St. Anthony Community Hospital to Offer “Gentle Cesarean Section” Option to Mothers

WARWICK, N.Y. (February 2018) – St. Anthony Community Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), has announced it will offer a new birth routine known as a gentle C-section, or family-centered section, to mothers who require the procedure.

A gentle C-section mimics some of the essential components of natural childbirth by allowing the parents to watch their infant enter the world through a clear drape and encourages skin-to-skin bonding with the newborn while still in the operating room.

This new process enhances the surgical experience by allowing the mother to be more part of the birth than a traditional C-section allows.

"A lot of mothers are disappointed if they are told they require a C-section, said Diane DeFreest, RN, Maternity Director, St. Anthony Community Hospital. "They might feel as if they had missed out on a vital moment in their pregnancy experience by requiring a C-section. We are aiming to make this procedure feel more like a birth and less like a surgery."

St. Anthony Community Hospital is the only hospital in both Orange and Rockland counties to offer gentle C-sections to its patients.

To find out more information about the Kennedy Birthing Center, visit: http://www.stanthonycommunityhosp.org/birthingcenter or to see if this process is right for you, consult your obstetrician.