| Important
Questions Concerning Caesarian Sections |
By:
Susan Tanner |
|
Are
you scared to death about the impending birth of your
baby?
It's completely natural to be frightened. There are
many things that could go wrong.
But there is something you can do to relieve some of
the anxiety. Be informed. Be prepared. Be ready for
anything.
Caesarian Sections are performed when it may be
impossible or unsafe to deliver the baby vaginally,
and are very common. To help you to be prepared in the
event of a caesarian section, I've compiled this short
list of important questions.
What is a Caesarian Section?
A Caesarian section, or c-section, is a surgical
procedure in which an incision is made in the pregnant
mother's abdomen and uterus in order to deliver a
baby. According to the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, about 1 in 5 babies
is delivered in this way. Since the majority of these
caesarian sections are unexpected, it's a good idea to
know a little bit about them, even if you are not
having a high-risk pregnancy.
Why might I need a Caesarian Section?
Caesarian sections are performed when the health of
the mother or baby is in jeopardy. Sometimes the
necessity of a caesarian section can be anticipated,
but most of the time the decision is made on the spot.
You might need a Caesarian Section if:
* The cervix stops dilating or the baby stops
progressing down the birth canal and all attempts to
stimulate uterine contractions to get things moving
have failed.
* The baby's heart rate becomes irregular and he may
not be able to withstand continued labor and vaginal
delivery.
* The baby's body is in an abnormal position, such as
breech position where the baby's buttocks is coming
out first, or if the baby is lying horizontally across
the birth canal.
* The baby's head is face-up, instead of face-down, it
may not be able to be delivered vaginally.
* There is a problem with your placenta, such as
placental abruption, where the placenta detaches from
the uterine wall before labor begins, or placenta
previa, where the placenta is born first, cutting off
your baby's oxygen supply.
* You have had a previous caesarian section birth.
* Your baby has a health problem, and will need
immediate medical attention after birth.
* You have a serious health problem, like diabetes,
heart or lung disease, or high blood pressure, and
need induced labor, which can have adverse affects.
* Your baby is very large, or if you have a small or
abnormal pelvis.
* You have a primary herpes simplex infection in your
genital tract, since the infection could be passed to
your baby, leading to serious disease.
* A loop in the umbilical cord comes through the
cervix, or prolapses, and becomes compressed,
decreasing the baby's oxygen supply.
* You are carrying twins or multiples, since there is
a higher possibility that on of the babies will be in
an abnormal position.
What's the down side?
As with any major surgery, there are several risks
involved with caesarian section births. The estimated
risk of a mother dying after a Caesarian birth is less
than one in 2,500. As a comparison, the estimated risk
of a mother dying after a vaginal birth is less than
one in 10,000.
* There is a risk of infecting other, nearby organs,
such as the bladder or kidneys.
* Blood loss for caesarian sections is, on average,
twice as much as with vaginal births. Even so,
transfusions are only needed in about 1%-6% of cases.
* Surgery of any kind often causes the bowels to slow
down for several days, resulting in distention,
bloating, and discomfort.
* Both hospital stay and recovery time are longer for
Caesarian Section births.
* In any situation where general anesthesia is used,
there is a risk of pneumonia or unexpected reactions
to the anesthetics.
* If the baby's due date was incorrectly calculated,
it could result in premature delivery.
* Babies born by caesarian section are more likely to
develop breathing problems during the first few days
of life.
* There is a slight possibility that the surgeon could
make a mistake and nick the baby while making the
incision in the uterus.
Caesarian sections are more dangerous than vaginal
births, and should only be performed when absolutely
necessary. Since the decision to have a caesarian
section is often unanticipated, it is important that
you are familiar with the procedure, and discuss all
of the possible scenarios with your doctor.
Susan Tanner is a wife and mother of three. She is
also the editor of pregnancy-guide.net.
Pregnancy-Guide is an online community for mothers to
find support and valuable information. Please visit
Pregnancy-Guide at http://www.pregnancy-guide.net |
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