Caesarian Sections

Previous Caesarian Sections
If you have had a previous caesarian it is often safe to proceed with a normal vaginal delivery. You should discuss this with your obstetrician during your early antenatal appointments. There may be other contraindications which will alter the decision made in the initial months later on in pregnancy but it is good to have a clear plan of how you would like your pregnancy to proceed, if possible, from the start.

If you have already had 2 caesarians your uterus is unlikely to be able to stand the pressure of contractions without rupture and I would advise a 3rd pregnancy to be delivered once again by caesarian. I would not usually advise more than 3 caesarian sections.

Unplanned caesarians
Sometimes in labour it is necessary to perform a caesarian section. This may be due to slow progress, maternal exhaustion or fetal distress. The situation can change quickly and is unpredictable. In an urgent situation the medical team can perform this surgery in a matter of minutes and this may mean you have a general anaesthetic. If there is more time an anaethetist will be able to use a local anaesthetic technique which numbs the pain nerves from below your chest to your toes. This takes minutes to work so it is quick to use and means you can be awake during your operation seeing your new arrival as soon as they are born. Under the local anaesthetic you will be able to feel pushing and pulling but you will not be able to feel pain as the anaesthetic has blocked these pain nerves.

Planned Caesarian Section
If you have booked a caesarian section it is normally scheduled to take place at about 39 weeks. It takes place in the obstetric operating theatre and there will be a team of obstetric doctors, midwives and theatre nurses.
Under a planned caesarian the anaesthetist will normally use the local anaesthetic nerve block and the surgery takes about an hour in total. You baby will be born after about 10 minutes in most cases.

© The Westover

Acupuncture
Antenatal Classes
Baby Massage Classes
Breast Specialist
Cranio Sacral Therapy
Educational Consultants
General Practitioners
Gynaecologists
Infertility Specialists
Midwives
Nurses
Obstetricians
Paediatricians
Paediatric Allergist
Paediatric Dentistry
Paediatric Dermatologist
Paediatric Dieticians
Paediatric Psychologists
Physiotherapists
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Reflexologists
Yoga