the child is pushed through the canal and feels the mother's contractions which massage the whole spine, therefore the nervous system. In order to be sure the child isn't missing any impulses it normally would have experienced in a normal birth, we give it 1-3 sessions of osteopathic or cranio-sacral therapy.
What can we do if the child is older? It doesn't matter. Even years later we have found that the impulse therapy is advantageous.

For Midwives

For the baby it's comforting and soothing if we put Bachflowers in the bathwater. (Please ask parents before hand.) The combination we recommend is the following.
2 drops each of:
- Rescue
- Star of Bethlehem
-Walnut

A vacuum suction of forceps birth can result because of a long delay in the birth process, uterine inertia has set in, the mother is completely exhausted and cannot continue pressing, or because of baby's distress which we see in the drop of its heartbeat. The above mentioned methods can cause bruises, minor or strong, on the baby's head. Consequently, the baby might feel some discomfort for a time. After the vacuum one can frequently see that the bruise is at the spot where the vacuum was attached. Of course the baby is very sensitive to touch at this spot. (We are too when we have large bruises!.)
In addition, the baby is not born in accordance with the natural "screw-movement" to end the birth process as in a normal birth. Because this vacuum was needed, the baby was pulled straight out and therefore somehow remains "stuck in the turn".

My Recommendation

For the child after the vacuum birth I recommend seeing a cranio-sacral therapist or osteopathic specialist as soon as possible after coming home from the hospital. These babies have experienced intense pressure through the vacuum birth and show signs of strong tension. This is expressed through frequent crying which can't be calmed down or through high pitched screaming. This can also be the case for a child who has been pushed against the mother's pelvic bones for a long time during birth.
Even when no obvious problems are apparent, I suggest going to see a cranio-sacral therapist or osteopathic specialist as a preventive measure. 1-3 sessions is usually enough. Most babies really enjoy this soft and gentle therapy sessions. There are even birth houses that offer the babies this treatment even though they were born naturally with no special problems.

FOR MIDWIVES

In general children who receive a homeopathic remedy after a vacuum or forceps birth, cry less and the bruise on the head doesn't appear or heals quicker if it does. The baby therefore doesn't show such strong signs of jaundice. (Jaundice is the condition when the baby's skin turns yellowish in it's first 5-10 days.) The ideal homeopathic remedy to give in this situation is: one globuli each of Arnica and Aconitum C30. The cranio-sacral therapist with whom I work have told me that they have noticed a strong difference between babies who received homeopathic or Bachflower remedy after a traumatic birth than babies who didn't. The babies who did have the remedies had much less tension in the body and on the head. Please tell the parents that it is most helpful for the baby when (after the vacuum or forceps) they hold it for at least 2 hours in their arms. One hand should be on the babys head on the bruised part and the other hand on its back. This helps alot to already release much of the tension.

The first baby bath is made with 2 drops each of:
-Rescue
-Star of Bethlehem

Homeopathic remedies and Bachflower baths should be given only with parents approval.