When people envision a cesarean birth, they often think of a sterile, clinical environment—bright lights, surgical masks, and a quick separation of baby and parent. While cesarean sections can be life-saving procedures, they have traditionally lacked many of the emotional and relational elements present in vaginal births. But that’s changing.

Enter the gentle cesarean, a growing movement that blends the safety of surgical birth with the intimacy and intention of a person-centered experience. And at the heart of this transformation? Doulas. The gentle cesarean was created right here in Boston at Brigham & Women’s hospital eleven years ago! Leading the charge was doula Tara Campbell. Tara runs Birthing Gently, which is the first organization that I trained as a birth doula with!

What Is a Gentle Cesarean?

A gentle cesarean (also known as a family-centered cesarean) is a surgical birth that incorporates practices designed to foster a more connected experience for both the birthing person and the baby. While the medical procedure remains the same, the atmosphere and approach shift toward compassion and collaboration.

Features of a gentle cesarean may include:

A calm environment; music, essential oils, dimmed lights or an eye mask, headphones, and more, all at your preference
Reduced chatter/noise/small talk among providers
A clear drape or lowering of the drape for visual connection during the birth
Delayed cord clamping
skin-to-skin contact with you or your birth partner in the OR shortly after birth
Nursing support as soon as feasible (for those who intend to chestfeed)

**Birth doula client Kaitie meeting her baby!**

The solid drape is dropped as the baby is born to allow for connection while baby still gets the benefits of delayed cord clamping!

Birth support clients getting bonding time in the OR

Why Doula Support Matters in the OR

Doulas presence during cesareans is profoundly impactful. Here's how we contribute:

Emotional Grounding
Surgery can be overwhelming. A doula provides calm, reassurance, and a familiar face amidst a room full of medical personnel. They can talk the birthing person through each step, normalize sensations, and help reduce anxiety.
Partner Support
Partners often feel sidelined or anxious in the operating room. A doula ensures they’re informed, involved, and supported—whether it’s by explaining what’s happening or helping them stay grounded and present
Advocacy and Communication
While not medical professionals, doulas help translate birth preferences into real-time advocacy. In gentle cesareans, they can gently remind staff of the family’s wishes and act as a liaison without disrupting medical care.
Postpartum Continuity
After the birth, doulas help bridge the gap between the medical event and the emotional recovery. They assist with immediate skin-to-skin, nursing initiation, and can process the birth experience with the family in the days and weeks that follow.

**Amber & her client Kaitie in recovery with baby C!**

Overcoming Barriers to Doula Access in the OR

Historically, many hospitals have limited who can enter the OR, often restricting support to just one person. Thankfully, more institutions are recognizing the value of a doula's presence and are updating policies to allow for this essential support. Parents-to-be can advocate early in their pregnancy for their doula to be part of their birth team, no matter how the birth goes!

What my clients have to say:

“In the months leading up to his birth, Amber helped me navigate the healthcare system as a fat, queer, solo mom by choice. Amber helped me reflect on and craft my birth preferences so that I felt ready to labor and work with my body to bring my son into the world. When I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and told I had to deliver without going into labor naturally, I talked with Amber and leaned into my own intuition and opted for a gentle cesarean over induction. I truly believe having the agency to make that decision led to an easier and quicker physical recovery and started my journey into motherhood feeling that I could handle all the unexpected twists and turns it would throw my way.”
Kaitie C.
“If you are wondering if it's worth it to have a doula for a scheduled c-section - I can say YES without a shadow of a doubt. We hired Amber early in my pregnancy with the hopes of having an unmedicated birth. Plans changed and I ended up with a scheduled C. Amber was a wealth of knowledge and a calming presence leading up to the big day. On the day of my surgery I felt so at peace. Amber and I had discussed exactly what to expect, she put us at ease in the hospital setting, she took charge when we were unsure, she pulled back when we didn't need her. Amber held my hand when I was nervous, kept my husband company while they prepped me for surgery, made sure all of my birth preferences were honored, kept the vibes positive and took THE best pictures of our birth. (Seriously. It was like we had a professional photographer with us... just one of her many skills.) Immediately after she helped my baby latch, made sure we were all good, and slipped out so we could enjoy the first few hours with our new little family. Overall I felt so incredibly supported by Amber and so much more confident about going in to birth and the immediate postpartum period because of her. I also fully trust her and know if at any point there had been complications beyond the scope of my knowledge, she's the one I'd want in my corner helping me navigate.”
Sally M.

Reclaiming Birth—Even in the OR

Birth doesn’t stop being a profound, transformative experience just because it happens in an operating room. Gentle cesareans, and the presence of skilled doulas, are helping to humanize surgical births, making them not just medically safe but emotionally empowering.

As we continue to challenge the narrative that cesareans are sterile or disconnected, let’s amplify the practices and people, like doulas, that center compassion, connection, and choice in every kind of birth.

please note, all photos were used with parents permission