Cesarean Section Delivery

Why would a pregnant woman require a cesarean section?

Cesarean Section Delivery

A cesarean section, or c-section, occurs when you have to have abdominal surgery to remove your baby. A cesaraen may be planned in advanced or it may be a sudden need. Sometimes a cesarean section is necessary for the health of the mother and/or baby. Whether you have a planned cesarean section or an emergency cesarean, you will undergo surgery in the operating room. After the operating room is prepped and ready, you will be brought into the room. Your labor partner will be given a set of scrubs to put on. Because there are so many things going on in the operating room at one time, it is common to have 5-10 healthcare professionals in the operating room during the cesarean section.

Reasons For A Cesarean Section
There a number of reasons that could cause you to have to undergo a cesarean section. If you have had a cesarean previously, you may get the option of having a cesarean or trying for a vaginal. If your baby is breech or you have placenta previa, you will need a cesarean section to deliver your baby. Sometimes doctors will perform cesarean sections if the baby is expected to be very large. If you are carrying multiples, your chances for a cesarean are higher. HIV/AIDS patients almost always give birth via a cesarean section to reduce the risk of infection in the baby. If you have genital herpes and have an outbreak at the time of delivery, your baby will be born through a c-section to prevent infection. Sometimes the cervix stops dilating or the baby does not go into the birth canal properly and this can require a cesarean to deliver the baby. If the umbilical cord comes through the cervix, your baby MUST be born immediately via cesarean section to prevent oxygen from being cut off. This is known as cord prolapse. Sometimes labor is so stressful for a baby that the baby's heart rate drops significantly and raises a cause for concern. If this happens, your doctor may recommend a cesarean to deliver quickly.

Procedure
You will have a catheter inserted to collect urine since you will not be able to get up to use the restroom for quite some time. If you have not had an epidural, you will be given a spinal so that your lower body will be numb for the procedure. You will also have an IV line placed in your arm or hand for medications and fluids. When you are wheeled to the operating room, you will be placed on the operating table and your legs will be strapped to the table to ensure safety. A sterile cloth will be draped in front of you so that you can not see the surgery. Hair around the incision site will be shaved and your skin will be cleansed well with a cold antiseptic solution to prevent infection. Your abdomen will then be draped with sterile material. Once the anesthesia has completely taken effect, your doctor will make an incision above the pubic bone. You will not feel the cutting, but you may hear machines that are used to suction fluids and seal off bleeding. Your doctor will continue cutting deeper into tissues and muscles until he reaches the uterine wall. Once the uterus is reached, your doctor will make one last incision into the uterus. The amniotic sac will be opened and the baby will come through the opening. As your doctor is pulling the baby through the opening, you will feel some pressure and tugging. The doctor will then cut the baby's umbilical cord and your doctor will hold the baby up for a moment before handing him off to a team of neonatal doctors and nurses. Medicine to help your uterus contract will be given through the IV and the placenta will be removed and examined. Your doctor will then suture your incision sites closed and a sterile bandage will placed over the wound. A nurse and the anesthesiologist will remain with you throughout your entire delivery, which will take approximately 45 minutes from start to finish.

Recovery
After you are all stitched up, you will be taken into a recovery room for observation. Nurses will continue to check your vital signs and she will also massage your uterus to get it to contract. You normally stay in the recovery room for approximately 1-2 hours and then go to another room for the remainder of your stay. You may or may not see your baby while you are in the recovery room. Your catheter is usually removed within a day of the surgery and your IV line will also be removed. You will most likely only receive liquids for 24 hours after delivery and then you can normally eat a regular diet.

Recovery after a cesarean section normally takes about 6 weeks. Because you have just had a major abdominal surgery AND given birth to a baby, you should try to take it as easy as you can. You may have gas pains, abdominal pain, uterine contractions and incisional pain. Walking is beneficial to recovery and you should try to walk as soon as possible. Avoid climbing stairs and ask for help with household chores and other children for a few weeks. Do not lift anything heavier than your baby. You will need to wear a sanitary pad for bleeding. This bleeding is called lochia and will last for several weeks. If your incision site becomes swollen, has a foul smell, bleeds or has an increased amount of pain you should call your doctor.

Risks
Because a cesarean section is a major abdominal surgery, there are risks involved. Mothers that undergo cesarean sections are more likely to develop an infection and have longer hospital stays than mothers who have a vaginal delivery. The recovery time is much longer and can be quite painful. Mothers may also experience alot of blood loss and clots following a cesarean section. There is also a risk for bowel and/or bladder injury during the process.

Comments: Cesarean Section Delivery

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jenakatessa - 131 days ago.
well my baby is in breech, they did a external version today to try to move him and he didnt move at all...he likes where he is just fine.., so i have a c section for august 4th,,,,,and this is my FIRST pregnancy, and i wanted natural birth...HOW MUCH PAIN will i feel....can i still get an epidurle....is not, do they give me something for pain.....can someone try to explain a lil of what to expect...being a first timer:) thanks

trkrchk - 141 days ago.
:) I am pregnant with my 4th, and my 4th C-section. I have two older girls, 10, 8 and a 16 month old.. I wanted one more to kind of 'even things out' so Emily will have someone to play with. This will be my last though.. I am getting my tubes tied while he is in there... :) I am genuinely ready to be done.. My advise is this, if your NOT SURE you don't want any more kids.. wait for permanent sterilization.. that way there are no regrets later...

LillySeed - 143 days ago.
this pregnancy will also make my 3rd c-section. i am undecided as to whether i will want a 4th child or not (but that will be a few years from now if we decide to do so). . . my last c-sec was 5 years ago. my docs will not try to let me have a natural birth, because they say after 1 your uterus cannot handle a natural birth (although i have heard of people doing it before). how many c-secs can you have before you have cut it open too many times ?? would i be able to have a 4th if i wanted to ? or would that be too many ? or will it be safe to have a 4th if i wait a few years to let it heal well ? -please message me with your responses. thank you !

shirls - 149 days ago.
An article about changing the policy in Canada for cesareans due to a breech delivery. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/c-section-not-best-option-for-breech-birth/article1186104/

booandaidansmommy - 153 days ago.
My c-section is Friday. I can't believe I'm two days away from seeing my little one. Not that I'm excited about the recovery and surgery though. :)

alison33 - 168 days ago.
I had an emergency c-section with my first and had an epidural. With my second, I never went into labor, so the doctor decided to schedule another c-section when I was 2 weeks overdue. I was given a spinal that time and was much more numb than with the epidural. I had the shakes when it was wearing off, that was weird. LOL This time around I will be having a 3rd c-section, but this one is scheduled, so I am looking forward to knowing when the baby will be here. I do not look forward to the recovery, but I bounced back quicker with the second one. At least this time my kids are older and will not need me as much so I should be able to take it easy for a while.

lin - 168 days ago.
i had a spinal the first time, it was great, was in first try, I got to experience the birth and see my baby afterwards, however got the chills as a side effect but otherwise it was a good experience. THe second i was put under because for some reason after eight attempts at the spinal the anesthetist could not get it in. It was also okay...no side effects, but slept for two hours after and didnt get to meet my son until then. I had a really sore throat from being intubated (which they must do when they put you under) and was pretty dopey for awhile, baby was very sluggish and didnt cry or eat for a few days!

booandaidansmommy - 169 days ago.
aileen-I got general for my previous two sections. Freezing just doesn't work for me. In fact my anesthesiologist in my first section (after the epidurals didn't work) said freezing doesn't work for everyone. It's your choice, and your body. I have no problems with general though. One nurse who was so nasty about me having general came up to me after the surgery and apologized. She said she had never seen anyone come out of general so well.

katya - 169 days ago.
Hello Ladies .. I am really really nervous, hopeing maybe someone can put my mind at ease. I am due for my 2nd c section on July 13 my last was July 03 last year. They just seem sooo close, I actually still feel like I am still recovering last years as I still feel discomfort down there. Has anyone has c sections this close ?

lin - 172 days ago.
My c-sections were 18 months apart, I had no issues or complications....just a longer recovery period the second time around.

lisalovesturtle - 172 days ago.
Hi, I've been on the site for a little over a year but haven't posted much but I have a question...I have had 2 c-sections, 10 years apart and now Im expecting again (10 weeks) and my last c-section was only 7 months ago. I was just wondering how close some of your c-sections have been and if there were any complications with them. Also both times i have had a traditional cut (up and down). Just trying to put some of my fears to rest, I have been hurting around my belly button beside my incision pretty bad and I don't go back to the Dr until next Friday. Thanks to all and I hope your pregnancies are going great!

jamie79 - 172 days ago.
Im due to have my 2nd csection on july 10th. im getting really nervous b/c the last time after about 2 days, i started spiking high fevers every 2-3 hours, and chills. The drs said i had an infection or something, but after all the testing they couldnt find out from where. im just really scared that it will happen again! Anyone else experience this or know someone who did?

joyce49788 - 175 days ago.
i just had my 4th csection on thursday (5 days ago) and it took longer for them to do the spinal this time than it did with any of the others... at least 20 minutes of poking around. it HURT... but once they finally got the medicine in, it was all good. i dont remember though if the incision/scar site is suppose to itch, and be kinda hard this soon after the surgery, any thoughts on this?

lizkretcha - 178 days ago.
sarah don't be scared. I just had mine first baby and she was a c-section. You will be just fine. From my experience the c-section was no where near the pain of my ankle surgeries. You may experience some discomfort, but the best advice I can give is GET UP and get moving around. I had my c-section about 9 days ago and for the most part feel pretty good. Also, take all the pain meds they give. Don't try to be strong and not take them because the pain meds help u get up and get moving.

indigocream - 179 days ago.
I had my c-section May 25 I am very excited about being a c-section mommie but I can say its a little different each time... By the way the Dr. that assitsted my Dr. had my husband look over the curtain to see my bowels.... I may not be spelling it right but that was weird... My husband said later that he knows he loves me and I asked why and he said I had the cuties bowels he has ever seen...

AubreyP - 181 days ago.
I am having my c-section the 26th of June. I have to be at the hospital a 5:30 am. What time do you think the actual surgery will take place? Also how long did you have to stay in the hospital?

Mommyof2Kidos - 181 days ago.
I just had my baby 4 1/2wks ago and I'm still recovering. I can say that my 2nd time has taken me longer to heal than my 1st. But I will say that I'm older, and I had gained more weight with this baby so I do believe that plays apart. I was very nervous, but it was all over before I knew it.

sweet-ladi - 182 days ago.
*sarahcourtney* I am scheduled for my third c-section Aug 24. I was nervous with my second one as well, but in all honesty, I am not quite sure if it took longer than my first or not. It all goes so fast anyways, after the baby is out you kind of lose track of time. I believe recovery for me was the same as my first, about an hour. I am a little nervous third time around, but not really bad. I think just normal jitters. Don't worry, everything will be fine!! :-)

sarahcourtney - 182 days ago.
I am having a repeat c-section on May 29th and I am so scared. My last section went ok but for some reason I am really scared this time. I'm nervous about the actual surgery, not so much the recovery. I have heard that a second section takes longer and may have more bleeding. Anyone have any comments? How long was your second surgery? Also, if everything goes well how long do you stay in the recovery room after? I cant remember

shellybelly81 - 183 days ago.
aileen my last spinal block was pretty painless. I held the nurses hand and bent over her ... everything went numb and I haven't had any problems

aileenc0 - 185 days ago.
yeah I guess it may just have to be I have a while to go yet anyway. Sorry if I put anyone off by talking about my bad experiences.

indigocream - 186 days ago.
alineen- You can get a general but if you do... your partner/hubby will not be able to attend the birth... Also there are side affects to the general... I was sick and there is nothing that hurts more than to throw up after having tummy surgery...and my throat was sore... like someone took a rake to my thoart.... metal

joyce49788 - 186 days ago.
aileen... i dont think they do general anesthesia(put you under) unless it is a dire emergency, just because it not only effects you but makes baby groggy too which puts baby at risk for slow breathing and low apgar scores... the effect that the spinal had on you during your delivery of your now 6 yr old could be because of the anesteciologist(sp?) and the way he/she administered the spinal.... i have had 3 csections and getting ready to go in (in 6 days) to have my 4th and last... out of the 3 i had 2 spinals and 1 epidural... none of them were too bad. although after my youngest who is almost 7 i was having some pretty bad sciatic pain (couldnt stand up by myself without pain, would hurt if i sit too long, i was limping for awhile cause of it....) but after a few weeks it went away and i havent felt anything like it since... if you are having another csection you might not have a choice as to the way they numb you to do the surgery... but ask them, the worst they can do is tell you NO WE CANT PUT YOU TO SLEEP.... but they may be able to take extra precaution as to HOW they administer the spinal/epidural to you this time... good luck and dont stress too much.. your baby is what is important and if it means you or i have to go through a little more discomfort to bring these miracles into the world... than so be it.

aileenc0 - 186 days ago.
Has anyone who has had a section found getting the spinal very painful? My first time around I got a pain along the bottom of my back and down one leg that felt like an electric shock and I had severe back pain for a few days after also. infact I still get sciatic pain if I stand for longer than a few minutes and my daughter is nearly 6. I am actually tthinking of asking them to knock me out and wake me at the end I don't know if they would go for it though.

indigocream - 190 days ago.
Tell me ladies Im trying to pack for the hospital and I have to remember what to pack... I have the basic and I was thinking maybe we as c-section moms should have a theme... like for our hospital stay.... that may make it less scary... I thinking about the song Baby I'm A Star... by Prince.. you know spice things up alittle... lol I found footies and socks with stars all over them.... Play the song in the operating room and trying to create a more relaxed and all about me delivery..