A caesarean section is a major surgical operation in which your baby is born through a cut in your abdomen and uterus. It is usually performed under a spinal or epidural anaesthesia. In some cases it is necessary to use a general anaesthetic so that you are asleep throughout.
A caesarean is a major operation that carries a number of risks, so it's usually only done if it's the safest option for you and your baby.
A caesarean section is generally a very safe procedure, but like any type of surgery it does carry a risk of complications. The level of risk will depend on things such as whether the procedure is planned or carried out as an emergency, and your general health.
Get plenty of rest
Just like with any surgery, your body needs time to heal afterward. Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after your delivery. If there are complications, your stay will be longer. Give your body 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal.
You won't feel any pain during the C-section, although you may feel sensations like pulling and pressure. Most women are awake and simply numbed from the waist down using regional anesthesia (an epidural and/or a spinal block) during a C-section.
A caesarean section is an operation to give birth to your baby. Caesarean section surgery usually takes 30-60 minutes, although the entire process takes a few hours. There'll be many people in the operating theatre with you.
At the beginning of a caesarean section, six separate layers of the abdominal wall and uterus are opened individually. Once the baby is delivered the uterus is closed with a double layer of stitching.
Returning to Physical Activities After a C-Section
It's important to get out of bed and walk around within 24 hours after surgery. This can help ease gas pains, help you have a bowel movement, and prevent blood clots.
Once you are home from the hospital, you may like to wait until about 10 days post-delivery to try out a short walk around the block. If you had an emergency C-section then you may need to wait a few extra days before you start walking outdoors.
The average stay in hospital after a caesarean is around 4 days. You may be able to go home sooner than this if both you and your baby are well. While in hospital: you'll be given painkillers to reduce any discomfort.
Unnecessary general anesthesia for cesarean delivery is associated with maternal complications, including serious anesthesia-related complications, surgical site infection, and venous thromboembolic events.
Overuse of c-sections matters because, while often lifesaving in limited circumstances, the surgery also brings serious risks for babies (such as higher rates of infection, respiratory complications, and neonatal intensive care unit stays, as well as lower breastfeeding rates) and for mothers (such as higher rates of ...
General anesthesia is most often used when a C-section is urgent and there isn't time for an epidural or a spinal block. We place a breathing tube through your mouth, down your throat, and into your lungs to help you breathe during the procedure. You'll be asleep during the C-section.
During a caesarean section
The doctor will make a cut in your abdomen and your uterus (both about 10 cm long). Your baby will be lifted out through the cut. Sometimes the doctor may use forceps to help lift out your baby's head.
However, from the current medical evidence, most medical authorities do state that if multiple C-sections are planned, the expert recommendation is to adhere to the maximum number of three.”
Why you need to wait. The concern regarding having a C-section and driving too soon centers around your physical capabilities and the risks associated with being under the influence of pain medication. A C-section is a major surgery, which means it comes with serious risks and aftereffects during the recovery period.
The classic back sleeping position
While back sleeping isn't recommended once you're more than 20 weeks pregnant, this position is recommended for those recovering from surgery. It places the least amount of strain and pressure on your incision site and ensures that your body is aligned in a neutral position.
Start Breastfeeding Early After a Cesarean Section
For most, milk transitions from colostrum (early milk) to milk coming in by 72 hours of birth.
After a C-section, she recommends women take eight weeks off and to avoid heavy activity to prevent complications.
Coughing and Sneezing Will Hurt
Eskridge, who underwent two c-sections of her own, experienced the same thing—and offers some useful advice: “Splinting (holding a pillow against the abdomen over the incision) is very helpful in preventing pain with coughs, sneezes and laughing,” she says.
When Can I Drive After a C-Section? You should wait until you're healed—which is typically around two weeks.
During elective (planned) caesarean sections, some obstetricians routinely dilate the cervix intraoperatively, using sponge forceps, a finger, or other instruments, because the cervix of women not in labour may not be dilated, and this may cause obstruction of blood or lochia drainage.
There's usually no limit to the number of caesarean sections you can have. But the more caesareans you have, the longer each operation will take and the higher your risk of serious complications becomes. You will have scar tissue where your wounds have healed after each operation.
Ideally, your doctor will cut through the same scar so that you don't have multiple scars on your abdomen and uterus. Sometimes scar tissue can be difficult to cut through but your doctor should be able to cut through it.