While any surgery is a proposition that should be taken seriously, with some mental and emotional preparation, you can feel empowered if a C-section seems to be in the cards. And remember, the type of birth you have is secondary to the most important thing of all: a safe and healthy outcome for both you and your baby. A C-section, or cesarean section, is the surgical delivery of a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. A C-section is typically only recommended in medically necessary cases, such as in some high-risk pregnancies or when the baby is in the breech position and can't be flipped before labor begins.
On the other hand — and, in fact, far more frequently — the need for a C-section isn't obvious until a woman is well into labor. A few of the common reasons for an unplanned C-section include:. Most hospitals strive to make a cesarean delivery as family-friendly as possible, with Mom awake but appropriately numb , her partner in the room and a chance to meet, greet, cuddle and possibly breastfeed baby if you so choose right after delivery if there's no medical reason not to. And because you aren't preoccupied with pushing or pain, you're often able to relax and marvel at the birth.
Fortunately, this is a fast operation, with the procedure itself lasting just 10 minutes or less, followed by another 30 minutes or so to stitch you back up.
Whether it's a scheduled surgery or a last-minute decision, the typical C-section is straightforward and follows a tightly-scripted game plan. A C-section begins with a routine IV and anesthesia — usually an epidural or spinal block, so the lower half of your body will be numb but you'll stay awake. Then you'll be prepped by having your abdomen shaved if necessary and washed with an antiseptic solution. The operating room staff will insert a catheter into your bladder and place sterile drapes over your tummy.
Your birthing coach or partner will be outfitted in sterile garb and allowed to sit near your head and hold your hand. The emergency room staff will place a short screen blocking your vision of your abdomen, so the field remains sterile and so you don't have to watch yourself getting cut. If you're opting for a "gentle C-section," the drape will be clear; otherwise you can also ask for a mirror to watch.
Even if you don't want to see the cut, you may want to catch a glimpse of your baby as she emerges, so ask your practitioner to lift the little cutie up for a quick peek after delivery.
If you're having an emergency C-section, there might not be time to numb you, in which case and fortunately this is rarely the case you'll be completely conked out with general anesthesia for the duration of the procedure. When you wake up, you may feel groggy, disoriented and possibly queasy. You also may have a sore throat from the endotracheal tube that was inserted during surgery. Once you're either totally numb or fully asleep, the doctor will make a small incision in your lower abdomen — it may feel like your skin is being unzipped — just above your pubic hair line.
With some neat suturing, the scar should be fairly unnoticeable and will fade more and more over time. Your doctor will then make another incision in the lower part of your uterus.
For both incisions, two options are possible and your two may not be the same :. Next, the amniotic fluid will be suctioned out and right after that your baby will be brought into the world. Because the excess mucus in her respiratory tract wasn't squeezed out during a journey through the birth canal, some extra suctioning is needed to clear those little lungs before you hear that first cry. After the umbilical cord is cut, the surgeon will remove your placenta and quickly do a routine check of your reproductive organs.
You may receive IV antibiotics to minimize infection risk and oxytocin to control bleeding and help contract the uterus. As with any type of surgery, the more of them a doctor performs, the lower the risk of complications, in general. While a baby is considered full-term starting at 37 weeks and ready for life outside the womb, babies benefit from staying inside the womb until 39 weeks when possible.
There are exceptions to the week rule, of course, including conditions such as placenta previa, which is when the placenta covers the cervix and poses a bleeding risk. In that case, a C-section might be scheduled as early as 36 or 37 weeks, Dr. Most women receive spinal anesthesia, which the anesthesiologist administers immediately before surgery, and this makes everything from your upper abdomen down to your toes go numb.
In most cases, you can hold your baby right after birth while your OB-GYN closes the surgical incision. Recovery from a C-section is typically a little more difficult than from a vaginal birth. Expect significant soreness for a few weeks; arrange for help for you and your new baby in advance. Your OB-GYN will ask you to avoid strenuous exercise and lifting anything heavier than 15 pounds for six weeks.
When you get to hospital, you will be admitted to the maternity ward. Your pubic hair may be clipped and your tummy cleaned. You may need to wear compression stockings. You will then be prepared for the anaesthetic. The doctor will check the anaesthetic is working before the operation begins.
Remember to take a bag for your stay in hospital and clothes for the baby. Ask your doctor whether it is OK for your partner or support person to bring a camera or to video the birth. If your baby is well, it is a good idea for you or your partner or support person to hold them straight away. Skin to skin contact keeps the baby warm and helps with physical bonding. Remember that you will need time to recover after a caesarean.
Plan to have plenty of help at home in the weeks after the surgery. About 1 in 10 women whose planned caesareans are scheduled for 39 weeks will go into labour first.
That means their waters break or their contractions start. If this happens, you will have an emergency rather than a planned caesarean. Call your hospital's maternity unit or delivery suite immediately if you are booked to have a planned caesarean and you go into labour. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Sometimes birth doesn't go as expected. If you or your baby are at risk, there might be a need to do an emergency caesarean. The cut is usually made low and around the level of the bikini line. Recovery after a caesarean section - whether it's an emergency or planned - will take several weeks. Find out what to expect after you have had your baby.
Having a planned or elective caesarean birth? As with any major surgery, it helps to know what to expect during a caesarean section. Our guide explains. Read more on raisingchildren.
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