Experts Blog
Dr Paul Armstrong MD MRCOG
Gynaecology and Obstetrics
‘Caesareans Demystified…’
The vast majority of mothers look forward to an uncomplicated normal delivery but in some cases a Caesarean is the safer option. Currently the Caesarian section rate in the UK is running at over 25% and this can generate anxiety in some mothers to be.
Contrary to popular belief, only a small minority of Caesareans are in fact due to reasons of convenience or being ‘too posh to push’, most are for sound medical reasons. Here I would like to share with you some of the frequent concerns I come across in my practice.
- Emergency Caesarean is a professional term, meaning that a Caesarean was not planned at that time, not that there is an acute medical emergency. There is no need to worry when you hear this.
- Some of the commonest reasons for a Caesarean are that the baby gets stuck during the birth process or the baby is showing signs of becoming tired.
- No muscles are cut during the course of the operation so they should work perfectly normally after the scar has healed.
- The cut is usually made below the bikini line and is only about 5 inches wide, leaving a neat and almost invisible scar.
- The epidural or spinal anaesthetic given to the mother are painless and safe and do not harm the baby.
- You can cuddle and breastfeed the baby while the operation is being completed.
- A Caesarean will not interfere with breastfeeding after the birth.
- It is safe to drive two weeks after a Caesarean but do check with your car insurers.
- A catheter is usually only left in until the morning after the section.
- In most cases it is possible to try for a normal birth in the next pregnancy with a good chance of success.
- There is no upper limit in the number of Caesarean sections a woman can have. (The record is 13!)
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