Mothers often are affected by pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and delivery by cesarean section—even in the animal kingdom. Bristol Zoo Gardens in the U.K. recently welcomed a baby gorilla born via cesarean after her mother Kera showed signs of preeclampsia. The female infant is a rarity; one of only a few to be delivered by C-section at just 2 pounds, 10 ounces. “It wasn’t a decision that we took lightly,” said John Partridge, senior curator of animals. “Kera was becoming quite poorly and we needed to act fast in order to give the best possible treatment to mother and baby, and to avoid the possibility of losing the baby.” After overcoming some breathing problems, the baby gorilla—yet to be named—is said to be doing well alongside her recovering mother Kera.
Gentle Cesarean Technique Aids Mother-Child Bond
As the most common surgery in America, doctors perform cesarean sections to deliver about 1 in 3 babies. The often-invasive delivery method may be necessitated due to life-threatening complications or risks of birth injury that arise during the labor process, but sometimes the procedure is required when labor is just not progressing. Valerie Echo Duckett of Columbus, OH was disappointed to learn that she needed a cesarean section to deliver her son, saying “I felt like I didn’t earn the right to say I gave birth to him, like it was taken from me somehow, like I hadn’t done what I was supposed to do.” Unfortunately, Duckett’s sentiments of failure and emotional disconnect are not uncommon in women who undergo this type of surgery, so hospitals have been implementing significant changes to the procedure to facilitate the bond between mother and newborn.
In a traditional cesarean delivery, the infant is immediately taken away for pediatric care after the procedure is performed behind a closed curtain. But a new concept called a “gentle cesarean,” or “family-centered cesarean,” gives the mother the opportunity for immediate skin-to-skin contact with their newborns after birth. The new technique requires small adjustments—such as increasing the neonatal staff on hand and rearranging some medical equipment—but it allows the mother to see her baby being born, and bond with him or her right after birth.
While the procedure is just catching on in the U.S., it has been slow to take off due to a lack of clinical studies addressing concerns, such as infection control. However, for women who require a cesarean section to deliver their babies successfully, the new procedure is an emotional breakthrough.
The following reviews from our clients do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of another legal matter. The cases mentioned in the reviews are illustrative of some of the matters previously handled by Grant & Eisenhofer involving various areas of birth injury law. These reviews are endorsements.
The following reviews from our clients do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of another legal matter. The cases mentioned in the reviews are illustrative of some of the matters previously handled by Grant & Eisenhofer involving various areas of birth injury law. These reviews are endorsements.
