Caesarean section
Surgical deliveryDeliveryThe process of giving birth to a baby.Read more is also called caesarean sectionCaesarean sectionA surgical operation performed when a pregnant woman cannot have a natural delivery.…Read more. During a surgical delivery, the doctorDoctorSomeone who is trained to cure sick people. Doctors can prescribe medicines. A…Read more makes an incision in the mother’s belly to take out the baby.
The most frequent reasons for a caesarean section are:
- The mother’s pelvisPelvisPart of the body: the curved set of bones between the hips.Read more is too small for the baby to pass through;
- The placentaPlacentaOrgan which grows alongside the foetus in the uterus when a woman is…Read more is in front of the entrance of the uterusUterusOrgan in a woman's belly in which a foetus can grow.Read more (cervixCervixNarrow entrance at the bottom of the uterus, at the top of the…Read more) or the placenta is coming loose;
- Part of the umbilical cordUmbilical cordA sort of tube connecting the foetus to the placenta. The umbilical cord…Read more has come out through the cervix;
- The head of the baby is not facing downwards;
- More than 1 baby needs to be born;
- The mother or child has an illness which makes natural delivery impossible.
Doctor performing a caesarian section.
Caesarean section: the operation
A planned caesarean section takes place as follows:
You are admitted to hospital in the morning. You usually need to fast (no food or drink) for at least 6 hours. You prepare for surgery. For instance: you put on a surgical gown, take off jewellery and remove your make-up.
The doctor will give you an epidural anaestheticAnaestheticA medicine which stops you feeling pain. The doctor gives you a local or…Read more. This is an injectionInjectionWhen you have an injection, fluid (for example medicine or a liquid drug)…Read more in the lower back. The injection can be given while you are sitting or lying.
Doctor giving a pregnant woman an epidural anaesthetic.
During delivery, your partnerPartnerPerson you are in a relationship with.Read more or another person of your choiceChoiceDecide which is the best from several options. For example, people have the…Read more can stay with you. The doctor makes an incision in your belly, just above the pubic hairPubic hairHair on and around the sexual organs. The length, colour, quantity and thickness…Read more. You do not feel any pain, but you can feel that you are being operated on.
The doctor takes out your baby. The entire operation takes up to 1 hour.
Then the umbilical cord is cut.
If you have an emergency caesarean section:
- You usually receive a general anaesthetic instead of an epidural (local) anaesthetic;
- Only your partner can accompany you after the anaesthetic has been administered.