Moms delivering by C-section at Habersham Medical Center no longer ‘miss a thing’
(DEMOREST, GA) – When Amanda Howard of Toccoa arrived at Habersham Medical Center on March 21, 2017 to have her first baby, she was very emotional. While she was very excited to meet her first child, she was also disappointed and nervous that she was having a scheduled cesarean and not the natural delivery she had planned.
More and more women are medically required to deliver their babies by cesarean or C-section, and for most woman, this is not welcome news. Having to go to the operating room to deliver can be very disappointing and can add extra stress and anxiety. Happily, moms who have to deliver by C-section at Habersham Medical Center now have the option of seeing the entire process through a new birthing trend called family-centered cesarean.
A clear drape replaces the blue surgical cloth, so the mom can watch the delivery. “This new service has been a big hit with our families,” says Linde Mitchell, RN and Director of the HMC Family Birth Center. “It definitely makes for a very memorable birth experience. The mom can watch her obstetrician, nurses and operating room staff in action and she can see for herself her baby’s first moments of life.”
“I felt like I was going to miss out, especially since Mila was my first baby,” says Amanda. “Having the option to see her cry for the first time was really awesome. After she was born, they laid her on my chest. I got to bond with her immediately, which is so important. It is also really awesome for moms to be one of the first people to see and hold the baby that they have carried for nine months.
“This new service has been a big hit with our families.” ~ Linde Mitchell, RN and Director of the HMC Family Birth Center
Mila was delivered by Dr. Thomas Hatchett of Habersham OB/GYN. “Mila was actually the first baby delivered with this new program,” adds Dr. Hatchett. “After delivery, the baby is placed on the mother’s chest for immediate skin-to-skin contact to stimulate bonding immediately, which is also very beneficial to mom and baby. This new delivery method is very rewarding for the staff and the family.”
