WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE A C-SECTION?
First, your practitioner will explain why she believes a c-section is necessary, and you'll be asked to sign a consent form. If your prenatal practitioner is a midwife, you'll be assigned an obstetrician for the surgery who will make the final decision and get your consent.
Typically, your husband or partner can be with you during most of the preparation and for the birth. In the rare instance that a c-section is such an emergency that there's no time for your partner to change clothes — or you need general anesthesia, which would knock you out completely — your partner might not be allowed to stay in the operating room with you.
An anesthesiologist will then come by to review various pain-management options. It's rare these days to be given general anesthesia, except in the most extreme emergency situations or if you can't have regional pain relief for some reason.
More likely, you'll be given an epidural or spinal block, which will numb the lower half of your body but leave you awake and alert for the birth of your baby.
If you've already had an epidural for pain relief during labor, it'll be used for your c-section as well. Before the surgery, you'll get extra medication to ensure that you're completely numb. (You may still feel some pressure or a tugging sensation at some point during the surgery.)
A catheter is then inserted into your urethra to drain urine during the procedure, and an IV is started if you don't have one already. The top section of your pubic hair is shaved, and you're moved into an operating room.
Anesthesia will be administered, and a screen will be raised above your waist so you won't have to see the incision being made. (If you'd like to witness the moment of birth, ask a nurse to lower the screen slightly so you can see the baby but not much else.) Your partner or husband, freshly attired in operating room garb, may take a seat by your head.
HOW IS A C-SECTION DONE?
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, your belly will be swabbed with an antiseptic, and the doctor will most likely make a small, horizontal incision in the skin above your pubic bone (sometimes called a "bikini cut").
The doctor will cut through the underlying tissue, slowly working her way down to your uterus. When she reaches your abdominal muscles, she'll separate them (usually manually rather than cutting through them) and spread them to expose what's underneath.
When the doctor reaches your uterus, she'll probably make a horizontal cut in the lower section of it. This is called a low transverse incision.
In rare circumstances, the doctor will opt for a vertical or "classical" uterine incision. This might be the case if your baby is very premature and the lower part of your uterus is not yet thinned out enough to cut. (If you have a classical incision, it's much less likely that you'll be allowed to attempt a vaginal delivery with your next pregnancy.)
Then the doctor will reach in and pull out your baby. You'll have a chance to see the baby briefly before he's handed off to a pediatrician or nurse. While the staff is examining your newborn, the doctor will deliver your placenta and then begin the process of closing you up.
After your baby has been examined, the pediatrician or nurse may hand him to your partner, who can hold him right next to you so you can admire, nuzzle, and kiss him while you're being stitched up, layer by layer. The final layer — the skin — may be closed with stitches or staples, which are usually removed three days to a week later. Closing your uterus and belly will take a lot longer than opening you up, usually about 30 minutes.
After the surgery is complete, you'll be wheeled into a recovery room, where you'll be closely monitored for a few hours. If your baby is fine, he'll be with you in the recovery room and you can finally hold him.
If you plan to breastfeed, give it a try now. You may find nursing more comfortable if you and your newborn lie on your sides facing each other.
You can expect to stay in the hospital for three or four days before going home. For the full scoop on what happens after a cesarean, see our article on recovering from a c-section.
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/160.html
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C-SECTION RECOVERY:
This site will give you the information to help you recover as quickly and comfortably as possible from c-sections (aka cesarean sections): http://www.csectionrecovery.com/
Frequently asked questions from recovering c-section moms:
http://www.csectionrecovery.com/faq.html
This FAQ will cover everything below:
1. What is a c-section?
2. How long will it take to recover?
3. Does my c-section affect my maternity leave?
4. What can I do to get my home ready for a mom recovering from a c-section?
5. What is a postpartum doula?
6. Can I still breastfeed?
7. Is my bleeding normal? How do I know if I am bleeding too much?
8. When can I start exercising?
9. How soon can I go swimming?
10. When can I drive a car?
11. When can I resume sexual intercourse?
12. Will I ever get feeling back around my scar?
13. Is there physical therapy that can help me heal?
14. Can I still have more children?
15. How soon is it safe to get pregnant again?
16. Will I have to have another c-section if I have another child?
17. What is a VBAC?
18. What is an 'elective c-section'?
19. Is it normal to feel 'cheated' out of a natural delivery?
20. I feel so depressed - is there help for me?
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Another site to check out:
The Cesarean Section
http://www.childbirth.org/section/CSFAQ.html
What will my recovery be like?
Everyone's recovery WILL be different, depending on your age, body type, and general health. However, some basics of recovery will be to remember that you have just had major abdominal surgery as well as given birth to a new baby. You may be plagued with gas pains from being opened, incisional pain, uterine contractions (your uterus will still need to work to get back to it's original shape). You may be extremely tired from medications, labor (if you had one), or just in general. Your staples will usually be removed about 4-7 days postpartum. Try to take everything easy. Do as little as possible, although walking as soon as possible is very helpful in your recovery. The rule of thumb is to not lift anything heavier than your baby. When you get home, take the steps only once a day (if at all). Make a nest on the couch and nap there during the day. Get as much help as you can with your cleaning, food preparations, and other children.
You can start doing breathing exercises the first day in the hospital, someone will show you how. Then each day you can gradually find small exercises to do to get back into shape. Do not return to your previous exercise routine without permission of your care provider. Overdoing it will only slow your recovery.
By the end of six weeks, some people say they are feeling pretty good, although still dealing with some pain and sleeplessness. After this period you can usually resume most activities (Some doctors will allow you to drive after about 2 weeks, others request that you wait the entire 6.).
"Do get up as soon as they'll let you, even though it hurts like hell the first time you get out of bed. Also, I found one of those big elastic belly supports really helpful when I got home. I didn't use it for long, but for those first few days, it really made laying on my side and rolling over in bed much less painful." -France W.