When is a planned caesarean section performed? At what time is a caesarean section performed? Planned and emergency caesarean section. When is a planned caesarean section performed?
A planned caesarean section is a type of operative birth that is announced by the doctor in advance.
A planned caesarean section is carried out based on the testimony of the attending physician; the doctor can make a decision about such births long before the end of the pregnancy. Mothers in labor are very often worried about such an operation, and this is not surprising, since its timing often becomes known at the last moment. Therefore, it is not possible to find out the specific date or at what time doctors will perform a planned caesarean section.
Previously, it was customary not to wait for labor and to operate at 40 weeks. Now doctors have moved away from this approach and allow the baby to independently determine the time of appearance. After all, the most important thing is to preserve the health of the child and his mother. Experts say that the first contractions are the ideal moment for a cesarean section, so it is important not to miss it. This approach promotes natural lactation, the one that occurs after normal childbirth. Also, a cesarean section at this stage allows the baby to quickly adapt to life outside the placenta.
In some cases, surgery is prescribed earlier, without waiting for the first contractions, in order to avoid undesirable consequences. Also, the day of a planned cesarean section may be scheduled depending on the work of the maternity hospital. Some hospitals carry out such operations, for example, on Tuesday and Thursday. The workload of doctors or anesthesiologists can also delay the timing of the operation; there are also force majeure situations when there are no places in the intensive care unit. In such cases, if there is no danger to the mother and fetus, it is better to keep the woman in labor for a couple of days in the ward. Unfortunately, it is impossible to say the exact date of the cesarean section; one can only guess here. The recommended cesarean delivery is 40 weeks, but it can be a week earlier or later; an exclusively individual approach is required here.
But, still, the question arises, in what week do maternity hospital doctors perform a planned cesarean section? If we consider exclusively planned surgery, then it can be scheduled no earlier than 38 weeks. This is due to the fact that before the 38th week the fetus is too small and quite weak, so early appearance can have a negative impact. As already described above, doctors try to prescribe a cesarean section at 40 weeks, since there is a possibility of not accurately determining the gestational age.
Today, a caesarean section is not a rare procedure and, according to experts, it is no more difficult than removing the appendix, so there is no need to worry.
A second caesarean section, if planned, will also be performed at around 38 weeks. If the first birth was carried out via cesarean section, then the second one will also be carried out in this way. Therefore, in this situation it will be known long ago at what time the second caesarean section will occur.
Recommendations for a planned cesarean section can be different: from the physiological state of the baby to various pathologies in the mother. Most often, this type of birth is carried out in the presence of placenta previa. This means that the placenta completely or partially blocks the fetus from leaving the uterus, therefore, natural childbirth is impossible and even dangerous. Sometimes prescribed for multiple pregnancies.
Important points during caesarean section. Planned caesarean
If the doctor has established an approximate date for the planned cesarean section, then the following points must be observed:
- A woman in labor should not shave her abdomen and pubic area. Shaving may cause irritation and inflammation, which can be quite dangerous during surgery. Pimples or pustules that arise can cause infection. Shaving or epilation is necessary before the operation itself by the medical staff.
- Don't forget to prepare purified water for drinking. In the first 24 hours you cannot eat, but you need to drink about 1.5 liters of water.
- Also, after a caesarean section, a bandage will be useful; it is also advisable to prepare it in advance;
- Additionally, you will need hygiene products: pads, diapers, diapers, some medications and other materials. The list should be compiled directly by your attending physician.
There are a number of cases when, while preparing for a natural birth, there is a need for an emergency cesarean section. There could be many reasons for this. There is no point in talking about what week an emergency caesarean section will be required. This may be 38 weeks or earlier if any pathologies were discovered that threaten the life of the mother and child. Let us note that a second caesarean section can also be an emergency and at what time it will have to be done is not always known.
This operation is performed with the consent of the woman, with the exception of the incapacity of the woman in labor. Then the consent of her close relatives will be required.
A planned caesarean section differs from an emergency one in the type of anesthesia used. Emergency caesarean section requires quick action, so general anesthesia is used. This type of anesthesia allows you to be completely unconscious.
However, recently, spinal anesthesia is being used more and more often.
It is carried out using anesthesia between the lumbar vertebrae into the spinal canal, the effect of the drug begins within 5 minutes. This allows you to proceed to an emergency caesarean section as soon as possible. This anesthesia only numbs the lower part of the body, so the woman is conscious and can observe the progress of the operation. Note that in this case the incision will be made from the navel area to the pubic part, i.e. longitudinal. In case of emergency cesarean section, such an incision best provides access to the pelvic organs.
The danger of an emergency cesarean section is the risk of infection. Therefore, during the operation and after it, the woman in labor must take antibiotics, which will be prescribed by the attending physician.
The psychological side of emergency caesarean section should also be noted. After all, what is planned is discussed in advance, thereby the woman is ready for it and does not consider it as a disaster. When an emergency caesarean section causes anxiety and fear, since the woman in labor was ready for a natural birth. For many, such childbirth is a shock, which requires additional attention to the woman from medical personnel.
Doctors advise that someone close to you be in this situation: husband, sister, mother, perhaps even a psychologist. A woman, being in a state of anxiety and fear, cannot always adequately assess situations. That's why close person it is simply necessary nearby, in particular, to remind you that this operation is important for the baby’s health, and worries here are unnecessary.
Indications for caesarean section
Note that a caesarean section can be performed at any stage, depending on the condition of the mother and fetus. But, nevertheless, there are a number of indications that cannot be ignored. These include the following:
- the pelvis of the woman in labor is too narrow, which makes it impossible for the fetus to pass through;
- previous cesarean section with a vertical incision;
- multiple pregnancy, more than 3 babies;
- severe maternal pathologies, in particular diabetes of any type;
- the fruit is too large;
- the presence of injuries of varying severity in the hip area;
- placental presentation (placental enlargement, obstruction of the outlet);
- when diagnosing HIV infection, AIDS, hepatitis;
- incorrect placement of the fetus.
The patient is admitted to the maternity ward a few days before the planned operation. At what time a cesarean section should be performed is determined by analyzing the condition of the mother and fetus. On the day of surgery, a cleansing enema is prescribed. The operation is performed under epidural or spinal anesthesia. In some cases, general anesthesia is used. The operation lasts less than an hour. In the postoperative period, blood replacement solutions are administered, since up to 1000 ml of blood is lost during surgery.
Carrying out a caesarean section according to plan
Caesarean section is usually performed at 39 weeks or urgently during contractions. If emergency surgery occurs before 39 weeks, babies may have breathing problems. Most often, this option is possible with a repeat cesarean section. A second caesarean section is performed at the same time.
Postoperative period
For the first day, the woman in labor is under observation in the postpartum ward. For the first few days, painkillers and medications to contract the uterus are prescribed. Within 24 hours after the operation, the patient is transferred to the postpartum ward. The suture is treated daily with antiseptic solutions before removal. To normalize the condition of the intestines, a special diet is prescribed. As a rule, discharge is made a week after the operation, according to the decision of the attending physician.
If the doctor leading the pregnancy finds serious abnormalities in the woman or the unborn child, he may decide to perform a planned caesarean section. When the operation is scheduled in advance, the patient has the opportunity to properly prepare for it, including psychologically.
Who should have a planned caesarean section and at what time?
The timing of a caesarean section is determined strictly individually, but doctors try to bring it as close as possible to the time of physiological birth, i.e. 39-40 weeks. This allows you to avoid development in a newborn caused by hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of his lungs. When setting a date for intervention, several factors are taken into account, the main ones being the health status of the pregnant woman and the development of the fetus. A pregnancy is considered full-term when the gestational age reaches 37 weeks.
It is believed that the ideal time to start a cesarean section is the period of the first contractions, but if the placenta previa is incorrect, they do not wait for them.
In case of multiple pregnancy or detection in the patient, the operation is performed at 38 weeks. With monoamniotic twins, cesarean section is performed much earlier - at 32 weeks.
There are certain indications for surgical intervention.
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If there is at least one absolute indication or a combination of two or more relative indications, natural delivery is excluded!
Absolute indications include:
- history of corporal caesarean section;
- previous operations on the uterus;
- large fruit (≥ 4500 g);
- monoamniotic twins;
- complete placenta previa;
- anatomically narrow pelvis;
- post-traumatic deformation of the pelvic bones;
- transverse presentation of the child;
- after 36 weeks of gestation and weight > 3600 g;
- multiple pregnancy with malpresentation of one fetus;
- growth delay of one of the twins.
Relative indications are:
A planned caesarean section is mandatory if a diaphragmatic hernia, non-union of the anterior abdominal wall or teratoma is detected in the unborn child, as well as in the case of fusion of twins.
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In some situations, the operation can be performed without special indications at the request of the woman. Some expectant mothers prefer a caesarean section under anesthesia because they fear pain during natural childbirth.
The process of preparing for a planned caesarean section
If your doctor has informed you that a planned cesarean section is necessary, do not hesitate to ask him any questions you may have. Check the date of hospitalization and find out if everything is in order with your tests. A number of measures to improve the condition of the body must be taken in advance, i.e. during pregnancy.
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During the examination, the expectant mother must consult a neurologist, an ophthalmologist (or ophthalmologist), a therapist and an endocrinologist. If necessary, drug correction of diagnosed disorders is carried out.
It is advisable to attend special courses for women in labor who are preparing for a CS.
Try to eat right and go out more. Be sure to take daily walks - physical inactivity can harm both you and your baby.
Get checked regularly at the antenatal clinic. Be sure to report any changes in your condition to your doctor.
What to take with you to the maternity hospital?
List of documents and necessary things:
Don't forget to bring diapers, diapers and baby powder for your newborn.
We recommend reading:Preoperative preparation a few days before the CS
Be sure to check whether you need to shave your pubic area yourself. It is better to entrust this manipulation to medical workers (to avoid cuts, infection and inflammation), but some institutions recommend preparing this area in advance.
After admission to the antenatal department (usually 2 weeks before the intervention), a series of tests will be required so that doctors can objectively assess the condition of their patient at the present time.
List of required tests:
- blood group and Rh factor;
- vaginal smear.
Additionally, a hardware examination is carried out - and CTG - cardiotocography.
You need to give up solid food for 48 hours. On the eve of the CS, you cannot eat after 18-00, and on the day of the operation it is extremely undesirable to even consume liquid. In the morning before the intervention, you need to cleanse the intestines, using an enema if necessary.
The method of anesthesia is discussed in advance. Local anesthesia (spinal or) is recommended for those who want to see their child in the first moments of his life. Besides, It should be taken into account that anesthesia can negatively affect the baby’s condition. In any case, the procedure will not be associated with pain.
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In most specialized maternity hospitals, mothers are allowed to hold their newborn for a short time immediately after the CS.
The patient is taken from the ward to the operating room on a gurney.
Already on the table, a catheter is inserted into the bladder. A dropper with a solution must be placed or a drug injection must be given.
The surgical field (lower abdomen) is carefully treated with an antiseptic solution. If it is expected that the patient will remain conscious, then a screen is installed in front of her at chest level, blocking the view (to avoid mental trauma).
After anesthesia, two incisions are made (most often transverse) in the lower abdomen. During the first, the skin, the layer of fiber and the abdominal wall are dissected, and during the second, the uterus. The baby is removed and, after cutting the umbilical cord, transferred to a neonatologist. The newborn's mouth and nasal passages are cleaned. His condition is assessed using the generally accepted ten-point APGAR scale.
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If a caesarean section is not being performed for the first time, the incision is usually made along the line of the old suture.
The longest stage is suturing. It requires jeweler precision from the obstetrician, since not only the severity of the cosmetic defect, but also the healing process of soft tissues will depend on the quality of sutures. Neat transverse seams are practically invisible in the future, because they are hidden under the hair.
The advantage of a horizontal incision above the pubis is that it practically reduces to zero the likelihood that the bladder or intestinal wall will be accidentally hit. In addition, the risk of hernia formation is minimized, and healing proceeds faster. An incision in the vertical direction from the navel to the pubic bone is often made during an emergency caesarean section, when the need to save the mother and child comes to the fore, rather than aesthetic considerations.
At the final stage of a planned cesarean section, which in the absence of complications lasts only 20-40 minutes, the suture is treated with an antiseptic and covered with a sterile bandage.
Postoperative period
The baby can be put to the breast immediately after the operation is completed.
At the end of the procedure, the woman is usually transferred to the intensive care unit, where she remains for 24-48 hours (provided there are no complications). However, now in many maternity hospitals, already 2 hours after the operation, a woman and a child are immediately transferred from the operating room to a shared ward.
Drugs are administered intravenously to the mother to stabilize and generally improve the condition.
A woman is allowed to get out of bed 12 hours after surgery(in the absence of complications).
Both general and spinal (spinal) anesthesia negatively affect intestinal motility, so on the first day you can only drink liquid (clean water); The recommended volume is at least 1.5 liters. On the second day, you can drink low-fat kefir or yogurt without chemical colors and flavors, and also consume chicken broth with crackers.
We recommend reading:For at least 1 week you need to abstain from fatty and fried foods, as well as seasonings and spices.
It is necessary to take measures, since excessive straining increases the risk of sutures coming apart. It is advisable to consume foods with laxative properties, and if they do not give the expected effect, you will have to resort to laxatives.
The suture is cleaned and the sterile dressing is changed daily.
If the patient complains of pain, she is given analgesics as necessary.
Until the sutures heal and are removed, physical activity is excluded. It is strictly forbidden to lift weight more than 3 kg in the next 2-3 months.
The recovery period after a CS lasts slightly longer than after a natural birth. The uterus returns to its physiological state after an average of one and a half to two months.
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Resumption of sexual activity is permissible after two months from the date of surgery.
Possible complications after cesarean section
The technique of performing a CS has now been honed to perfection. The likelihood of complications when the mother in labor follows all the instructions of the attending physician is minimized.
In rare cases, it is possible:
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In severe cases (in particular, with massive bleeding), doctors have to resort to hysterectomy to save the mother’s life.
Previously, there was an opinion that a child born via CS does not produce certain hormones and protein compounds that are natural adaptogens. In this regard, disturbances in the process of adaptation of the baby to the environment and certain mental disorders cannot be ruled out. This statement is now considered erroneous.
A planned caesarean section is an operative birth that is known in advance. If you have an indication for this intervention, the decision can be made by doctors long before you approach full-term pregnancy.
Knowing that a planned operation is ahead, all pregnant women are most worried about its timing. And this is not surprising, because often doctors do not say until the last minute when this will happen.
Previously, it was believed that it was necessary to operate on a pregnant woman without waiting for the onset of labor. The 40 week mark is approaching, and you are placed on the operating table.
Now the approach has changed, the child himself chooses the deadline. It is he who decides in what week a planned cesarean section will be optimal, because the most important thing is his health and the health of his mother. If the mother’s body is ready for childbirth, the first contractions are the ideal time for the operation, because if it had not been done, the baby would have come out anyway, because he is completely ready for birth. With this approach, the mother’s milk comes as after a natural birth, at the same time, and the baby does not have any difficulties adapting to extrauterine life.
However, in some cases, an operation is performed, the timing of which is not dictated by the child. If you have to do a cesarean section a little earlier than the first symptoms begin, or rather, you can’t wait for contractions. There are other reasons for surgery similar to this, when it is undesirable to wait for a natural birth.
The timing of how many weeks a planned caesarean section is performed is also determined by the work of the maternity hospital. Most hospitals have operating days, scheduled surgery days, such as Tuesday and Thursday. In addition, the choice of date may be influenced by the workload of doctors and his anesthesiology service. If there are no places in the intensive care unit, it is better to keep you in the antenatal department for an extra couple of days until a place becomes available, even if your pregnancy has already come to an end.
In general, don’t guess when a planned caesarean section is performed, it is impossible to predict at what time this event will take place for you, you can only be sure of one thing, this will be the best time for the birth of your baby. There is no specific date, for example, 40 weeks and not a day earlier or later, the approach is always individual.
So, based on the results of the examinations, your doctor at the antenatal clinic is inclined to believe that you will have an operative birth. We described it in a separate article. If this is your second experience, you, of course, already know everything, if not, this article contains everything you need to know about what will await you in the maternity hospital.
Preparation involves advance hospitalization. When the deadline approaches, you will be given a referral for hospitalization.
There are important little things you need to know about:
- If you are undergoing a planned operation, you cannot shave your pubic and abdominal area at home. Why? Because if inflammation appears in this area as a result of injury to the skin during shaving, the operation will be dangerous. Small pustules on the skin as a result of unsuccessful shaving will become a source of infection for the wound. Shaving should be postponed until the morning before surgery, just don’t forget to take a good razor with you to the hospital.When you are assigned a day for surgery, you should take care of what you will drink on the first day after surgery in the intensive care unit. You won't be able to eat at first, but you can and should drink. Prepare yourself clean water without gas and...a lemon.
After surgery, you will need a postpartum bandage from the first days. It relieves pain. Choose a wide model that covers the tummy as much as possible; you can simply buy a postoperative bandage.
Be sure to prepare yourself a charged phone, a full battery and enough money in your account so that you don’t get too bored during your first days in intensive care. After giving birth, you will definitely want to talk to your loved ones.
Hygiene products such as pads, disposable diapers It’s also worth cooking for yourself.
The child may need diapers, you may need some medicine or dressings; a list of such things is usually given at the antenatal clinic when referred for hospitalization.
How is a planned caesarean section performed?
On the eve of the operation, a detailed conversation will take place between you and the anesthesiologist, during which a decision will be made on the method of pain relief for labor. Of course, I would really like to see the moment the baby is born, to hear his first cry. often offered complete with a cosmetic stitch in a paid surgery package, if you are willing to pay for your comfort, how much it will cost depends on the clinic. Still, it is more correct to choose this particular path; the first minutes of meeting the child are very important, as is the possibility of the husband’s presence at the birth.The evening before the operation, you will have to give up a full dinner, limiting yourself to something very light, and on the morning of the operation you will be left without breakfast and even without a sip of water. In the morning you will have not very pleasant procedures, an enema and shaving.
Then there will be an operating room.
The duration of a caesarean section does not exceed 40 minutes, and very little time passes before the baby is born; they try to extract it as quickly and carefully as possible. You will not see what is being done to you; the surgical field is protected from the woman’s gaze.
What feelings await you?
If it is general anesthesia, you will feel how they put an IV in you, insert a catheter into your bladder, treat the skin of your abdomen, feel a mask on your face, and then complete darkness and emptiness will come, as if the lights have been turned off... You will come to your senses after the operation.If you are given a spinal anesthetic, in the operating room you will be asked to lie on your side with your legs pressed against your stomach. There will be a painful injection in your back, after which you will feel your entire body lower chest You lose all feeling and you can no longer move your legs. During the operation itself, you may experience nausea and vomiting (that’s when you’ll be glad you didn’t have breakfast), severe weakness and dizziness.
When your baby takes his first breath, you will hear his first cry... Perhaps you will experience almost no emotions due to severe weakness, but they will bring the baby to you and show you, and they will definitely ask you to touch him with your hand... Then you will always remember this moment with gratitude , because it is this first contact, the first touch to the child that will connect you with the baby forever.
After the operation, the postpartum woman is transferred to the anesthesiology and intensive care unit, where she will have to spend the first day or two.
After spinal anesthesia, sensation will begin to return, and along with it will come pain. Don’t be afraid of it, they will definitely help you, easing it with medications.
When you come to your senses in a few hours, your baby will be brought to you. It is unlikely that he will take the breast, most likely he will just sleep, and you will look at him, surprised and happy, and the happiness of being a mother will push aside all your fears and the pain you have experienced...
Home " Childbirth » How many weeks does a third elective caesarean section take place? Reasons for prescribing a cesarean section. We are preparing for a fateful meeting.
In this article, we will look at what types of caesarean sections exist, how the date of the operation is determined, and when to go to the maternity hospital if you are planning a caesarean section.
In addition, we will examine in detail the question of whether it is possible to perform a caesarean section at the request of a woman (without medical indications), and whether it is worth doing so.
Planned and emergency caesarean section
Let me briefly list the difference between a planned and emergency caesarean section.
- Planned and emergency caesarean sections are performed for different medical reasons. Read more about the indications for elective caesarean section in the article. About emergency indications, see the article.
- As a rule, both the mother and the doctor know about the indications for a planned caesarean section long before the birth, sometimes even before the start of pregnancy. Conversely, indications for emergency surgery usually arise right during childbirth or shortly before it.
- Nowadays this happens less and less, but sometimes it still happens. For planned and emergency cesarean, the type of incision (subsequently, the surgical suture) may differ. Read more about this in the article.
The type of anesthesia (anaesthesia) may differ; more about this in the article.
You can read how the caesarean section operation itself works in the article. .
When to go to the hospital for a caesarean section
Only your doctor, who fully knows your situation, indications for surgery, etc., can answer this question accurately. If we consider the general case, then they are admitted to the maternity hospital 1-2 weeks before the expected date of birth (EDD), so that they will try to set the date of the operation closer to this date. But this is a general option. And in each specific case it may be different. In any case, at least 2 weeks before the PDR (and for certain indications earlier), the woman should be examined. The following areas are being investigated (this is a minimum, there may be more examinations depending on the indications):
- General condition of the pregnant woman (pressure, blood tests, urine tests);
- If there is already a scar on the uterus, then the condition of the scar;
- Condition of the cervix, assessment of readiness for childbirth;
If the woman’s condition and the progress of pregnancy are good, then these studies can be performed on an outpatient basis. After this, a date for the operation will be set. Then the woman can stay in the maternity hospital until the operation, or maybe at home (if everything is fine according to tests, studies, etc.).
For example, during my first birth, the doctor recommended that I go to bed two days before the date of the operation. And during the second birth, I myself asked to go to bed 2 weeks before the birth, even the doctor resisted that it was too early, and there were no indications. But it seemed to me that this way I was under supervision, and it was calmer. I went through all the tests and studies, they didn’t even set a date for the operation yet, they said, “Go for another week, we’ll see.” And it’s good that I went to bed earlier, because my water suddenly broke and I had to quickly have surgery.
In general, we can say this. 2 weeks before the PDR, you need to undergo all the necessary examinations (the main ones are listed above) in the maternity hospital. Further - according to the results and your condition. Either go home and come to the maternity hospital before the operation, or stay in the maternity hospital until the operation.
How is the date of surgery determined for a planned caesarean section?
There is the concept of EDA (expected date of birth). This date is determined by the following parameters:
- by date of last menstruation,
- by estimated date of conception;
- according to the results of the first ultrasound;
- based on the first recorded intrauterine movements of the fetus.
You can read more about how the expected date of birth is determined in the article.
Considering this date, and if it is normal, doctors will try to perform the operation as close as possible to the expected one. Most sources assure that doctors “will definitely take into account the wishes of the woman in labor regarding the date.” We need to be clear here. Doctors, of course, will take into account your wishes, but only after they take into account all the really important factors. The final date of the planned operation is set on the basis of preliminary studies in the maternity hospital. As a rule, these studies are carried out 1-2 weeks before the PDR. The following parameters are examined (in general):
- The mother's health status, for what indications was the caesarean section planned. This determines how “close” one can “get” to the PDR. In some cases, doctors may wait until labor begins (but not until the water breaks) and only then perform surgery. In the case of multiple pregnancies, for example, their indications are that, for certain indications, they may perform surgery at 36-37 weeks and even 32 weeks for monoamniotic twins. In HIV-infected women, caesarean section is performed at 38 weeks before the onset of labor and delivery.
- If there is already a scar on the uterus, then they look at the condition of the scar.
- Condition of the cervix, assessment of readiness for childbirth.
- Condition of the fetus (ultrasound, CTG, Doppler measurements in the vessels of the mother, placenta and fetus).
Based on these parameters, the doctor can set a date. From experience, we can say that a woman is given one or two days of difference as a choice. That is: Do you want Monday or Tuesday? There is no particularly wide choice in this situation.
Is it possible to have a caesarean section at will?
In recent years, cases have become more frequent when women request a cesarean section without medical indications for surgery. The most common reasons for such requests are the following:
- Fear of . This is the fear of the process itself, pain, and the fear of consequences (for example).
- Fear that changes will occur in the genitals (in the size of the vagina, labia, for example), and this will negatively affect sexual life.
- The belief that natural childbirth is harmful to the child.
What can we say about this? A few points.
If you decide that you only need a cesarean section, and you absolutely do not want to give birth naturally, then you are guaranteed to find a doctor who will do it. Despite the fact that it is written everywhere that the decision on the need for surgery is made by doctors. There are many doctors, and there will definitely be a doctor who will perform an operation without indications for it, for an agreed amount. Perform an emergency cesarean section if all indications are natural. childbirth - rather It won't work out at all. But finding a doctor and agreeing on a planned operation will most likely work out. I am writing all this to say that no matter how much they write that “only doctors make decisions about planned surgery,” you will still achieve your goal if you really want it.
Another question is whether to insist on a caesarean section if it is not necessary. Our opinion is that it’s not worth it. I will explain what we are based on (specifically, the authors of these materials have experience in both natural childbirth and childbirth through cesarean section).
- Yes, natural childbirth is a painful thing, no one argues here. But women who have experienced both cesarean and natural childbirth say that the pain is quite comparable. Only in natural childbirth there is pain during childbirth, and in Caesarean birth there is pain after childbirth.
Mom's Store has for healing and tissue restoration after cesarean section.
Note. Returns of food and cosmetic products are only possible if the packaging is undamaged.
In general, in our opinion, this comparison is correct. If we compare a natural birth without complications, of average duration, without “surprises” and an average cesarean section, then according to the majority of opinions (of women who have experienced both), natural birth is better and easier. In most cases, the following are given as arguments:
- After a normal natural birth, it is much easier to recover.
- In the first days after childbirth, you need strength. You get used to a new role (especially when it’s your first child). It's not easy for you anyway. So, these first days can generally be remembered as continuous pain (in comparison with the first days after a normal natural birth).
- After a natural birth, milk comes in faster, and this makes the first days much easier. After a caesarean section, milk comes in later, and for the first three to four days there may be very little milk, and the baby may behave very restlessly. A hungry child cries, the mother is nervous, and it also hurts. We will consider in detail what can be done in this situation in the article.
Prepare thoroughly for breastfeeding and spending time from several days to a week in the maternity hospital. Buy from Mom's Store:
- (according to doctor's indications);
- and for comfortable feeding.
Regarding whether your genitals will be “the same” after natural childbirth. Now we will dwell on this briefly, and we will examine this issue in more detail in a separate article. We can say that with a normal natural birth, your genitals have every chance of being restored by 80-95% (relative to their previous size).
In general, we can say the following. If you have all the indications for a natural birth, then doing a caesarean “just like that” is not worth it.
In this same connection, another question arises. It often happens that a woman becomes so accustomed to the idea that she will give birth naturally that she simply cannot accept the need for a cesarean section (if it arises unexpectedly).
For example, one of my friends even naturally ran away from the maternity hospital when she was told that she would have to operate. She, of course, didn’t run far, she felt bad on the street, and in an ambulance they returned her to the same maternity hospital and gave her a Caesarean. Everything worked out well, both mother and child are healthy. But is the question of how exactly to give birth worth the risk? In my opinion, it's not worth it.
In addition, after giving birth by cesarean section, a woman (in addition to postoperative discomfort) is faced with the fact that she begins to be judged by her birth, no matter how funny it may sound. It turns out something like this: she gave birth herself, well done, a real woman and mother, and so on. And they did the caesarean - well... it happens too... well, the second time, let’s do it yourself... well, it’s not your fault, and so on. So, dear girls. I want to tell you that you absolutely should not let all this nonsense come to you. You go to the city with the goal of having a child. And how exactly you give birth to him does not matter.
Your goal is to give birth without compromising your health and that of your child. You are not going to give birth in order to get “a good grade for the birth process.” Therefore, whether you gave birth naturally or by Caesarean, in any case you are a real woman and mother. And believe me, your child’s life is just beginning with childbirth. This is just a starting point. Both the child himself, and you and the child, still have so much ahead that the features of his birth really do not have the same importance that they may be given immediately after birth. In general, we would advise not to be categorically determined that “in any case, I will give birth myself.” Anything can happen. A much more correct attitude is: I will give birth to a healthy child and everything will be fine with us.
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Most often, if the first birth was carried out by cesarean section, then the second birth is carried out in the same way. Therefore, all women who have undergone a cesarean section during their first birth are advised, just in case, to be prepared for a second operation during childbirth. And here the question arises: how long does it take to do it? plan section during the second birth?
Before trying to determine the approximate date of the second birth, which is also planned to be carried out surgically, doctors must make preparations for a caesarean section and draw up a specific plan for the entire range of measures. This plan implies a kind of strategy aimed at carrying out the safest possible birth.
A woman should know in advance at what time she will have a section during her second birth (except in cases of emergency caesarean section). The date of surgery will depend on many factors.
During the training process, doctors should:
- Make a careful detailed analysis of the condition of the scar on the wall of the uterus at the site of the first incision. If a second pregnancy occurs less than 3 years after the first child was born by cesarean section, then surgery will most likely be required for the second birth.
- Ask the woman if there were any abortions or any other types of surgical intervention on the body between the first birth and the second pregnancy. If, for example, there was scraping of the endometrium, then this can have a very negative impact on the condition of the uterine scar.
- It is necessary to clarify the number of fetuses during multiple pregnancies, as well as determine the features of their location in the womb and the type of presentation. During multiple pregnancy, the uterine wall is greatly stretched. This also has a very bad effect on the condition of the scar.
Indications for caesarean section during the second pregnancy
If during the examination it turns out that the placenta is attached to the uterus exactly where the scar is located, then there is no way to do without surgery.
Taking into account all these factors, doctors determine the timing of a repeat cesarean section. Most often, a woman is operated on one to two weeks earlier than the first time. This is usually 38 weeks of pregnancy. It is by this time that the process of synthesis of pulmonary surfactant begins in the baby’s body - a mixture of surfactants that lines the pulmonary alveoli from the inside, promoting the expansion of the baby’s lungs with the first breath.
Possible consequences
Possible complications for the mother
After a second cesarean section, a woman may have:
- menstrual irregularities;
- various types of inflammation and other complications in the scar area;
- damage to tissues and internal organs - gastrointestinal tract, bladder, ureters;
- loss of ability to become pregnant again;
- thrombophlebitis (pelvic veins), anemia, endometritis;
- severe bleeding in the uterus, which may require removal of the entire uterus;
- high risk of complications in subsequent pregnancies.
For a newborn
The child may have a cerebrovascular accident or hypoxia due to prolonged exposure to anesthesia.
Recovery time
The recovery of the female body after the second operation takes longer and is more difficult than after the first operation. The tissue is cut in the same place twice, so the wound takes a very long time to heal. The stitch hurts and oozes for 7-15 days. The uterus contracts longer, causing severe discomfort. You can start putting your figure in order no earlier than after 2 months, depending on the general health of the woman in labor.
I knew from childhood that I would have a caesarean section. No ophthalmologist would allow me to give birth myself.
When they ask me how it all went, I answer that I’m ready to go through it every day. And it is true!
No, I'm not a masochist at all. It’s just that the very fact of the birth of a long-awaited son overshadowed all the difficulties that I had to go through. And this operation is not as scary as they say it is.
I hope my positive experience of going through a cesarean section will dispel your fears and help you know what you are going through and what to be prepared for.
The most important
The main thing is your adequate attitude towards a caesarean section: if it is not possible to give birth yourself, a caesarean section is an excellent alternative.
I am not tormented by a feeling of guilt or shame that I could not give birth myself. Don’t be afraid of the possible consequences - I have a separate article about this. Thanks to the right attitude, I avoided postpartum depression, lactation problems and other horror stories that are written about on the Internet.
Positive attitude towards caesarean section will help you avoid many of the problems that young mothers often face when undergoing this operation, especially an emergency one.
When to have a planned caesarean section
Ideally, as close to the expected due date as possible.. In practice, doctors often rush to admit a pregnant woman to the hospital - just in case.
The doctor also sent me to the maternity hospital 2 weeks before giving birth. Fortunately, in the emergency department they returned home to carry the pregnancy to term. As a result, I went to bed 5 days before the operation. And it's still early!
The operation was performed 1–3 days before the expected date of birth. But according to my feelings, it should have been done a week later (at 41 weeks). It’s not without reason that birth usually occurs at 38–42 weeks, when the baby is ready to be born.
Preparing for a caesarean section
Blood and urine tests are taken in advance. There is a conversation with the anesthesiologist. In my case, it’s also a trip to the ophthalmologist. For elective surgery, epidural or spinal anesthesia is used. General anesthesia is used less and less often - in special cases or for emergency caesarean section.
The night before, the nurse gave instructions on how to prepare for the operation and what to bring.
From 18:00 you cannot eat or drink anything. At night - a valerian tablet. At 5 am – cleansing enema, shower, hair removal. Then she bandaged her legs with elastic bandages.
Packed my bag for surgery:
- rubber slippers,
- mug,
- a bottle of water,
- telephone (it was later taken away because it was not allowed).
Personal belongings and things for the newborn, clothes, watches, rings and even earrings - all this is given to the nurse for safekeeping (they are then brought to the postpartum ward).
And finally, they came for me. In the treatment room I undress and lie down on the gurney. A catheter is inserted into the urethra. I was afraid of this moment, but it didn’t really hurt, just unpleasant.
They take you on a gurney to the elevator. Let's get up. Winding empty corridors and here it is - the operating room, the place where my son will be born.
How is a caesarean section performed?
I had spinal anesthesia. It worked quickly. A screen was placed in front of the stomach. When the doctor made the incision, it felt like they were making a pencil, no pain.
After 5 minutes they began to take out the child. I expected it to happen quickly and easily, like in the videos I once watched. But no. The doctor and nurse (or midwife) made great efforts, I saw how difficult it was for them.
And then I started to feel pain. She told me about it, but the doctors reacted calmly. I realized that since they had such a reaction, then everything was fine. All that remained was to wait until they finally got their son. The main thing is that everything is fine with him! I don’t know how long it lasted, it seemed too long to me.
And then my baby screamed. The neonatologist took it to her table. I turned my head, trying to see what she was doing to him. She lay there looking at her son. The pain has disappeared. Instead, a feeling of euphoria came. I became a mother!
It seems to me that the maternal instinct woke up in me at the moment when I saw two stripes on the test. Every day and every month he gets stronger. And here, in the operating room, it reached its climax.
For doctors, this is ordinary everyday life. For mom - one of the most important events in life. Thanks to the neonatologist who, even without asking, brought my son to me for a kiss. For her it’s a small thing, for me it’s a moment that will forever remain in my memory. The son looks like a little gnome with a wrinkled nose. Our first kiss. And so they take him away. All I have to do is wait—there’s still a whole day until our next meeting.
For the remaining time, the anesthesiologist entertained the doctors by reading bad reviews from the Internet about our maternity hospital. The whole operation lasted about 40 minutes.
What happens after the operation?
After the operation, you need to stay in the intensive care unit for another day. I have the most unpleasant memories of this place.
There are five of us in the ward. Everyone has just been cut through. The nurse may not bad person, but no one felt any special kindness from her. When the anesthesia began to wear off, drips with oxytocin to contract the uterus only increased the pain.
But the pain is nothing compared to the feeling of helplessness when you are forced to ask permission even to go to the toilet. In addition, you were not allowed to talk to your bedmates. Just sleep, drink and turn from side to side. It was not even allowed to walk around the ward, although it is known that the sooner a woman gets up and starts moving, the better. True, no one wanted to go.
All this time my thoughts were only about my son. I dreamed that the next day would come soon and we would see each other again. Fortunately, At night they put a drip with a strong soporific painkiller. And there is morning and a long-awaited meeting.
As you can see, the operation itself, despite some pain, left only pleasant memories. Subsequent rehabilitation is a small matter. The most important thing awaited me ahead - in