Advancements in medical technology have made cesarean surgery much safer now than in the past. This is not to say that cesareans are a routine procedure. Though cesarean births are common, the surgery does pose risks similar to any abdominal surgery. When vaginal birth may pose a higher risk to mother and baby, however, cesarean birth can save lives.
Features
During a cesarean, also called a c-section, the surgeon makes an incision in the woman's abdomen to remove the baby. In most cases, the surgeon cuts horizontally, right above the mother's pubic bone.
After the surgeon cuts through the abdominal wall and through the uterus, an assistant or the surgeon removes the baby from the womb. Other medical staff in the operating room will then clean and examine the baby while the surgeon removes placenta from the mother's uterus and closes the incision.
Unless a cesarean surgery is an emergency cesarean, the woman is usually conscious through the operation. She will get a powerful nerve block and should not feel pain; however, she will often feel a lot of pressure, which may be uncomfortable at times.
Benefits
One benefit of a planned cesarean birth is the mother can schedule important events before the delivery date. Since she knows in advance when the baby will arrive (unless something goes wrong), she can take care of all the tasks she will not have time or energy to do after the surgery.
Some women prefer cesarean surgeries to vaginal births because there is no risk that a cesarean will stretch the vagina.
Most cesareans are performed because the mother or baby is at risk if a vaginal birth is allowed. In these situations, cesarean births may prevent dangerous complications and could even save the life of the baby and the mother.
Time Frame
A cesarean surgery usually takes about an hour. Most of that time is spent on preparing the incision site before the baby is brought out of the womb, and on carefully closing the incision after.
Recovery from the surgery usually takes at least a month.
Warning
Risks of cesarean surgery include blood loss, infection and all other complications associated with surgeries. In addition, some (but not all) women may not be able to give birth vaginally after giving birth via cesarean.
Significance
Although there are risks associated with cesareans and women take longer to recover from the surgery than from traditional births, cesarean surgery significantly cuts childbirth mortality rates. Sadly, women still die in childbirth. That is no longer commonplace in the Western world, however. Now, physicians assess the risk and schedule a c-section accordingly. In addition, if an emergency arises during a vaginal birth, surgeons frequently perform lifesaving emergency cesareans.
