The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a cesarean rate of 10-15% and we are working hard to try and reduce the percentage of cesarean births in Egypt to match that recommendation. We believe that elective, unnecessary cesareans are harmful to mother and baby and acknowledge that for healthy women, cesareans carry more risks than vaginal birth. However, there are times when some women truly medically need to have a cesarean birth. For these women, we want the birth experience to still be a positive and empowering one - and so we are working to offer gentle cesareans.

What is a gentle cesarean?

• Mama given an epidural or spinal block
• Anaesthesiologists do not automatically give mothers extra drugs to relax, so that she can be fully present for the experience
• Mama can watch baby lifted from her belly through a clear drape; the drape can be lowered and baby can be lifted above it
• Baby can breastfeed immediately while in the operating room
• Mother's hands are not strapped down and the intravenous line was put in her non-dominant hand so she can hold the baby.
• Parents can request cord clamp/cut delay until it stops pulsing
• Performing all newborn tests on mom's chest if possible.
• Parents can request that the placenta be saved and/or frozen until discharge from the hospital
• Music of the parent's choice can play in the operating room.
• Baby can be held by mama while wheeled into recovery, and continue to bond with parents there
• Any and all usual post-birth procedures such as cleaning the baby and weighing the baby are delayed until parents are ready
• A doula, grandparent, or friend are permitted to photograph or videotape the birth so that parents can concentrate on bonding

Only the things with an * are things we currently offer. The rest are things we are working on offering clients in the future.

For more information about the risks of cesarean sections visit: www.theunnecesarean.com or see these fact sheets:

Download Csection Fact Sheet
Download The Risks of Cesarean Section February 2010