C-Section
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Over the years birthing methods have changed a great deal. When technology wasnt so advanced there was only one method of giving birth, vaginally non-medicated. However, in todays society there are now more than one method of giving birth. In fact, there are three methods: Non-medicated vaginal delivery, medicated vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery, also known as c-section. In the cesarean delivery there is not much to prepare for before the operation, except maybe the procedure of the operation. A few things that will be discussed are: the process of cesarean delivery, reasons for this birthing method and a few reasons for why this birthing method is used. Also a question that many women have is whether or not they can vaginally deliver after a cesarean delivery, as well as the risks and benefits if it. Delivering a child by a c-section also has a few advantages and disadvantages for both the mother and child; this will also be discussed in more depth a bit later.
Unlike vaginal birth delivery, the process of a cesarean delivery is quite different, but just as safe as giving vaginal birth (Taylor, 1). When delivering a baby using the cesarean method, there are two ways anesthetic can be used. The women can be put into an unconscious state using the anesthetic, therefore she will be asleep during the entire operation and her coach may not be present. The other way for the anesthetic to be used would be in an epidural or spinal block to temporarily numb the woman from her waist down. In this case the mother will be awake and her coach may be present to give her extra support. Once the anesthetic is working, an incision is made in the abdomen either horizontally or vertically, depending on the reason for the cesarean delivery. A vertical incision is made when the baby is in trouble and needs to be out as quickly as possible, when there is more time the horizontal incision is used. The baby is then lifted out of the uterus and gone for the APGAP procedure. The placenta is then removed and the mothers reproductive organs are examined before closing the incision (Taylor, 1).
Cesarean birthing method can be voluntary as well as involuntary. When a cesarean is chosen in advance it is usually because the mother has a history of infection, which could be transmitted to the baby when it is delivered through the birth canal; the mother has severe toxemia; the mother has diabetes and the fetal monitor suggests that a early delivery is the best choice, or if the baby is too large or in a breech position (Lenox Hill Hospital, 1). Delivering vaginally in any if these cases would be very difficult and dangerous not just for the mother, but also for the baby. However, cesarean delivery is not always chosen in advance, it is also used in emergency situations and during difficult deliveries where it may be the safest option about 10 to 15% of women develop problems that lead to cesarean birth (Lenox Hill Hospital, 1)
Emergency situations where the baby or mother
is in distress may indicate a cesarean delivery.
These include:
If the babys head is too large to pass through
the mothers pelvis,
A fetal illness or abnormality makes labor and vaginal
delivery unsafe,
Disease or abnormality in the mother,
A previous c-section where the incision in the uterus was made vertically,
Preeclampsia or eclampsia, and breech (feet or buttocks first) or transverse (crosswise) presentation (Taylor, 1).
A concern that many women have who have undergone cesarean birth, is whether or not they can have a vaginal birth after. The answer is yes; they can have a vaginal birth, but only if the incision made was a horizontal one. The benefits are the woman assd with fewer blood transfusions, fewer post-partum infections and shorter hospital stays (Rose, 1). On the other hand there are many risks: the uterine may rupture, it could result in maternal and fetal death, presents uterine or abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and increased risk of maternal and neonatal infection (Rose, 1). In 1995, 92% of the women who had a