A caesarean section, or c-section, is an operation to deliver your baby through a cut in your tummy (abdomen).
If you have problems in your pregnancy, caesarean section can be the safest way to deliver your baby. But it’s a major operation that carries some risks. It’s important that you’re aware of these if you’ve been advised to have or are considering a caesarean.
Your caesarean may be planned (elective) or may be done as an emergency.
Here are some of the reasons your doctor may recommend a planned caesarean.
Reasons why you may need an unplanned or emergency caesarean include the following.
Remember, your doctor or midwife will only recommend a caesarean, if it’s the best thing for you and your baby. You can ask them about the risks and benefits before you give your consent.
Your doctor won’t recommend a caesarean section unless there’s a medical reason. However, any woman can choose to have her baby by caesarean section if she wishes.
It’s important that you understand exactly what’s involved if you’re considering this option. You should tell your midwife or doctor as early as possible. They’ll offer you the chance to talk to a health professional trained in providing support. You can talk through any concerns about vaginal birth with them. They’ll explain your birth options, including what pain relief you can have.
They’ll also explain the risks and benefits of a caesarean section compared to a vaginal birth. Some of the main ones are listed here.
If you have any questions, consult your doctor.
If you’re having a planned caesarean, you’ll get information about how to prepare. It’s very important to follow any instructions your hospital gives you. This will include not eating or drinking for some hours before your operation.
You should arrange beforehand to have someone to help you in the first few weeks after you get home. It can take time to recover, and you won’t be able to drive or lift anything heavy at first.
You’ll have a blood test before your caesarean section to check for anaemia and to confirm your blood group. Swabs may be taken from areas of your skin to check for bacteria, like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which are resistant to antibiotics.
You’ll be offered antibiotics to take on the day of your caesarean. This is to reduce your chance of getting an infection afterwards. You may also be offered anti-sickness drugs and antacids.
If you’re having a planned caesarean, it’s usual to have either a spinal or epidural anaesthetic. This means you’ll be awake, but numb from the chest down. You’ll have a thin tube (catheter) put into your bladder to help you pass urine (wee). See our video below, ‘How an epidural is given during childbirth’.
If you have an emergency or unplanned caesarean, you may need to have a general anaesthetic. This means you’ll be asleep during the operation.
Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, your surgeon will make a cut across your lower tummy. This area is sometimes called the ‘bikini line’. They’ll then make a cut in your womb to reach your baby. If you’ve had a regional anaesthetic, you won’t feel any pain but you may feel some pulling or pressure in your lower body.
After delivery of your baby and placenta, the cuts to your womb will be closed with dissolvable stitches. Your surgeon will close the wound in your abdomen using stitches or clips and cover it with a dressing.
You’ll be encouraged to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby as soon as possible after the birth. You’ll also be offered support to start breastfeeding your baby if you choose to do so.
Your medical team will check that you’re recovering from your anaesthetic properly. And they’ll make sure that you have medicines to reduce any discomfort.
If you don’t have any complications and you’re recovering well, you can eat or drink as soon as you feel ready.
You’ll be encouraged to get up and start walking soon. You may be offered compression stockings to wear before your caesarean or an injection of an anticlotting medicine called heparin afterwards. These all help prevent blood clots forming in your legs (deep vein thrombosis).
Your catheter can come out, once you’re up and about, if it’s been at least 12 hours since your last epidural dose.
It's usual to stay in hospital for two to three days after having a caesarean delivery. If you’re recovering well with no signs of fever or infection, you may be able to go home sooner. Or you may be advised to stay longer if you or your baby needs to. Before you leave hospital, your nurse will give you advice about your recovery. This will include what painkillers you’ll need, any complications to watch out for, and how to look after your healing wound.
If you’ve had an unplanned caesarean, you should have the chance to talk to your surgeon and midwife about why this was needed. They’ll also give you information about your options for any future pregnancies.
How long it takes to recover fully from a caesarean is different for every woman. You’ll need plenty of help and support from family and friends when you first get home. When you’re discharged, the hospital will give you some advice to follow. This is likely to include some of the following.
It can take time to get back to normal after having a caesarean section, both physically and emotionally. Talk to your midwife or health visitor about how you’re feeling. They can give you support and answer any questions you have. And if you’d like to talk to others with similar experiences, they may be able to put you in touch with a support group.
Most women who have a caesarean recover well and have healthy babies. But a caesarean is a major operation and it’s important to be aware of the possible risks to you and your baby.
Possible complications of caesarean section which might affect you include the following.
The risk of complications tends to be greater if you’re overweight. You’re also more likely to have complications in repeat caesarean sections.
There are some complications of caesarean section which might affect your baby.
If you want to know more about the possible complications of a caesarean, talk to your doctor or midwife.
If you’ve had a caesarean, you may wonder how you’ll give birth to your next baby. You may hope for a vaginal birth or prefer a planned caesarean section.
When thinking about your future birth options, there are some things to take into account.
The risks and benefits of a vaginal birth or another caesarean are different for every woman. Talk to your midwife or doctor about your options at an antenatal visit. It’s best to do this before 28 weeks.
Around seven in 10 women go on to have their next baby vaginally after having had a caesarean. This is known as a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). You’re more likely to have a successful VBAC if you’ve had a previous vaginal birth.
If you plan to have a vaginal birth, you and your baby will be very closely monitored while you’re in labour. Be aware that some women trying for a vaginal birth end up needing an emergency caesarean.
If you plan to have another caesarean, this is known as an ‘elective repeat caesarean section’ (ERCS). If you’ve had three or more previous caesareans, this will be the safest option. Or there may be problems with your pregnancy which make a vaginal birth more risky. Your doctor or midwife can talk to you about these.
You can have repeated caesarean sections. If you have four or more caesareans, your risk of certain complications increases. These include injury to your bladder or bowel, and problems with your placenta.
A caesarean section means that your baby is delivered by a doctor making a cut in your tummy. You’ll be given an anaesthetic so that you don’t feel pain. It may be planned beforehand, or may be done as an emergency. To find out what happens, see our ‘Procedure’ section above.
If you’re having a caesarean under regional anaesthesia, your birthing partner will usually be allowed to be with you.
No, not necessarily. Around seven in 10 women are able to give birth vaginally after a caesarean. This is more likely to be successful if you’ve had a previous vaginal birth. For more information, see our section on ‘Future births after having a caesarean’ above.
You should wait until you’re fully recovered from your caesarean before driving. This is so that you’re physically able to drive and not at risk of being distracted by pain. This may take around six weeks. If you’re not sure, check with your doctor.
A caesarean section is performed under anaesthesia. This means the procedure is pain free or causes only minor discomfort. After a caesarean section, you’ll have some post-operative pain, usually across the lower tummy. You’ll be offered painkillers for this. The process of labour for a vaginal birth can be painful, but there will be a wide range of pain relief options available to help you cope. If you’re concerned about pain during childbirth, talk to your midwife. They can discuss your options for pain relief with you.
Recovery time will be different for each woman, but it can take around six to eight weeks to get back to normal. It takes longer to recover from a caesarean than from a vaginal birth. This is because a caesarean section is major surgery. For more information, see our section on Recovery from a caesarean delivery above.
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