What should I expect during a caesarean (C-section) birth?
Why a C-section?
C-sections may be planned or unplanned and may be scheduled, urgent or an emergency. Reason's for a planned c-section include:
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Choice of the birthing parent
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Repeat C-section; especially 3 or more
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Breech (bum down) baby
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Multiple (twins, triplets) pregnancy
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Placenta previa
It is also possible that an unplanned C-section may be required in cases where one of the following occurs:
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Labour does not progress due to pelvis and baby mismatch
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Maternal fever
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Fetal distress
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Placenta abruption
What can I expect?
A C-section takes place in an operating room. There will be an entire support team to take care of you and your baby including an OBGYN plus a surgical assistant, nurses for both you and the baby, an anesthesiologist, and a pediatric team.
If you were in labour, you might already have an epidural (with a tiny tube in your back) that can be topped up to prevent any pain, although you will still feel touching and pressure as the baby is born. If the C-section is planned, you will have a spinal (think 1 injection like for dental procedures) that lasts about one hour. In emergency situations, general anesthesia may be required especially if you did not have an epidural. In these cases, your partner may have to leave the operating room.
Usually, babies are born within 5 minutes of the start of a C-section and can be delivered in as fast as 1 minute in an emergency. The remaining 30 minutes of surgery allow you and your partner to enjoy the baby by your side after a routine check with the pediatric team. Some babies may need extra support from a neonatal intensive care team.
Some people feel nauseous at delivery; your anesthesiologist will help you with this. Talk to your care provider about your options during a caesarean birth (i.e. lowering of the drape as baby is born, skin to skin, additional supports).