A c-section, or caesarean section, is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus.
A caesarean section, also known as ‘c section’, is an operation to deliver a baby by making a surgical cut to your abdomen and womb. Most Nigerian mothers dread going through CS but the truth is, some certain circumstances might warrant this.
Types Of Caesarean Section
1. Emergency Caesarean section. When there is suspected danger to the mother’s or baby’s condition an emergency section is resorted to. This is carried out at short notice, usually during labour. The following conditions might neccesitate Caesarean section:
- Fetal distress. When some signs signal that the baby is in distress before or during the course of labour, this might neccesitate Caesarean section
- Maternal distress. An emergency caesarean has to be done to save the mother’s life, if she is subjected to life-threatening circumstances during labour.
- Mechanical impedance to the progress of labor. If the mother’s passage is too narrow, the baby is oversized, or their contraction is not progressing as they should, this might make vagina delivery impossible, thereby making Caesarean Section the next option.
2. Elective Caesarean section is planned in advance and done on a specific date chosen by the patient and the doctor after assessing the maturity of the baby, usually for medical reasons.
A caesarean might be recommended at any point in pregnancy and labour. You may require a planned c-section if:
- You previously had Caesarean Section quite often, that becomes an indication to deliver the next child also by a caesarean section because this significantly increase the risk that your uterus will rupture if you go through a vaginal delivery.
- Obstruction. If you have an obstruction, such as a large fibroid, that would make a vaginal delivery difficult or impossible
- Genital herpes in the mother. This is necessary so that the mother’s infection does not pass on to the baby during its journey in the mother’s birth canal a Caesarean is resorted to.
- Multiple Babies. You may need to have a Caesarean section if you’re carrying more than one baby.Sometimes multiple babies are delivered vaginally but most of the time higher-order multiples require a c-section.
- Previous Classical Caesarean section. If you’ve had a previous cesarean with a “classical” vertical uterine incision then you may have to repeat a Caesarean as these scars tend to be rather weak and may tear open during a normal vaginal delivery.
- Placenta praevia grade 4. The abnormal position of the baby such as breech or transverse lie where the baby lies across the mother’s womb. If your baby is in a breech position that is he’s in a bottom first or transverse (sideways) position.
- Macrosomia. If your baby is expected to be very large, this condition is known as macrosomia. This is more true if you’re diabetic.
Effects Of Of Having A Caesarean
Generally, a caesarean birth is considered to be a safe operation, and most mums and their babies recover well, although because it is a major operation, it may have an impact on both you and your baby.
- Bleeding. You are at risk of haemorrhage (severe bleeding), wound infection, or small blood clots (thrombosis).
- Healing can take a long time. Your physical recovery is likely to take longer than if you had had a vaginal birth.
- You will have a scar on your uterus where the incision was made, which may affect future pregnancies, labour and birth, and would be considered in any other surgery you may want to undergo later.
- And for babies, the chance that he might have breathing difficulties is high and that can continue for a while after the birth. This is because vaginal birth helps a baby to breathe once she is born, as labour prepares the baby’s lungs for breathing but babies born by caesarean however do not go through this and your baby might have to be taken to the neonatal baby unit after you give birth.
Although there is evidence that the risk of breathing difficulties is reduced if the caesarean happens after 39 weeks of pregnancy.
Furthermore, while a suggestion of a caesarean section to some women will come as a welcome relief if they are well informed about it (especially nurses and well learned people), for some other women the prospect of a c-section can be disappointing or distressing. If you feel you don’t have enough information, ask questions.
Helpful? Mamalettes are you going through similar issues or you know someone that is ? Visit our forum or post your question comments below.
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