These sudden movements can be painful. You'll need to avoid driving or lifting anything heavy so that you don't put any unnecessary pressure on your incision. Check with your health care provider about when you can get back to your normal activities typically after about 6 to 8 weeks, when the uterus has healed. As with a vaginal delivery, you shouldn't have sex until your doctor has given you the go-ahead, usually about 6 weeks after delivery.
Frequent and early walking may help ease some post-cesarean pains and discomfort. It also can help prevent blood clots and keep your bowels moving. But don't push yourself — take it easy and have someone help you get around, especially up and down stairs. Let friends, family, and neighbors lend a helping hand with meals and housework for a while, especially if you have other children.
Although breastfeeding might be a little painful at first, lying on your side to nurse or using the clutch or football hold can take the pressure off your abdomen. Drink plenty of water to help with your milk supply and to help avoid constipation.
C-sections scars fade over time. They'll get smaller and become a natural skin color in the weeks and months after delivery. And because incisions are often made in the "bikini" area, many C-section scars aren't even noticeable.
Emotionally, you may feel a little disappointed if you'd been hoping for a vaginal birth or had gone through labor that ended in a C-section. Remember that having a C-section does not make the birth of your baby any less special or your efforts any less amazing. After all, you went through major surgery to deliver your baby! Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD.
Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a C-Section? Why Are C-Sections Needed? Scheduled C-Sections Some C-sections are scheduled if the doctor knows that a vaginal birth would be risky. An emergency C-section might be done if: labor stops or isn't progressing as it should and medicines aren't helping the placenta separates from the uterine wall too soon called placental abruption the umbilical cord becomes pinched which could affect the baby's oxygen supply or enters the birth canal before the baby called umbilical cord prolapse the baby is in fetal distress — certain changes in the baby's heart rate may mean that the baby is not getting enough oxygen the baby's head or entire body is too big to fit through the birth canal Of course, each woman's pregnancy and delivery is different.
Here's a quick look at what usually happens during a scheduled C-section. To prepare for the delivery, you'll probably have: various monitors in place to keep an eye on your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure your mouth and nose covered with an oxygen mask or a tube placed in your nostrils to give you oxygen a catheter a thin tube inserted into your bladder through your urethra which may be uncomfortable when it's placed, but should not be painful an IV in your arm or hand your belly washed and any hair between the bellybutton and pubic bone shaved a privacy screen put around your belly After anesthesia is given, the doctor makes an incision on the skin of the abdomen — usually horizontally 1—2 inches above the pubic hairline, sometimes called "the bikini cut".
What Are the Risks? Potential C-section risks include: increased bleeding that could, though rarely, require a blood transfusion infection antibiotics are usually given to help prevent this bladder or bowel injury reactions to medicines blood clots death very rare possible injury to the baby Some of the regional anesthetic used during a C-section does reach the baby, but it's much less than what the newborn would get if the mother had general anesthesia which sedates the baby as well as the mother.
While C-sections are extremely safe, very rarely, complications happen. Blood clots in the legs, pelvic organs or lungs can also occasionally occur. Surrounding organs like your bowel or bladder can be injured and require additional surgery to fix. Very rarely, the lining of the uterus becomes inflamed or irritated called endometritis. So, if you notice increasing pelvic pain, unusual discharge or a fever after birth, call your doctor right away.
As for babies born by C-section, they may be at a higher risk of transient tachypnea, rapid breathing caused by leftover fluid in the lungs. While the condition sounds frightening, it usually only lasts for a day after delivery and then goes away on its own.
The latest guidelines by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG recommend that moms and their doctors always plan for a vaginal delivery unless a C-section is medically required.
The group also suggests that other labor interventions be delayed or avoided if possible in women with low-risk pregnancies where Mom and baby are progressing normally.
For women who decide to go through with an elective C-section, ACOG recommends scheduling the procedure no earlier than 39 weeks of pregnancy. The group asks that doctors remind women that the of risk of placenta previa, placenta accreta and hysterectomy increase with every cesarean delivery. Since cesareans are safe and can prevent the pain of labor, some women particularly those who've had a C-section before prefer them to vaginal deliveries and ask for them in advance.
The rate is dropping, however, since there has been quite a push to lower C-section rates in the U. Obstetricians and other experts are encouraging more trials of labor to promote VBACs and more widespread use of vacuum and forceps during delivery to prevent unnecessary surgical deliveries. Still wondering if you should request an elective C-section? Before you do, ask yourself the following questions and talk with your practitioner so you can decide what's right for you and your baby.
While you may be eager to start caring for your precious newborn, the physical and emotional recovery after a C-section takes longer than it does after a vaginal birth.
Typical C-section stays average about three to four days, depending on any complications you may have had during surgery. Remember, slow and steady wins this race! Ignoring this advice will only lead to a longer C-section recovery, so keep these strategies in mind:. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Registry Builder New. Having a C-Section Cesarean Section. Medically Reviewed by Oluwatosin Goje, M. On the plus side, this type of incision usually results in less bleeding for the mother.
Also, note that there is no need to shave beforehand. Hospital staff will do this if it is necessary, and it might not be. There are multiple layers that your surgeon must go through before reaching the baby. The abdominal muscles won't be cut but will be separated in order to access the uterus.
The bladder and intestines may need to be pushed aside, as well. The doctor will use a variety of instruments during the procedure as they go through each layer of the body. Sometimes, there are strange smells, caused by disinfectants and cauterizing, which is a burning smell. While the c-section is a major surgery any invasive procedure that enters a body cavity, such as the abdomen , the procedure is very safe and effective. That said, it does carry risks, like any surgery, such as infection, blood clots, or hemorrhage.
However, serious complications are rare. When the doctor reaches the uterus, you may hear suctioning. After cutting through the uterus, the amniotic fluid will be suctioned away to make a bit more room in the uterus for the doctor's hands or instruments, such as forceps or a vacuum extractor, which are sometimes used forceps less often than vacuum extractor but more often neither to facilitate the extraction of the baby.
Your baby is often engaged in the pelvis, usually, head down, but perhaps rear first or breech. Whatever part has entered the pelvis will be lifted out by the doctors. You may feel pressure, tugging, or pulling at this point and some women report feeling nauseated during this intense, but brief moment. Although you may feel pressure, you should not feel pain. The anesthesiologist is usually positioned right by your head in order to monitor your pain and general well-being.
Alert them if you feel any pain. They will also often keep you informed about everything that is happening during the procedure and can answer any of your questions. Once the head is out, your doctor will suction the baby's nose and mouth for fluids. In a vaginal birth, these are squeezed out by the constriction of labor.
In a cesarean birth, the baby needs some extra help getting rid of these fluids. If meconium the baby's first bowel movement is present there may be extra suctioning required. Once your baby has been well suctioned, the doctor will start to help the rest of the body be born. The surgeon will need to maneuver the baby back and forth to help them emerge. You may feel this wiggling, but again, while you may experience sensations of tugging or pulling, this should not be painful.
The doctor will check for umbilical cord entanglement or other complications as the body is born. You may also have the assistant surgeon pressing on the upper part of your abdomen to assist in the birth. The moment you've been waiting for—your baby's birth! It's been about 5 to 10 minutes since your surgery started. Your baby will typically be briefly held over the drape to show you the baby, the umbilical cord will be cut, and then, the baby is taken away by a nursery nurse or neonatologist to a nearby warmer, depending on the setup of the operating room.
If your baby goes to the warmer, it is usually in the same room as the surgery. Here, your baby will be suctioned again to ensure that they have help clearing the amniotic fluid.
Your baby may also have some basic care like weighing, measuring, cleaning, and vitamin K. With some prior planning with participating practitioners and hospitals, assuming both you and the baby are doing well, you can request a "gentle" c-section, which is also called a natural cesarean.
In a gentle c-section, the surgery remains the same, the difference is that efforts are made to personalize the experience and mimic a vaginal birth.
For example, lights may be dimmed, music may be played, the drape that normally obscures the mom's view of the operation may be clear, and once the baby's head is out of the abdomen, the rest of the body is brought out slower this can help to squeeze out fluid from the baby's lungs , and skin-to-skin contact with your baby immediately after the birth is prioritized.
The next steps are the delivery of the placenta, followed by the suturing of the uterus and all the layers that were cut during the surgery. Once the placenta has been removed, it will be examined by your doctor. During this time you can usually have your baby with you to breastfeed or hold. However, don't feel pressure to begin breastfeeding immediately, you can start any time in the first hours after your baby is born—a small delay won't cause any harm.
Simply enjoying your baby however works best for you is fine. It may also be possible for your support person to hold the baby close to your face if you are unable to hold your baby.
After everything is finished surgically, your surgeon will stitch your incision shut. There are advantages to both methods—staples are faster saving around seven minutes , while stitches decrease rates of wound separation and infection and usually yield a finer scar. In a planned procedure, you can discuss the options with your doctor.
Once closed, the wound will be covered with a bandage. You will be watched in the post-op area for at least an hour to ensure that your vital signs are stable and that you aren't bleeding too heavily, though everyone will bleed vaginally for a few weeks from the healing uterus.
Usually, your baby and support person can be with you.
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