Description
A C-section, or cesarean section, is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions made in the abdomen and uterus.
This method is chosen when vaginal delivery is not possible or safe, or when the health of the mother or baby is at risk.
Medical conditions or complications during labor can necessitate a C-section to ensure the well-being of both mother and child.You’ll be under anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure. Most people describe a sensation of tugging or pulling when the baby is removed from the abdomen.
What actually happens during a C-section?
The first step in a C-section procedure is preparing you for anesthesia. Most planned C-sections use an epidural, allowing you to be awake for the delivery. However, in some cases, you may be put to sleep under general anesthesia.
Your abdomen will be cleaned with an antiseptic, and you may have an oxygen mask placed over your mouth and nose to increase oxygen to your baby. Next, your provider will place a sterile drape around the incision site and over your legs and chest. Finally, they will raise a sterile curtain or drape between your head and lower body.
The obstetrician will then make an incision through your skin and into the wall of your abdomen. This incision can be either vertical or transverse (horizontal), with the latter also known as a bikini incision.
Next, a 3- to 4-inch incision will be made into the wall of your uterus, which can also be transverse or vertical. The obstetrician will then remove your baby through these incisions. Afterward, the umbilical cord is cut, the placenta is removed, and the incisions are closed with stitches and staples.
Emergency C-sections follow the same steps, but the baby is delivered more quickly. During a planned C-section, delivery takes about 10 to 15 minutes, while in an emergency, the baby can be delivered within a few minutes.
If you are awake during your C-section, you will be able to see and hold your baby shortly after birth.
