Why do I need an emergency cesarean section?
When you are pregnant, having
a healthy baby is probably your biggest concern. And maybe your birth plan
includes a vaginal birth. However, in certain situations, a cesarean section
may be the best option.
Sometimes a cesarean section
is the only option because your doctor can deliver your baby quickly through
incisions in your abdomen and uterus.
Often, a cesarean section is
scheduled ahead of time for several reasons, such as if you are expecting
multiple births. But sometimes they become essential life-saving procedures in
an emergency.
Reasons for an emergency cesarean section
If you need an emergency cesarean
section, your doctor has decided that you or your baby are under a lot of
stress, and immediate delivery is the only option. Possible reasons for an
emergency cesarean section include:
- Fetal or maternal distress
- Prolapsed umbilical cord (the umbilical cord drops through your cervix into your vagina ahead of your baby)
- Maternal hemorrhage
- Placenta abruption (the placenta peels away from the wall of your uterus)
- Uterine rupture (your uterus tears along a previous cesarean section scar)
Reasons for an unplanned cesarean section
There is a difference between
an unplanned cesarean section and an emergency cesarean section, although
people often use the terms interchangeably. An unplanned cesarean section is
still considered an emergency, but the mother and baby are not usually in
life-threatening situations. Common reasons for an urgent unplanned cesarean
section may include:
- Labor isn't progressing.
- Contractions are too weak.
- Baby isn’t tolerating labor.
- Baby is sideways or breech when labor begins.
Cesarean section procedure
During an emergency cesarean,
time is running out. The goal is to get your child out as soon as possible
because your life or your child's life may be in danger. The time between the
start of the operation and delivery can be as little as 1 minute.
If you had an epidural while
you were trying to give birth vaginally, your anesthetist may have time to give
you enough medication through the epidural to keep you awake during the cesarean
section. If you have not had an epidural, your doctor may need to give you a
general anesthetic and you will meet your baby when you wake up.
An elective cesarean section,
such as one due to a labor not going well, is usually started within 30 to 60
minutes of your doctor's decision. You will probably wake up before this cesarean
section and meet your baby right away. You will receive a spinal anesthetic, an
epidural, or a combination of the two, called a combined spinal epidural, so
you won't feel any pain.
Cesarean section risks
An emergency cesarean section has different risks than an elective cesarean section, including an increased risk of heavy bleeding, complications from the rapid administration of anesthesia, and accidental injury to you or your baby.