Cesarean delivery (C-section) is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus.
If you’re pregnant, knowing what to expect during a C-section — both during the procedure and afterward — can help you prepare.
Indicatios For LSCS
- labor isn’t progressing.
- baby is in distress. .
- baby or babies are in an abnormal position.
- You’re carrying multiples
- There’s a problem with your placenta.
- Prolapsed umbilical cord.
- You have a health problem.
- Mechanical obstruction.
- You’ve had a previous C-section
- Some women request C-sections with their first babies — to avoid labor or the possible complications of vaginal birth or to take advantage of the convenience of a planned delivery. However, this is discouraged if you plan on having several children. Women who have multiple C-sections are at increased risk of placental problems as well as heavy bleeding, which might require surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy). If you’re considering a planned C-section for your first delivery, work with your doctor to make the best decision for you and your baby.
Risks to your baby include:
- Breathing problems. Babies born by scheduled C-section are more likely to develop transient tachypnea — a breathing problem marked by abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth.
- Surgical injury. Although rare, accidental nicks to the baby’s skin can occur during surgery.
Risks to you include:
- Infection.
- Postpartum hemorrhage. A C-section might cause heavy bleeding during and after delivery.
- Reactions to anesthesia. Adverse reactions to any type of anesthesia are possible.
- DVT.
- Wound infection. .
- Surgical injury. Although rare, surgical injuries to the bladder or bowel can occur during a C-section. If there is a surgical injury during your C-section, additional surgery might be needed.
- Increased risks during future pregnancies. After a C-section, you face a higher risk of potentially serious complications in a subsequent pregnancy than you would after a vaginal delivery. The more C-sections you have, the higher your risks of placenta previa and a condition in which the placenta becomes abnormally attached to the wall of the uterus (placenta accreta). The risk of your uterus tearing open along the scar line from a prior C-section (uterine rupture) is also higher .
Even if you’re planning a vaginal birth, it’s important to prepare for the unexpected. Discuss the possibility of a C-section with your health care provider well before your due date. Ask questions, share your concerns and review the circumstances that might make a C-section the best option. In an emergency, your health care provider might not have time to explain the procedure or answer your questions in detail.
After a C-section, you’ll need time to rest and recover. Consider recruiting help ahead of time for the weeks after the birth of your baby.
While the process can vary, depending on why the procedure is being done, most C-sections involve these steps:
- At home. Your health care provider might ask you to shower with an antiseptic soap the night before and the morning of your C-section. Don’t shave your pubic hair within 24 hours of your C-section. This can increase the risk of a surgical site infection. If your pubic hair needs to be removed, it will be trimmed by the surgical staff just before surgery.
- At the hospital. Your abdomen will be cleansed. A tube (catheter) will likely be placed into your bladder to collect urine. Intravenous (IV) lines will be placed in a vein in your hand or arm to provide fluid and medication.
- Anesthesia. Most C-sections are done under regional anesthesia, which numbs only the lower part of your body — allowing you to remain awake during the procedure. Common choices include a spinal block and an epidural block. In an emergency, general anesthesia is sometimes needed. With general anesthesia, you won’t be able to see, feel or hear anything during the birth.
After the procedure
After a C-section, you’ll probably stay in the hospital for a few days. Your health care provider will discuss pain relief options with you.
Once the effects of your anesthesia begin to fade, you’ll be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids and walk. This helps prevent constipation and deep vein thrombosis. Your health care team will monitor your incision for signs of infection. If you had a bladder catheter, it will likely be removed as soon as possible.
You will be able to start breast-feeding as soon as you feel up to it. Ask your nurse or a lactation consultant to teach you how to position yourself and support your baby so that you’re comfortable. Your health care team will select medications for your post-surgical pain with breast-feeding in mind.
Before you leave the hospital, talk with your health care provider about any preventive care you might need. Making sure your vaccinations are current can help protect your health and your baby’s health.
When you go home
During the C-section recovery process, discomfort and fatigue are common. To promote healing:
- Rest when possible.
- Most pain relief medications are safe for women who are breast-feeding.
- Avoid sex. To prevent infection, avoid sex for six weeks after your C-section.
Check your C-section incision for signs of infection. Pay attention to any signs or symptoms you experience. Contact your health care provider if:
- Your incision is red, swollen or leaking discharge
- You have a fever
- You have heavy bleeding
- You have worsening pain
If you experience severe mood swings, loss of appetite, overwhelming fatigue and lack of joy in life shortly after childbirth, you might have postpartum depression. Contact your health care provider if you think you might be depressed, especially if your signs and symptoms don’t fade on their own, you have trouble caring for your baby or completing daily tasks, or you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.