Whether you are planning a C-section or have just had one, don’t fear, it's a very normal and common procedure.

In fact, over 30% of women in the U.S. today deliver their child via a cesarean section, and it’s absolutely not a sign of weakness! Some 8% percent of mothers actually request a C-section.

What is a Cesarean, or C-Section?

Cesarean section is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. Many C-sections are indicated unexpectedly during labor, so whether you are planning for one or not, you should know the process and what a c-section recovery looks like.

What are some reasons to consider a C-section?

The reasons to have a C-section range from medical to personal. Some common medical reasons for a C-section include:

• Prolonged labor

• Abnormal position of the baby

• Fetal distress

• History of previous cesarean

• Mother’s chronic medical condition

• Prolapse of the umbilical cord

• Ceophalopelvic disproportion (CPD)

• Issues with placenta

• Delivering multiples

Please note there are a number of other reasons to consider having a C-section and some of the listed reasons do not necessarily require a C section.

For example, some women who previously had a C-section may attempt a vagical birth (termed VBAC or Vagicanl Birth After Cesarean). Remember, each patient is unique and a conversation about risk and benefits for your particular circumstance should be discussed with you physician.

Should I have an elective C-Section?

As mentioned above, some women tend to elect to have a cesarean section. After reading this and our C section recovery post, you should have a fair idea of what they are like. So let’s dive into some of the pros and cons:

Pros of an elective C section

• Less risk of incontinence and sexual dysfunction after the birth of the baby.

• Lower risk of trauma to the baby in the birth canal during delivery

• Less risk of fetal deprivation of oxygen during delivery.

Cons of an elective C section

• More likely to need a repeat C-section with a future pregnancy

• Higher risk of surgery complications as compared to vaginal labor

• Longer hospital stay (up to five days) and a longer recovery period.

• Typically more pain after delivery

What’s it like having a C-Section?

First, when you arrive in the operating room (OR), monitors will be placed to watch you and the baby. This will include electrocardiogram stickers on your chest, a blood pressure cuff, a sticker for pulse oximeter, and sometimes a fetal heart rate monitor.

These monitors allow your practitioner to closely observe your physiological parameters such as breathing, circulation, and oxygenation.

What kind of anesthesia will I receive?

All attempts are made so you will be awake throughout the procedure. There are several reasons for this:

First, there are personal preferences since many mothers want to meet the baby as soon as it’s born.

Second, putting the mother to sleep can include several potential risks for both the mother and child. Sleep necessitates giving mom medication either through IV or inhalation. Both methods often aid medications in finding their way to the baby which can interfere with the normal birthing process.

Sometimes babies who receive anesthesia through the mother may become lethargic at birth requiring one or several forms of treatment, which we hope to altogether avoid.

Further, the effects of anesthesia on small children remain unknown today. Some evidence from animal studies suggests it may be harmful to long term development, and thus national agencies have suggested delaying any elective surgery on children unless absolutely medically necessary.

That said, I was born via C-section under general anesthesia and suffered a lack of oxygen for several minutes during the process. My standardized test scores didn’t seem to have suffered, so not everything is absolute, but we do try to minimize the risks whenever possible.

In the end, you will likely prefer to stay awake throughout the procedure; but rest assured, you will not be in pain.

We hope you are enjoying this blog post; C-section surgery is quite an in-depth process and we at HealFast wanted to spare no detail as you prepare for surgery.

Please continue to Part 2 of this blog post to read about the preferred type of anesthesia used, epidurals and spinal, the C-Section procedure, and what happens once the baby is delivered!

General Disclaimer: All information here is for educational purposes only and is not meant to cure, heal, diagnose nor treat. This information must not be used as a replacement for medical advice, nor can the writer take any responsibility for anyone using the information instead of consulting a healthcare professional. All serious disease needs a physician.