What happens if I go into labour first? About 1 in 10 women whose planned caesareans are scheduled for 39 weeks will go into labour first. That means their waters break or their contractions start. If this happens, you will have an emergency rather than a planned caesarean.
Not only are there positive neonatal outcomes when labor happens before a cesarean birth but there are also better perinatal outcomes for mothers who experience spontaneous labor before c-section. Here are some of the benefits: The uterus, especially its lower segment, changes its shape and qualities as labor develops.
Elective caesarean section
If you know beforehand you'll be having a caesarean section, it's called an elective operation. Your appointment will probably be before the date your baby's due, so you don't go into labour. Around 16 in 100 births are by planned caesarean.
There's no clear-cut deadline, and every woman is different, stressed Caughey, obstetrics chairman at the Oregon Health and Sciences University. "My patients ask this every day," he said. He tells them it can "run the gamut from six hours long, start to finish, to three and four days" at the other extreme.
Do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours before your cesarean section. If you have diabetes or gestational diabetes you will be given instructions for how to take your medicines and eat before your procedure.
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.
Take walks. Walking will help your body heal. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water. You may shower.
The average hospital stay after a C-section is 2 to 4 days, and keep in mind recovery often takes longer than it would from a vaginal birth. Walking after the C-section is important to speed recovery and pain medication may be supplied too as recovery takes place.
At first you may be asked to only eat ice chips or take sips of water, at least until your provider is certain you are not likely to have very heavy bleeding. Most likely, you will be able to eat a light diet 8 hours after your C-section.
The typical C-section takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. After your provider delivers your baby, they'll stitch your uterus and close the incision in your abdomen. Different types of emergencies can arise during a delivery.
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.
Under most circumstances, undergoing a c-section via Spinal Anesthesia or Epidural Anesthesia (rather than General Anesthesia) is preferred since it involves less risk and has the advantage of allowing you to be awake during your baby's birth.
If you are awake, you can usually see and hold your baby straight after your C-section birth. You can begin skin-to-skin contact and possibly breastfeeding. Skin to skin contact is important for you and your baby after birth to enhance bonding and establish breastfeeding.
Iron-rich food helps regain the blood lost during delivery. Diet after C-section should contain spinach, quinoa, chicken, ham, turkey, dried apricots, sesame and pumpkin seeds, peanuts, roasted almonds, and sunflower seeds. Easily digestible food like yogurt, paneer, soups, broths helps in great snacking options.
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.
You'll want high-waist underwear (think granny panties) that reach above your incision site, and dresses or loose-fitting pants that won't rub against your incision or squeeze your abdominal area. In short, anything that chafes your scar (like elastic) will not feel good.
“It's recommended that you get up and walk around,” says Dr. Higgins. “We don't want someone lying in bed for two weeks.”
In the five-to-six week postpartum period after giving birth, it's common to experience bowel and digestion issues, and that's true whether you had a c-section or vaginal birth.
“Sometimes, after a C-section, the bowels can take some time to wake up since you've just gone through a major surgery,” explains Dr. Newlin. “It can take three or four days for your first poop after delivery.” That same timeframe holds true if you're taking opioid pain medications.
Second, apple juice helps to keep the stomach empty. This is important because an empty stomach reduces the risk of vomiting during surgery. Third, apple juice helps to prevent dehydration. Dehydration can be a serious complication during surgery and can lead to complications such as infection.
Patients can have water, apple juice, or Gatorade. Allowing fluid, but not food, keeps this problem at bay and it actually keeps things moving, so the stomach is more likely to empty. "Surgery by itself is stressful, and they have anxiety. So you want to make it easier on them," says Dr.
C-section pain typically spikes 18 hours after delivery.
After a C-section, she recommends women take eight weeks off and to avoid heavy activity to prevent complications.