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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pantone - 7 hours ago.
Did anyone have excruciating chest and back pain during their c-section? It started for me on the table and lasted for 4 days. A doctor I know suggested it was blood leaking behind my diaphragm. . . it was terrifying. I couldn't even hold my baby I was in so much pain the first 6 hours. Then they loaded me up with pain killers and all I did was vomit for 12 hours and of course my baby wouldn't breastfeed then. . . . it was a bit of a disaster. Just wondering if anyone else had this?

jmcbrown2002 - 7 hours ago.
I just had a my second c-sec 3 weeks ago and I have been picking up my 18 month old..so I am sure you will be good even sooner than me..I not only had a classic incision (up and down and through lots more muscles and stuff, and about 2-3 times the size of normal incisions) but I also ended up busting out some stitches my first week home, and I still feel ok enough to pick her up. It is hard not to overdo it, but I was sent home with instructions to not lift anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks, which is impossible since I had an 11 lb baby! Give yourself a week or two to heal and I am sure you will be fine, I learned to lift with my arms and knees rather than stomach muscles..helps alot!

Bri - 8 hours ago.
momof2pregowith1more - I was told that you can't pick up anything heavy then the baby for SIX weeks! This means no carseat and such! Now, that doesn't mean we all abide from these rules. I think after two or three weeks was picking heavier things up. I don't want another section because my son will be 26months. I need to be up moving and grooving quickly. So, I'm doing an all natural VBAC. My son was a section because we couldn't get an induction done so I am confident that once this guy wants to come he will.

momof2pregowith1more - 10 hours ago.
my question is when do you get to pick your older kids up after csection i have a 1yr old and a 3yr old this is my first csection and i dont really know what to expect had my csection october 28,2009

supermammy123 - 5 days ago.
i was induced with my son an tried a vbac but after 9 hours of labour i failed to do, so i had to have an emergency csection. it was due to the fact that my sons heartbeat started dipping as he was in destress so a section was the quickest and safest way xox

*Precious.Moments* - 6 days ago.
Brittany.. Congrats on the birth of your twins!.. How exciting!.. And I agree with the other women that a call to your doctor and antibiotics would be smart.. Stay on the safe side!..

On another note.. Anyone have a failed induction leading to an non-elective/emergency c-section??.. If so please comment on my page. Id love to speak with other mommies who have been thru what I have.. =)

supermammy123 - 6 days ago.
yip i agree. definatley go for the antibiotics to be on the safe side :-)

MILITARY~MOMMY - 6 days ago.
brittany~ I had a similar issue, then redness. It was a slight infection (the doctors words, not mine) that I insisted on antibiotics for, because I did not want it to become a biger issue.

supermammy123 - 6 days ago.
think you may need some antibiotics just to make sure hun. my incision started to weep but no smells. xx

brittany2178 - 6 days ago.
Ladies, I need help! I am 6 day po for my c-section with fraternal twins and today i noticed a foul odor coming from my incision. The incision doesnt hurt only stings because of the staples and everything else has been normal for me. I have a sanitary hospital anti-adhesive gauze strip on over it afyer cleaning it and patting dry. It seems like is smells like sweat, only kind of sour. There is no drainage coming from the incision. I have an appointment tomorrow morning to get my staples removed but I'm afraid this may be an infection... any ideas ladies?

sfrizzell1 - 9 days ago.
Hi ladies, I'm scheduled to have my c-section in 3-4 weeks and I was wondering if anyone here used an abdominal binder and if so hat you thought? I've heard they are a must have but I'm not sure as I've only had vaginal deliveries before. Also, what brand did you use??

jmcbrown2002 - 10 days ago.
Anyone ever had a classic incision OR had problems with their incision coming open? If so please message my page I have some questions..I am dealing with this right now :( It is very worrysome for me.

supermammy123 - 11 days ago.
momof2hopefully3 i feel the exact same way! im due to have my 3rd section in april and i think we are probs more scared as we are more familiar with the risks than a first timer! and to have a 3rd section means more risks than a second time too. i really dont want my tubes tied just yet but i have a feeling that i might have to after this time :-( i seem to think something will go wrong and that will be the result. im only 25 i dont want that to happen just yet xx

michelle007 - 12 days ago.
momof2hopefully3- I am having my second c-section December and having my tubes tied, I am soooooo scared. I was'nt scared with my 1st., but this time I can't hardly stand it. I have all these WHAT IF'S going through my head, you are not alone. Good luck to all of US!!!!

momof2hopfully3 - 12 days ago.
i am going to have my third c-section in february and find myself freaking out about it?? i wasnt like this with my other two and both there recoverys where great so i dont no why i am freaking out so much. i am just SO scared somthing is going to happen being its my third!! any one else feel this way??

supermammy123 - 13 days ago.
the first time you pee after the catheter comes out is sore lol and stings a little :-) but after the first time all seemed well for me. hate those horrid things lol

*Precious.Moments* - 13 days ago.
I didnt really have any pain urinating or having a bowel movement after my c-section.. I did however have pain while laughing coughing or sneezing.. Holding a pillow tight to my incision site helped alot.. and bending over or holding my baby across my lap to breastfeed was a joke.. For the 1st couple weeks at least.. By 6 weeks post-partum I was almost completely back to normal..

dee212 - 13 days ago.
jynxxd-when my catheter came out after the section I think I needed to pee but was hurting so much and when I finally had to go, I was crying and peeing at the same time-the pain was just so horrible. But it gets better,thank GOd

Bri - 14 days ago.
jynxxd - Yes and bowl movements were terrible too. The first one is the worst.

jynxxd - 14 days ago.
i had a c section and was wondering if anyone else has had pains while urinating?

j-lynn - 14 days ago.
Lucky - i dont think that there is anyone on here that will judge you. The decision you made was extremely hard. i asked my dr last week about the procedure to flip him and she said they use to do it but the risks involved with it are to great so they quit a few years back. if i have to get scheduled for a c-section then ill be checked before it starts to see if he may have flipped. im just ready to hold my son in my arms!!

Bri - 15 days ago.
luckywhite - No one is going to judge you. That's a hard decision to make. I feel for you but I don't judge you. I don't think my husband and I would have stayed together either in that case. I'm surprised that they could make those decisions for you though. I understand completely the guilt that is inside you. I've never been through that experience but I understand. You've been through a lot of pain in the past few months. I'm glad you wrote it down. It sometimes helps to heal.

luckywhite - 15 days ago.
i had my secti0n in january and it didnt heal so i went in three months later and got the scars all opened and put back together again as well as a complete pelvic floor reconstruction from my first delivery 8 years ago.. i then started having a lot of pain and i thought i was just knitting back together again i went on holiday came bac really poorly thougt i caught swine flu.. oay on the couch for a month feeling worse and eas getting really bad pains daily .. bear in mind i was still breastfeeding my son had decided not to feed from me while on holiday and i dint know why..so never yet had a period.. we had had one accident with a condom to which i got the morning after pill.. anyhoo long story short took a test after feeling a familliar woozysickness and it came up straight away.. went to the docs and she said with the surgery i had had she couldnt tell me not to have the baby, but coudnt guarantee i woudnt rupture and the baby would survive as i had been having pains and bleeding . the pain i was having were not ligamemt pains. i had a scan.wasnt allowed to see it . and i was in a few days later basically decision taken out my hand byt the doctors and my partner .. pregnancy taken away.. people keep saying it was too much of a risk and im better to heal and have the chnce of healthy pregnancy where i am safe and the baby is safe cause at the end of the day i have two kids to think of and a uterine rupture can kill you in minutes. doesnt stop me from feeling sad about it - i could see the logic applies to someone else but when its you and you have seem babies dancing on a ultrasound.. it does make you feel like the worst person on the planet.. needless to say i hate my partner for the decision made i feel like he would have backed me a bit more cause had been soley up to me i would have taken my chances. so we are not together anymore - i dint blog it as i do eveyrthing else cause this is a pregnancy site and this seemed to horrible and traumatising a story to tell but ive typed it now its out.. and im sure i will be judged. but hey ho everyone has an opinion at the time i was shell shocked into what happened and everyone that knows me and knew about it new how i felt at the time so thats all that matters

Bri - 15 days ago.
j-lynn - There are natural ways to encourage baby to turn. You can do yoga positions, accupressure, accupunture and even chiropractics. If none of them work you can ask your doctor about an external version (ECV). They usually do those around 37weeks or so. Don't give up hope that baby will turn. Good Luck! luckywhite - That's crazy. I know they don't want you to get pregnant right away but to terminate? I know others that have had sections and gotten pregnant within a year of birth. They scheduled another section because they didn't want to risk the scar not being fully healed but they didn't terminate. Was there an underlying cause besides the section?

luckywhite - 15 days ago.
i got pregnant 5 months after a c section and was pretty miuch forced to have the pregnancy terminated as it was comromising my health.. i was devestated