C-Section Delivery: Are You Prepared For It?

When you anxiously await the arrival of your bundle of joy, there are a ton of worries that creep into mind - chief among them, a cesarean section delivery. Whether it’s a planned procedure given your medical history, or an emergency C-section based on other contingencies, staying aware of what to expect out of a caesarean delivery can reduce a great deal of the anxiety and fear of the unknown.

How to Prepare for Cesarean Delivery

Simply put, a cesarean section is the surgical delivery of a baby.  So here are a few things that your physician may recommend ahead of the surgery:

• Maintaining a healthy diet and weight range
• Lab tests and scans to assess your overall health and the baby’s growth and development
• Appointment with an anesthesiologist to understand and reduce the risk of anaesthesia complications
• In case of C-sections planned before 39 weeks of pregnancy, a few tests may be recommended to monitor the baby’s growth and ability to adapt outside the womb

C-Section Recovery

Following a cesarean birth, you will need to stay under observation and care at the hospital for a minimum of three days. Post-surgery, you will continue to stay on IV for a few hours to administer pain medication and/or antibiotics to stave off infections. After a few hours or a day, you will be advised to move and walk around to help your body return to normal functions such as digestion, bowel movement, etc. You will also be encouraged to hold your baby carefully to avoid stress and pain around the C-section incision area.Once home after a cesarean birth, you are generally expected to:

• Rest well and ease very slowly into everyday activities for the first few weeks
• Take pain medication as prescribed and on time
• Focus on good and much-needed nutrition for your body
• Increase fluid intake to replenish your system
• Exercise caution with your posture and avoid bending or lifting movements

Common Reasons for C-Section Delivery

• High risk pregnancy and mother’s health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease
• Previous C-section delivery
• Placental abruption or placenta previa
• Developmental conditions of the baby
• Baby is too big for a vaginal delivery
• Baby’s position - coming out feet first (breech birth) or coming out shoulder first (transverse labor)
• Threat of umbilical cord coiled around the baby
• Baby is not getting enough oxygen

C-Section Complications

Although, cesarean delivery has become fairly common, with an increasing number of women opting for it without medical grounds, it still remains a surgical procedure with its own risk factors:

• Surgical or other infections
• Surgical injury to other organs
• Excessive bleeding and blood loss
• Increased risk in future pregnancies
• Breathing problems for the baby, particularly for those born before 39 weeks of pregnancy
• Injury to the baby during surgery

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