A Cesarean section is a medical procedure that involves cutting the abdomen and womb in order to deliver a baby. Around 20% of babies are born through Caesarean section. There are many reasons a doctor might perform a Caesarean section.
In the majority of cases, there is an urgent medical reason for this type of childbirth. Such reasons may include severe preeclampsia, which is high blood pressure due to the pregnancy. There may also be circumstances in which the baby is not receiving enough oxygen, and a vaginal birth is not an option due to time. If the baby is premature, then a Caesarean section may be warranted to prevent damage to its fragile head.
Labor problems, such as irregularities that cause the baby to move too slowly down the birth canal, may also necessitate a Caesarean section. There may also be a blockage to the exit of the womb caused by the placenta. Sometimes, a baby's head is too big to fit through the pelvic area. A Caesarean section may also be performed if the baby's position in the womb is irregular.
A doctor performs a Caesarean section by cutting horizontally along the lower abdomen wall. Another incision is made at the same place in the womb. Cutting along the lower abdomen results in less damage to the womb muscles. It also allows for repeat procedures, if necessary, in the future.
The procedure takes place using an anesthetic, either general, epidural or spinal. A local anesthetic allows the mother to be awake during the birth. The baby is delivered through the incision made in the womb. The placenta detaches from the baby and is removed. The womb wall is then swabbed clean and closed with dissolvable stitches.
Recovery after a Caesarean section is usually quite rapid. It takes around six weeks for the tissue to heal. The mother will be able to provide the baby with basic care, but she should not engage in any heavy lifting.
In any surgical procedure, some complications can arise. A Caesarean section is a major abdominal surgery, and there are a few risks involved. These include womb infections, blood clots and excessive bleeding. However, Caesarean sections have saved the lives of countless mothers and babies. In an emergency, the risks of the procedure are far outweighed by those of not proceeding with a Caesarean section.
After you have received cesarean section anesthesia, a catheter (plastic tube) will be placed in your bladder to drain your urine during the surgery. Your lower abdomen is then washed with a special disinfectant cleanser, and you will be covered with sterile sheets. This helps protect you against infections.
To begin the cesarean section, your doctor will make a 6- to 8-inch incision in your abdomen directly over your uterus. The incision can be either horizontal, which is side to side, or vertical, which is up and down. The direction of the incision will depend on several factors, including:
Your body's shape and size
The position and size of the baby and your uterus
How quickly the delivery is needed.
If you've had a cesarean section before, your surgeon will usually try to go through the previous scar. Once the surgeon is inside, another incision will be made through the uterus. In most women, the incision is side to side on the lower part of the uterus.
Your baby is then delivered through this opening. The umbilical cord is cut, and your baby is handed to a healthcare provider, who will take him or her to a small, warmly lit plastic crib called a warmer. Then your baby is cleaned and dried and eventually checked by a pediatrician.
After your baby has been delivered, your placenta will be carefully removed from your uterus. At this time, you may also receive Pitocin®, which is a drug that causes the uterus to contract and helps prevent serious bleeding. Your doctor will then close the incision on your uterus, and the incisions in your skin will be closed with surgical staples or stitches that will later dissolve on their own.