A Cesarean section, otherwise known as a C-section, is when a baby is born through an incision into the abdomen and uterus, rather than through the vagina.
What to expect with a C-section birth
If you’re having a scheduled c-section, then you will likely come to the hospital a couple of hours before your scheduled surgery. You’ll want to clarify with your provider when to stop eating and drinking, as most hospitals require this for several hours.
Once admitted, you will put on a hospital gown, get some fetal monitoring, have an IV placed, and in most cases, you can walk back to the operating room when everything is ready to go. There is typically a lot of waiting, paperwork and repeated questions before it’s go time!
There will be several personnel there taking care of setting up the instrument table, making sure you’re as comfortable as possible, and preparing your anesthetic.. It can be pretty overwhelming because most things you’ll see in this room are new, and the environment is very functional and chilly, and not always comfortable.
Most often, with a scheduled c-section, spinal anesthesia is used. This is similar to an epidural but generally offers faster and more thorough numbing.. After the spinal is placed, you’ll lie down pretty quickly. Your anesthesia provider will stay at your head, and they can talk with you and offer you step by step updates and check in with you to see how you’re feeling. Your belly will be washed, pubic hair will be clipped if needed, and you’ll have a catheter placed into your bladder. Don’t worry – you’ll be numb for all of these steps, and staff will do their best to maintain your privacy. Then a sterile drape will go over your belly and up to your chest. If you’re having a family centered cesarean, this drape may be clear, but most are blue to block any view of the surgery.
The last step before starting the surgery is bringing in your support person. If you have a partner or visitor who you’d like to have in the birth, most hospitals will allow you to have one person come in and sit at the head of your bed.
Then, it’s “go” time!
Generally, the birth of the baby only takes a few minutes. During the procedure, you shouldn’t feel pinching or pain. You may feel pressure, tugging, and some people experience nausea. You can communicate what you’re feeling to the anesthesia provider who will still be sitting at the head of your bed monitoring you closely. They have several interventions they can use to help you feel calm and comfortable.
Once Baby is out, the doctors will also deliver your placenta, then they will stitch all of the layers back up. This takes much longer than the first stage of the surgery to help Baby be born. Hopefully you will be skin to skin with your baby during this time, which makes time fly! Lastly, you’ll get a bandage or skin glue over your incision and the operating room team will move you onto a bed to be rolled into the recovery room. You don’t have to do a thing, just follow their instructions and they’ll do the heavy lifting.
Who might need a C-section?
Most C-sections are performed because of a complicating factor that could put either mom or baby’s health in danger during a vaginal birth.
These reasons include:
- Multiple pregnancy: Multiples often have a difficult time getting into an ideal, head down birthing position
- Health problems with the fetus: This could be an issue you know about before birth, or it could be something that shows up during labor, for example, if baby’s heart rate is showing he/she isn’t getting the oxygen he/she needs, that may mean a C-section is the safest way for baby to be born
- The placement of your placenta could require a c-section: If the placenta is covering or very near to the opening of the cervix, it is safest to have a cesarean birth.
- Breech babies (that is, when the baby is facing feet-down or butt down rather than head-down near the due date): Breech vaginal delivery is rarely done, as it poses significant risk to the baby and c-section birth is a much safer route.
- Maternal health issues may be another reason for scheduling a c-section: These can be physical or mental health concerns. It may be a health issue you know about before birth, or it could be something that shows up late in pregnancy or even during labor.
Ultimately, the route of birth for your baby is something you should discuss in detail with your pregnancy provider.
Are there any risks?
C-sections are considered very safe, though complications can happen and are more frequent than in vaginal births. Some more common issues are heavy bleeding, infection, and anesthesia-related headaches and nausea. Babies born by C-section are also more likely to deal with temporary breathing problems in the hours after birth. Rarely, serious complications can happen including heavy bleeding requiring blood transfusion, injury to surrounding organs, and there is an increased risk of blood clots after a c-section. There are also additional risks in future pregnancies, like abnormal placental implantation or uterine rupture.
Most people will stay in the hospital for 2-4 days after a C-section. This gives you time to feel confident standing, going to the bathroom, and feeling steady on your feet. It also gives you a good opportunity to get more rest than you might at home, and to establish breastfeeding with the help of lactation consultants in the hospital.
Once home, you may experience constipation, bleeding, and mild to moderate pain,Typically, anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your provider, or purchased over the counter at their instruction, is sufficient to treat post-operative pain. And hydration and increasing fiber are both important to help avoid constipation. Believe it or not, post operative gas can be a major contributor to pain. Fluids, gentle movement, over the counter products and chewing sugar free gum can all help you pass that painful gas!
Until you’ve had your postpartum check up and discussed with your provider, it is generally advised you avoid exercise and sex as you heal and recover. It’s important to have a good support system you can lean on during your recovery time.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- “Cesarean Section.” U.S National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus, n.d. Web.
- https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/cesarean-birth
