CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Nurses Invent C-Section Drape for Faster Mom and Baby Contact

Because bonding from birth should be an option for everyone.
save article
profile picture of Anisa Arsenault
By Anisa Arsenault, Associate Editor
Updated May 11, 2017
Hero Image

More good news for moms who have c-sections: It’s getting easier for you to meet your new baby right away.

We’ve seen family-centered cesareans, or natural cesareans, gain popularity over the last year. As opposed to the standard medical drape surgeons traditionally use to curtain off the operating field and block mom’s view, a natural c-section uses a clear or lowered drape so she can watch. Other adjustments are made so she can hold her baby right away: her hands aren’t strapped down and the IV goes into her non-dominant hand.

Three nurses from Richmond, Virginia are taking this a step further.

Kim Jarrelle, BS, RNC‐OB, Debbie Burbic, RN and Jessamine Niccoli, RN—the team behind Clever Medical—spent three years perfecting the Skin to Skin C-Section Drape, which features a flap opening that allows the doctor to pass the baby to the mother. Because the flap can be resealed after baby is passed through, the sterility of the surgical area is maintained as the doctor sutures the uterus and incision.

Typically, concern over preserving the “sterile environment” prevents c-section moms from holding their babies right away. The delay can be anywhere from five minutes to 30.

“We heard the same phrase over and over from c‐section patients: ‘Wow, that was surreal—I don’t even feel like I had a baby.’ So we wanted to make a more intimate experience for mom and baby. Why should they be robbed of the [vaginal birth] experience and skin‐to‐skin benefits?” Jarrelle tells The Bump.

They researched. They cited studies touting the benefits of immediate skin-to-skin contact. They made prototypes on their kitchen tables. They even hired a patent lawyer.

The result is a surgical drape of the highest grade (Drapes are rated based on factors like thickness and fluid resistance).

Related Video

“When we had just 10 samples of the final prototype, we got permission from a patient who had a previous c‐section to use it," Jarrelle says. “Right after the delivery, Debbie looked at the mom and said, ‘Look up and see your baby coming through!’ She held the baby, then dad did. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”

In spite of all their careful testing and research, they don’t expect the product to take off right away.

“Changing the culture of the operating room is a bit of a challenge, but doctors ultimately love [the drape] because they understand the benefits," Jarrelle says. “We’ve had some pushback from anesthesiologists, but they’re usually on board after we demonstrate it.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

pregnant meghan trainor and son riley smiling
Meghan Trainor on Learning to Love Her Body Again Post C-Section
By Wyndi Kappes
woman holding her baby's hand after undergoing c section procedure
What to Know About C-Section Procedures
By Maggie Overfelt
First-Time C-Section Rates Are at an All-Time High, New Report Shows
First-Time C-Section Rates Are at an All-Time High, New Report Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
frida mom c section recovery products gif
Frida Mom Is Launching New Products to Help With C-Section Recovery
By Nehal Aggarwal
Peaceful new baby sleeping with mom holding its hands.
Study Says Beneficial Bacteria Can Be Restored to Baby After C-Section
By Nehal Aggarwal
Q&A: Is a C-section More Difficult if I'm Overweight?
Q&A: Is a C-section More Difficult if I'm Overweight?
By Colleen Canney
tired woman resting in bed with her arm over her face
What to Expect During Your C-Section Recovery
By Anna Davies
ADVERTISEMENT
11 Things No One Tells You About C-sections
11 Things No One Tells You About C-sections
By Erin Walters
shawn johnson in labor for 22 hours.
Shawn Johnson Reveals She “Felt Guilty” for Delivering via C-Section
By Nehal Aggarwal
pregnant reality star amy duggar
Amy Duggar Had a Planned C-Section and She Isn't Here for Any Shaming
By Ashley Edwards Walker
ADVERTISEMENT
actress gemma atkins responds to c-section shamers
Actress Gemma Atkinson Defends Herself Against C-Section Shaming
By Ashley Edwards Walker
actress kata mara opens up about emergency c-section
Kate Mara Shares ‘Devastation’ Over Emergency C-Section but Wouldn’t Change a Thing
By Stephanie Grassullo
new mom holding her newborn baby after delivery
This 30-Second Video Shows Why C-Section Recovery Is Crucial for New Moms
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
husband calls his wife badass for delivering their child via c-section
How Your Partner Really Sees Your C-Section Scar: 'Strong, Powerful, Dedicated and Bad*ss'
By Stephanie Grassullo
person holding newborn baby's hand in the hospital
C-Section Births Have Nearly Doubled Worldwide Since 2000, Study Finds
By Stephanie Grassullo
new mom sweetly kissing her newborn baby in bed
New Mom Reflects on Her Emergency C-Section: 'at That Moment, I Couldn’t Be More Proud'
By Stephanie Grassullo
mom delivering baby through c-section
This Mom Has One Thing to Say About C-Sections: They Are ‘Never the Easy Way Out’
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
What No One Tells You About C-Section Guilt
What No One Tells You About C-Section Guilt
By Gina Bazer
A Microbe Wipe Could Bridge the Gap Between Vaginal and C-Section Deliveries—But Is It Safe?
A Microbe Wipe Could Bridge the Gap Between Vaginal and C-Section Deliveries—But Is It Safe?
By Anisa Arsenault
mom's c-section photo expressing c-section birth is not the easy way out
Mom's Candid List of Reasons Why a C-Section Is Not the 'Easy Way Out' Is a Must-Read
By Ashley Edwards Walker
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List