What you need to know about caesareans

The operation may be performed before labour begins, if there are medical reasons for not going through labour and natural birth, or if the health of the mother or baby may be in danger.
A C/S is major abdominal surgery. If an expecting mother knows she is going to need a C/S it is a good idea to plan for care and recovery after hospitalisation.
The instructions provided by the doctor should be followed. If the C/S will be performed under general anaesthesia the mother should only eat a light meal the night before the operation. No food, including tea, coffee or water, should be taken after midnight and the morning before the procedure.
Before the operation a catheter will be inserted into the bladder enabling free flow of urine after the C/S. A drip will be inserted into a vein to allow fluids and medication to be given directly into the blood before and during the operation. Monitoring leads will be set up to measure the heartbeat and blood pressure. The abdomen will also be swabbed with an anti-bacterial wash.
The patient will be given a regional or general anaesthesia. A regional anaesthetic block prevents the sensation of pain in a particular area of the body while the patient remains awake. General anaesthesia prevents any pain sensation and relaxes the muscles while the patient is asleep.

The operation
The doctor makes an incision into the skin just below the navel. He then enters through the abdominal wall and opens the lower part of the uterus. The most common kind of skin incision used is the transverse incision which goes across from left to right just above the pubic bone.
In the case of an emergency C/S, a sub umbilical mid-line incision may be made which goes from just below the navel down to the pubic area allowing for faster access to the womb. After having opened the uterus the doctor removes the baby and cuts the umbilical cord after which the baby is handed over to the paediatrician.
The placenta and membranes are then removed. The doctor repairs the uterus and closes the abdominal incision.

After the operation
Each person’s recovery is different depending on the medical and obstetrical circumstances and general health of the patient
Hospitalisation may take anything from two to 10 days and depends on the recovery of the patient and the condition of the baby.
The mother may experience uterine contractions, this may happen when breast feeding.
When the mother is discharged from the hospital she should try to get help with her daily activities. She should avoid lifting heavy objects for six weeks as this may cause complications with the healing of the abdominal wound.
By the end of the sixth week the mother should be fully recovered and be able to resume most of her activities. The doctor should be asked about an exercise programme to regain the abdominal muscle tone and when to return for a postnatal check-up.