Fuerteventura General Hospital records first C-section with father present in OR
The Hospital General of Fuerteventura, part of the Government of the Canary Islands, performed on Thursday, January 29, its first scheduled‑cesarean delivery in which the father remained in the operating theatre for the entire procedure. The birth took place without complications and concluded at 09:21 a.m. with the arrival of a healthy baby girl, 53 cm long and weighing 3.6 kg, who showed an excellent adaptation to extra‑uterine life. From the first minutes after birth, the newborn stayed with her parents, promoting early contact and emotional bonding. Both mother and baby are recovering well after the surgery.
During the whole process, the father accompanied the mother from the initial monitoring stage through the postoperative recovery, sharing a pivotal family moment and contributing to a calm, supportive environment. The medical team consisted of eight professionals—anesthesiologist, obstetricians, midwife, pediatrician, nursing staff, auxiliary nursing technician, orderly—ensuring clinical safety and family wellbeing at every step.
This intervention is part of the hospital’s humanisation of birth strategy, aligned with the Initiative for the Humanisation of Birth and Breastfeeding (IHAN), which has promoted skin‑‑skin contact even inan sections since 2018. As part of this effort, the Management of Health Services in Fuerteventura has implemented a specific protocol for accompaniment during scheduled cesareans.
Benefits of Father’s Presence in the Operating Room
- Reduced anxiety and stress for the mother.
- Enhanced birth experience through active participation of the companion.
- Strengthened family bond, facilitating early attachment and the initiation of breastfeeding.
The father’s presence is authorised only for scheduled, planned cesareans performed between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation, provided there are no maternal, fetal, or anesthetic risk factors, and always under the guidance of the medical team and clinical safety regulations.