Rebecca Lu was living in Shanghai China with her husband, Tony, when she became pregnant for the first time in the summer of 2023. From the very beginning, Rebecca knew she wanted a gentle cesarean section with almost no C-section scar (invisible C-section).
While a vaginal birth is considered “standard” by most, C-section delivery accounts for about one out of three births, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
At the onset of her pregnancy, Rebecca was seen by her local OB/GYN. However, the kind of special delivery she wanted required more expertise than her current doctor possessed. An international organization referred Rebecca to Dr. Rad, and that’s when the stellar relationship began.
What is a gentle C-section?
Typically, a Cesarean delivery is a rather sterile surgery. The mother plays a passive role with minimal visual contact with her baby being born. Quickly after the birth, the baby is whisked away to be cleaned and cared for by the nurses. Doctors are sometimes forced to perform an emergency C-section when complications arise during delivery — such as a breech birth or other risks to the mother or baby’s well-being.
A gentle C-section, however, is a personalized approach that focuses on providing a more positive and participatory birth experience akin to a vaginal delivery while safely delivering the baby. Typically, an epidural is given to relieve the pain. A “peek-a-boo drape” has a flap that can be fastened down with Velcro to reveal a window, which allows the mother to witness the birth.
Another significant benefit of a gentle C-section is that the spouse, midwife, or doula can be in the operating room for support when the baby is born.
An invisible C-section incision scar can barely be seen. Dr. Rad’s extensive education allows him to work wonders with the C-section incision.
Pull Quote block
“I studied a plastic surgery technique for stitching,” he says. “I can make my incisions close to invisible 90% of the time.”
A lengthy trip is worth a gentle cesarean birth
About two months before giving birth, Rebecca, who works in international trading, took a break and traveled to the United States. She and her husband, Tony, rented a house about a 30-minute drive from Dr. Rad’s office in Beverly Hills.
Though Rebecca did not show any symptoms of complications during her pregnancy, Dr. Rad paid extra close attention to her health.
“The inspections were meticulous and comprehensive,” Rebecca says.
Close monitoring can help catch and manage any complications that could make a pregnancy high-risk. Double-board certified Dr. Rad uses innovative 3D and 4D high-definition ultrasound technology to monitor the baby’s health development — which is available only in a few places worldwide.
Let the gentle cesarean birth begin
When Rebecca and the baby were ready, a birth plan date was set at the hospital for a gentle Cesarean.
“When we do a gentle Cesarean, it makes things feel like a vaginal birth,” says Dr. Rad. “She could see her baby as it came out of her belly. There was skin-to-skin contact right away, rather than waiting until she got to the recovery room.”
The result? A beautiful baby girl named Cindy weighing in at a robust 7.8 pounds. Because she had undergone major surgery, Rebecca spent the first three months of her C-section recovery in the U.S., allowing her abdominal muscles to heal before getting on a plane to go home.
Rebecca could not have been happier with her entire interaction with Dr. Rad and his team.
“He is one of the best,” says the new mother, who is now living back in Shanghai. “Dr. Rad is very thoughtful and specializes in gentle, invisible C-sections. You can barely see my scar.”
Why trust your gentle C-section to Dr. Rad?
Expectant mothers with high-risk and normal pregnancies worldwide are finding their way to Dr. Steve Rad’s Beverley Hills offices. Dr. Rad is recognized as one of the premier healthcare providers for high-risk pregnancy and maternal-fetal medicine. Los Angeles Magazine named the doctor an OB/GYN top maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Los Angeles for six years.
A maternal-fetal medicine specialist (perinatologist) receives a traditional obstetrics and gynecology education but with an additional three years of training to treat pregnancy complications and promote a healthy pregnancy.
Dr. Rad handles pregnancy-related health problems and pre-existing medical conditions that could impact pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), genetic conditions, preterm labor, anemia, preeclampsia, stillbirth and pregnancy loss, chromosomal problems (such as Down Syndrome), advanced maternal age, kidney disease, genetic disorders, multiple gestations (twins or triplets), placenta disorder, and congenital disabilities.
Dr. Rad offers in-home prenatal care and a fly-in program for out-of-town and international patients. He travels to patients who need him throughout the U.S. and worldwide and offers virtual consultations.
Call (844) 473-6100 or schedule your consultation online. We are currently accepting new patients.
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