@pringles24 I would say that my unplanned c-section was actually pretty gentle. It wasn't an emergency, we saw it coming for several hours before we made the call, baby just wasn't tolerating induced labor very well (turns out my pelvis was too narrow for him to engage and move through).
I think the biggest thing that made it "gentle" was actually my doctor. She is a perfect match for my personality - kind, no-nonsense, willing to explain everything thoroughly. She helped me work through multiple options to get to a vaginal birth and she later told my husband that she suspected I would need a c-section, but she wanted me to feel ready and empowered to make that choice.
When I did make the call, she gave me a very thorough overview of what the procedure would be like. We found out that they wouldn't allow a clear drape (but as soon as he was born, they would lower it so I could see him and touch him through the sheet). They also wouldn't allow for me to do skin-to-skin, but delayed cord clamping is standard as a part of my private practice's card. While she was closing, my husband would go with the baby out to a quiet dark recovery space to wait with baby, and he could do skin-to-skin then. No nurses offered to help my husband with it, but he knew my wishes so he advocated to do skin-to-skin (leading to some really sweet and tender first moments with them, and our son trying to root and latch onto his nipple LOL).
TBH - I burst into tears when he was born, and I was shaking VERY hard from the sobbing, so they had to really up my sedation as soon as he was out so they could close and I don't think I would've felt safe holding him on the operating table. I also got held up during closing (not an emergency but something they needed to make extra sure of) and I was so relieved to know my husband was out snuggling with him.
If we have a second, I will elect for a c-section with the same doctor, and the only things I'll do differently, is see if someone can take a video of the moment the baby is born, and see if I can see my placenta (and bid it good-fucking-riddance, I had GD lol).
If I was you - I'd figure out what you want, what things are MOST important to you, make sure your partner knows them so they can advocate for you/those things, and I would see what your doctor can help you accommodate.