What Happens During a Cesarean?
The idea of a cesarean or c-section can feel scary if you don’t know what to expect or what will happen.
Cesareans typically fall into three categories: planned, unplanned, or emergency.
Planned cesareans are typically scheduled over a week in advance, and your provider will cover the benefits and risks for the surgery.
Unplanned cesareans occur when something arises during labor that makes vaginal birth no longer the best option. While this type of cesarean often feels urgent, there is usually still time to ask questions and discuss the process in detail with your provider.
Emergency cesareans are actually fairly rare. Emergency means that there is a life-threatening situation, and the baby must be delivered as quickly as possible- with little to no time for discussion.
BEFORE THE CESAREAN
If this is a planned cesarean, you’ll be given instructions prior to arrival at the hospital.
You’ll sign a consent form, and a provider will discuss the potential risks and benefits for the procedure.
A nurse will shave your abdomen, including some pubic hair, and start an IV for fluids and medications.
Your anesthesiologist will visit you and discuss the pain management options, their risks and benefits. The two most common options are anesthesia via epidural or a spinal block.
DURING THE CESAREAN
After entering the operating room, which is a sterile environment, your care team will make sure that you are as comfortable as possible. There are often quite a few people in the room. One nurse is typically happen to hold a phone and take photos throughout your baby’s birth so you have those special memories later.
The anesthesiologist will begin administering the anesthesia, running a series of tests to ensure that it is working properly. This is your person for the entire procedure. They will remain directly next to you for the duration of the procedure, adjusting or providing medications as needed. Their goal is to make this experience as positive as possible- if you feel any nausea or pain, relief is available.
A catheter will be placed into your bladder for the duration of the procedure (and removed once the anesthesia has worn off).
A screen or sheet will be raised, blocking both your view and your support person’s view of the surgery.
Once everything has been prepared for the procedure, your support person will be invited into the room to sit by your head, opposite from the anesthesiologist.
Your provider will begin the procedure by making the necessary incisions and, with the assistance of other providers, your baby will be carefully removed from your uterus and held up for you to catch a first glimpse.
Throughout the procedure you may smell a slight burning scent, due to blood vessels being cauterized. You will likely also feel lots of pressure and a tugging sensation while your baby is being born.
Once the cord is cut, your baby will be wrapped up and placed on your chest for those precious skin-to-skin moments while the medical team begins to repair the incision. Your baby and partner may go into a nearby room while baby is weighed, measured, diapered, etc, during a portion of your repair time. That part is facility dependent.
AFTER THE CESAERAN
After the repair is complete, you and your baby will be transported to your recovery space, where you will be closely monitored for the first 2-3 hours.
You may feel nauseous and/or drowsy during this time. It’s okay to rely on your partner or support people for help with skin-to-skin or baby care while you get rest.
You will be regularly monitored during the duration of your stay to ensure that you are well on your way to recovery before being discharged.
Additional pain medication will be offered once the general anesthesia begins to wear off, and a prescription for pain medication to bring home will be given to you before leaving the hospital.
You’ll be encouraged to begin moving fairly quickly, even if it’s just standing and shuffling to the restroom at first. The nurses will instruct you on the best ways to get in and out of bed to reduce pain, discomfort, or trauma to your incision.