Caesarean delivery, also called c-section, is an option to have surgery to deliver a baby.
The baby is taken out through the mother’s abdomen.
According to Parkland gynaecologist Doctor Clive Khoza most caesarean births result in healthy babies and mothers.
He says healing takes longer than with vaginal birth.
He claims the caesarean birth rate has risen greatly in recent decades.
It is important for pregnant women to get the facts about c-sections before they deliver.
Doctors might recommend a c-section if they think it is safer for mother and baby than vaginal birth.
Although some c-sections are planned, most c-sections are done when unexpected problems happen during delivery.
C-sections might be advised with the following in mind:
- The mother is carrying more than one baby.
- There are health problems including HIV infection, herpes infection, heart disease and dangerously high blood pressure.
- Problems with the shape of her pelvis, placenta and umbilical cord.
- Problems with the position of the baby, such as breech.
- The baby shows signs of distress, such as a slowed heart rate.
Khoza says a patient can have a vaginal delivery after a c-section provided she had only one c-section prior to the normal delivery and gives informed consent for vaginal delivery
There should be no contraindications present in the index pregnancy.
One of Khoza’s patients Masetsana Nkwatheni’s third child was delivered by c-section.
This comes after her second child was delivered through natural birth.
She is quite happy with her second c-section and says it is not so bad after all.
It should be carried out by an obstetrician with an anaesthetist and theatre staff available in the facility.
Khoza says patients have a choice of general or spinal anaesthesia (not epidural).
The preferred method is spinal anaesthesia, when medication is injected into the patient’s back.
“The aim is to block the nerves that supply the area where there operation is going to be performed,” he adds.
He claims it’s safe for the mother and baby.
“The mother is awake during the operation, therefore she can immediately see the baby once the baby is born, which promotes mother-baby bonding.”
The mother’s partner is usually allowed in the theatre and she can communicate with him during the operation.
According to Khoza this also promotes family bonding.
General anaesthesia can be performed safely but he claims the spinal anaesthesia is the preferred method.
The mother will be expected to be in bed for at least four to six hours.
He says that’s the time it takes for the anaesthesia to wear off.
The mother is kept in the hospital for two to three days after delivery, provided there are no complications.
He claims by the end of the first week, usually, the wound has healed which will make things easier for the mother.
