ONP Hospitals

Cesarean Delivery

Using incisions in the abdomen and uterus, a woman gives birth to a baby through cesarean section (C-section).

If you have pregnancy problems or have had a prior C-section, a C-section may be arranged in advance if you don’t want to pursue a vaginal delivery following the cesarean (VBAC). First-time C-sections aren’t always necessary, and this becomes clear only after labor has begun.

Everything You Need To Know About Cesarean Delivery

What is a Cesarean Delivery?

Your health or the health of your child may need a cesarean section, generally known as a C-section. This treatment involves making surgical incisions in the abdomen and uterus to deliver the baby.

 

When is it Needed?

When a medical reason necessitates a cesarean birth, you may arrange it ahead of time, or it might happen spontaneously during your labor if specific complications emerge.

If any of the following circumstances apply, you may require a scheduled cesarean delivery:

  • Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD): CPD refers to a baby whose head or body is either excessively enormous or the mother’s pelvis is too tiny to safely deliver a normal-sized baby, depending on the case.
  • Previous c-section delivery: While it is possible to give birth vaginally after a prior Cesarean, this is not an option for many women. The kind of uterine incision utilized in the prior cesarean as well as the risk of uterine rupture may both influence the requirement for a cesarean.
  • Multiple pregnancies: Even though twins are often born vaginally, delivering two or more children may need a cesarean section.
  • Placenta previa: As a result, the baby is unable to pass out via the cervix because the placenta is too low in the uterine wall.
  • Transverse lie: The baby is lying sideways in the uterus because of its horizontal posture. Cesarean birth is usually utilized when a woman has this condition.
  • Breech presentation: A breech presentation, also known as a breech delivery, occurs when the infant is born with its feet or its bottom first, respectively. Your obstetrician-gynecologist doctor may recommend a cesarean birth if he or she believes the baby cannot be flipped via abdominal manipulation.
  • Doppler Changes: Doppler Ultrasounds are done to see doppler changes that may detect abnormal blood flow and indicate poor fetal prognosis. In such case, a C-section may be done.

If any of the following occur during your labor, you may require an unscheduled cesarean delivery:

  • Failure of labor to progress: When the cervix starts to dilate but stops before the woman is completely dilated or the baby stops progressing down the birth canal, this syndrome occurs.
  • Cord compression: The umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck or torso, or it becomes tangled between the baby’s head and the mother’s uterus as she gives birth.
  • Prolapsed cord: Umbilical cord emerges from cervix before to baby’s appearance
  • Abruptio placentae: Before the baby is delivered, the placenta separates from the uterine wall.
  • Fetal distress: A baby that develops abnormal heartbeat difficulties during birth is called preeclampsia. A cesarean birth may be recommended if your doctor determines that the infant is no longer able to withstand labor on its own.

How to Prepare?

If your C-section is planned ahead of time, your doctor may propose that you speak with an anesthesiologist about any probable medical issues that increase your risk of anesthetic difficulties during the procedure.

Before your C-section, your doctor may also order specific blood tests. The results of these tests will reveal your blood type and hemoglobin level, which are both important in determining the health of your red blood cells. In the unusual event that you need a blood transfusion during the C-section, these facts will be useful to your medical team.

Even if you want to give birth vaginally, you should be ready for everything. Talk to your doctor well in advance of your due date about the likelihood of a C-section. Ask questions, express your worries, and consider if a C-section is the best choice in your particular situation. In an emergency, your doctor may not have the time to describe the process or answer all of your questions.

You’ll need time to relax and heal after a C-section. For the weeks after the birth of your baby, consider enlisting the assistance of family and friends.

When to Visit a Hospital after a C-section?

If any of the following apply, speak with your physician right away:

  • You have a red, swollen, or discharge-filled incision
  • You’ve got a high temperature
  • You’re bleeding profusely
  • You’re experiencing increasing discomfort

It’s possible that postpartum depression sets in early after delivery if you suffer from strong mood changes, loss of appetite, exhaustion, and a general lack of happiness. If you suspect you could be sad, talk to your doctor, particularly if your symptoms don’t go away on their own, if you have difficulty caring for your infant or performing everyday duties, or if you have thoughts of killing yourself or your baby, contact your health care professional.

Conclusion

If vaginal delivery isn’t an option, a C-section delivers the fetus surgically. If you’re having a Cesarean, you may be able to arrange it ahead of time. You might even have it done if anything goes wrong with your pregnancy or childbirth.