Skip to content
Narrow screen resolution Wide screen resolution Auto adjust screen size Increase font size Decrease font size Default font size default color grey color red color blue color

Mommy Mommy

Home arrow Labor Essentials arrow What You Need To Know About C-Sections
What You Need To Know About C-Sections PDF Print E-mail
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

A cesarean-section, or c-section for short, is a form of childbirth that involves a surgical incision in the abdomen of the mother to remove the child. Interestingly, the origin of the name cesarean-section can be traced back to the second century, when Roman law required that this procedure was to be performed when a woman about to give birth was dying to save the life of the child. It also has roots in a legend stating that this was the way Julius Caesar was delivered, although it's highly implausible that this was the case.

The rate of c-section births in the United States is around 25%. Some obstetricians prefer this method to traditional vaginal delivery; however, most physicians rely on the mother's wishes if vaginal birth is medically feasible.

Generally a c-section is only performed if there are complications during the pregnancy or delivery. Doctors usually know ahead of time if vaginal delivery poses a risk to either the mother or child and many pregnant women know ahead of time whether or not they will be giving birth via a c-section.

Some reasons for having to undergo a c-section are prolonged labor, pre-eclampsia, multiple births, a breeched birth, or a large infant. As with any surgery, there are risks involved. A c-section is considered major surgery, and anesthesiologists now prefer regional anesthesia, commonly known as an epidural or spinal, rather than general anesthesia as the side effects are more easily overcome. The newborn will experience some after effects of the pain medication the mother received during the procedure, but these effects are usually short-lived.

Recovering from a c-section can take several weeks and there is usually mild to moderate scarring. Many obstetricians perform what is known as a lower segment section, which results in less blood loss and is easier to repair, resulting in minimal scarring. Generally pain medication will be prescribed during the recovery and your doctor will be sure nothing prescribed will interfere if you have chosen to breastfeed your newborn.

In the past, the incision used to deliver a baby through a c-section was very invasive and cut vertically rather than horizontally, severing the uterine muscles making future vaginal births impossible. The more modern technique of cutting horizontally, below the bikini line has no effect on muscle tissue and in many cases (with a good surgeon) is hardly recognizable.

Because you have had one c-section does not always mean you will never be able to give birth vaginally. Obstetricians are increasingly recommending mothers who have given birth through a c-section and want to give birth vaginally after, complete the VBAC, or Vaginal Birth After Cesarean checklist. A link to this checklist can be found at http://www.childbirth.org/section/VBAC.html. If you have concerns about having a c-section, consult your doctor or midwife for further information and resources.
 
[ Back ]

Pregnancy Calendar

Discover what's happening with your baby and your body each week by email. 

Just fill out the form below:

First Name:
Email:
Weeks Pregnant: