When it’s time to welcome your little one into the world, our hospitals are equipped with the resources and amenities you need to experience a healthy, safe delivery — your way.
Cesarean delivery, also known as a C-section, they are performed for a number of reasons, including complications during pregnancy or delivery, or certain health concerns. Sometimes they are scheduled, but they can also be performed unexpectedly.
Regardless of your personal situation, there are some things you should know about a C-section, including the risks, benefits and recovery.
- You will (most likely) be awake through the whole procedure
Depending on the reason for the C-section, logistics may vary, you will be awake and alert during the procedure. Most often, you will be numbed below the waist using a regional anesthesia, like an epidural, spinal block or both.
In the case of an emergency C-section, doctors may administer general anesthesia, meaning a mother will be unconscious and unable to hear, feel or see any part of the procedure.
Once anesthesia – local or general – is administered, your doctor will make an incision on the lower part of your abdomen, through which the baby will be delivered.
- Sometimes, C-sections are safer than vaginal deliveries
Many women hope for a quick vaginal delivery, but that’s not always a possibility. In fact, according to March of Dimes 32.1% of lives births were cesarean deliveries in the United States, making the procedure one of the most common surgeries in the country.
Both planned and unplanned C-sections are performed to help protect mother and baby from potential complications of vaginal delivery. A cesarean section may be scheduled if:
- The baby is in a breech position, or feet first
- The mother has had previous C-sections
- The mother is pregnant with multiples
- The mother has diabetes, preeclampsia, HIV or active case of genital herpes
Doctors and mothers can’t always plan for complications, but it’s important to be ready if such issues arise. Urgent C-sections may also be performed if labor does not progress or the baby’s heartrate is slow, a sign of fetal distress.
- There are some risks to C-sections
By and large, C-sections are safe, but like any other surgical procedure, a C-section has some risks – for mother and baby.
There are some other risks for the mother, including infection, damage to surrounding organs and blood clots. Although unlikely, it’s possible for the baby to sustain surgery-related injuries, like small cuts. Babies born via C-section are also at an increased risk of developing a breathing problem known as transient tachypnea, in which the baby experiences rapid breathing in the days following delivery.
Cesarean deliveries pose low risk to mother and child, and most doctors perform them only when necessary.
- You’re going to have a scar
With the joy and happiness of your baby’s birth, a scar on your lower abdomen will likely be the last thing on your mind. But as with any procedure that involves an incision, a C-section will leave a lasting mark.
Incisions are typically placed horizontally just above the pelvis, in an area often covered by a swimsuit and even your underwear.
Still, the scar will gradually become smaller and fade overtime. If the scar bothers you, there are several treatment options to help minimize the appearance, including creams, injections and laser therapy.
- “Once a C-section, always a C-section” isn’t always true
Despite common belief, not all women who have a C-section with one child will have the same procedure with future pregnancies. Many women, between 60 and 80 percent, have safe vaginal deliveries following one previous cesarean. It really depends on the reasons for the initial cesarean and what, if any, complications there were as a result.
Women who deliver their babies via C-section because of existing conditions, and have those conditions during subsequent pregnancies, will likely have a repeat procedure.
If you’ve already had a C-section but want to try for a vaginal delivery, speak with your doctor throughout your pregnancy about the possibility.
- You’ll need help during recovery
After you give birth, we continue to provide family-centered care, which fosters the new bond between parents and their new babies.
Recovery from a C-section is longer than that of a vaginal delivery, and will likely require a hospital stay of three or four days following surgery. For days, and even weeks, after the procedure, a woman might feel tired, sore near the incision, constipated or gassy and may struggle to get out of bed or lift her baby.
Upon returning home, women are encouraged to rest when possible, drink plenty of fluids, avoid sex and take medication to manage pain when needed. Walking may also relieve discomfort and help prevent blood clots, but it’s important not to tire yourself out. Most women are back to normal activities between six and eight weeks after delivery.
Find an OB/GYN
At HCA Florida Healthcare, we’re your partner in care, from family-centered labor and delivery services to maternity tours and classes.
As one of the largest healthcare providers in the state, our extensive network is home to everyone from OB/GYNs and midwives to high-risk pregnancy doctors and neonatologists. Find an OB/GYN near you.
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