Cesarean section
A cesarean section occurs
through an incision in the abdominal wall and uterus, not through the vagina.
Over the past 30 years, there has been a gradual increase in the number of cesarean
sections.
This means that more than 1 in
4 women are likely to have a cesarean section.
What can I expect during a cesarean section?
A typical cesarean section
takes an average of 45 minutes to an hour. The baby is usually born within the
first 5-15 minutes and the remaining time is used to close the incision.
Pre-surgery
Before the surgery, you will
be given anesthesia (general, spinal, or epidural) if you have not already
received it during childbirth. General anesthesia is usually only used for an
emergency cesarean section because it works quickly and calms the mother.
Spinal and epidural anesthesia
numbs the area from the abdomen to the lower back (sometimes the legs can also
go numb), so nothing is felt during the procedure. During this procedure, you
will likely have a catheter inserted to collect urine while your lower body
will be numbed.
Surgery
First, the doctor makes an
incision in the abdominal wall. For an emergency cesarean section, it will most
likely be a vertical incision (from the navel to the pubis), which will allow
the doctor to deliver the baby more quickly.
The most common incision is
made horizontally (often called a bikini incision), just above the pubic bone.
Your abdominal muscles will not be contracted. They will be separated so that
the doctor can access the uterus.
An incision will then be made
in the uterus, either horizontally or vertically. It is not necessary to make
the same incisions on the abdomen and uterus. The classic vertical incision is
usually reserved for difficult situations such as placenta previa, emergencies,
or neonates with abnormalities.
For women with a classic
incision, vaginal delivery after cesarean section is not recommended. Another
rarely used type of incision is the vertical incision of the lower segment.
This will only be used in cases where uterine problems prevent another type of
incision from being made.
The most common incision is
the low transverse incision. This incision carries less risk and complications
than others and allows most women to attempt vaginal delivery after a cesarean
section in their next pregnancy with little risk of uterine rupture.
The doctor will then aspirate
the amniotic fluid and deliver the baby. The baby's head will come out first so
that the mouth and nose can be cleared so they can breathe. Once the entire
body has been removed, the doctor will lift and show you your baby.
Most doctors then send the
baby to a nurse for a checkup. Finally, your placenta will be pushed out (you
may feel a tug), after which the surgical team will begin the close-up process.
After surgery
After the surgery, you may
start to feel nauseous and trembling. This may be caused by anesthesia, the
effects of uterine contractions, or the release of adrenaline. These symptoms
usually resolve quickly and may be accompanied by drowsiness. If your baby is
healthy, this usually happens when he can lie on your chest, and you can start
breastfeeding and bonding with him. You and your child will be monitored
closely for possible complications.
When you are discharged from the hospital, you will be informed about the appropriate postoperative care for your incision and for yourself.