Cesarean Section (C-Section) Birth: Top 6 Reasons To Plan For One

According to Cleveland Clinic, Cesarean section (C-Section) birth is a surgical procedure of delivering a baby through an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus when normal/vaginal birth cannot be done safely or when the baby’s health is at risk.

The procedure can be done quickly based on how urgent the situation is.

The cesarean birth can be planned if a pregnant woman has certain medical conditions or it can take place when one is in labor and there arises a problem.

Top 6 reasons to plan for cesarean section (C-Section) birth

Previous cesarean section – even though it is said to be possible for one to have a vaginal birth after having a cesarean section, it is not an option for all women.
Multiple pregnancies – although some pregnant women can manage to have a vaginal delivery of twins, most require a cesarean section for two, three, or more babies.
Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) – This is when the mother’s pelvic is too small to deliver a normal child or the baby’s head is too big to pass through the mother’s pelvic safely.
Transverse lie – sometimes, the baby can be in a position that cannot accommodate normal delivery, mostly when they lie horizontally or sideways.
Placenta previa – when the mother’s placenta is attached too low in the uterine walls blocking the baby’s exit through the pelvic.
Breech presentation – if a baby cannot be turned to the right position for vaginal delivery through abdominal manipulation when the baby is positioned to deliver bottom first, then one will need a cesarean section.

The unplanned cesarean section might happen if the following conditions arise:

Abruption placentae – the placenta might separate from the uterine wall before the baby is born.
Failure of labor to progress – when the cervix begins to dilate and stops before the mother is fully dilated or the baby stops moving down the birth canal.
Prolapsed cord – the umbilical cord comes out of the cervix before the baby comes out or before it is born.
Fetal distress – when the mother is in labor, the baby might begin to develop problems that cause issues with its heartbeat such as irregular heart rate. The doctor might then advise on cesarean section since the baby can no longer tolerate labor.

Some of the risks involved in the mother in a cesarean section delivery:

Embolism – blood clots may break off and enter a mother’s bloodstream.
Blood loss
Infections
Fetal injury
The cut might make a mother’s uterine wall weak
A mother might experience abnormalities in other subsequent pregnancies.
There might be an injury to a mother’s bladder or bowel.
A mother might experience risks from general anesthesia.

Some of the risks to the baby:

Surgical injury – though very rare, accidental nicks to the baby might occur during surgery.

Breathing problems – babies born by scheduled C-section are considered to be more likely to develop transient tachypnea. This is a breathing problem where the baby breaths very fast during the first few days after pregnancy.

To heal the incision wound fast, follow the tips below:

Keep the wound area dry and clean
Use warm and soapy water to wash your incision daily, especially when taking a shower. Have the area dry after cleaning it.
Let the tapes fall off on their own if your doctor used tape strips on the incision. This usually takes like a week.

Note:

The cesarean section wound takes around 6-10 weeks to heal. In some women, it takes up to 24 weeks after delivery to completely heal or rather for the pain in the incision to go away.

Health