You know and are told oftentimes that vaginal delivery is the safest thing for a pregnant woman. (Plus, her baby). But there are plenty of reasons for C-section that are making these risky procedures more common among the pregnant mass.
The rates of cesarean deliveries have risen from 7% in 1990 to 21% today. And the numbers of C-section births are expected to increase with time.
Counting hardly any, a cesarean can expose you into issues including blood clots, surgical injury, wound infection, blood loss and more.
Besides, via this post, you will come to know everything you need to know about this surgical procedure.
For example its types, causes, how to avoid it, risks of c section on you and your baby and more.
So without wasting time, let’s get moving.
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WHAT IS C-SECTION?
C-section or cesarean section is a surgical procedure that requires an incision on the mother’s abdomen and wall of the uterus for the baby’s birth.
This process is implemented when certain problems hamper the natural birth or the birth of the baby through the vaginal canal.
A C-section delivery can both be planned or unplanned.
Planned C-section occurs in case there are any early signs of risky vaginal delivery.
Besides, an unplanned or emergency C-section occurs when certain problems occur during the labor or natural birth.
Also Read : 9 All different types of pregnancy
TYPES OF CESAREAN SECTION DELIVERY
In general, there are 2 types of cesarean section delivery, such as
- Lower segment incision
- Classical incision
LOWER SEGMENT INCISION
Lower or uterine segment cesarean section is the most commonly used type of C-section deliveries.
This process ensures less blood loss of the mother and it is less vascular.
It leads to minimum pain after the surgery and takes less period for recovery.
CLASSICAL INCISION
This type of C section delivery takes place to prevent the fetal risk of intracranial hemorrhage.
For example, if the fetus is too small or is in breech position, then the head of the baby may become entrapped by the lower segment incision.
Therefore, classical incision comes to view.
REASONS FOR C-SECTION
There are plentiful reasons for C-section deliveries.
But before knowing the exact reasons you should learn that cesarean deliveries can both be planned or unplanned.
Both these factors can hold various and all different reasons.
So, you should have a glance over the reasons for both planned and unplanned C-section delivery.
REASONS FOR PLANNED C-SECTION
The following ones are the reasons for a planned C-section delivery
- Previously cesarean delivery
- High blood pressure or preeclampsia
- Placenta previa – in which the placenta partially or completely blocks the cervix
- Breech position of the baby in which the baby’s legs are downward
- Gestational diabetes
- Multiple pregnancies or having more than one baby at once
- Transverse position of the baby or the baby is lying sideways in the uterus
So, these are the risk factors that lead to a planned C-section delivery.
REASONS FOR AN UNPLANNED C-SECTION
The following factors can let your healthcare team go for unplanned C-section at the time of labor.
- A prolonged labor
- Your baby’s head doesn’t move down or doesn’t get fit through your pelvis
- Your labor isn’t progressing ort the contractions aren’t strong enough to push down the baby
- The cervix of yours is not opening for the weak contractions
- Your baby is showing signs of distress or its health is compressing because of prolonged labor or other problems
- You are having high blood pressure that is making your labor riskier
- The umbilical cord of the baby has prolapsed or has fallen down through the cervix and into the vagina
So, these are the reasons for C-section.
MEDICAL REASONS FOR C-SECTION
The medical reasons for C-section childbirth include
MULTIPLE PREGNANCIES
A multiple pregnancy is one of the risky types of pregnancy that finally ends up with a C-section.
Being pregnant with several babies can expose different risks while giving birth. Plus, the babies often hold abnormal positions in the uterus.
So, fetal distresses are more likely to happen.
Either way, it’s safe to choose a C-section instead.
CPD OR CEPHALOPELVIC DISPROPORTION
CPD is a condition where a pregnant woman’s pelvis is too small to give birth to a baby vaginally.
This condition even happens if the baby’s head is too large and can’t fit through the vagina.
So, rather than approaching for a vaginal delivery, it’s safe to plump for C-section.
CERTAIN PLACENTAL ISSUES
In almost all cases, women undergo a C-section when the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix.
This condition is called placenta previa.
In this condition the baby can’t be born vaginally. That’s because forceful vaginal delivery can cause severe bleeding and can be fatal for the mother alongside her baby.
In either case, it’s quite safe to perform a C-section delivery.
PROLONGED LABOR
Prolonged labor also referred to as ‘failure to progress’ or ‘stalled labor’ Accounts for nearly one third of all c section births.
It happens when a mother-to-be takes 20 hours or more to give birth naturally but the labor doesn’t progress.
So, in order to prevent any types of damages on the baby as well as mother, doctors consider a cesarean birth.
ABNORMAL POSITIONING OF BABY
An easy labor requires the baby positioning head first near the birth canal.
But the babies can also swim in the amniotic sac with abnormal positions.
For example, instead of the head they can show feet or butt toward the birth canal which is referred to as breech position.
Plus, they can also come up with their shoulder or side first referred to as transverse position.
On account of avoiding any complications, a C-section is the safest option to choose instead of natural with the baby having abnormal positioning.
FETAL DISTRESS
The likelihood of C-section increases with fetal distress.
Fetal distress moreover, occurs when the baby lacks oxygen during the labor for various reasons including a prolonged labor, placental problems, certain health issues and more.
In this period a C-section is something above best your doctor would ever like to perform.
PREVIOUS C-SECTION
Having a C-section birth previously boosts the chances of having C-section again in future.
However, about 90% of women having a C-section before can go through a successful natural delivery and this term is known as VBAC or vaginal birth after cesarean.
CERTAIN HEALTH CONDITIONS
Chronic health conditions certainly increase the risk of C-section delivery.
For example, gestating ladies are frequently advised to have a C-section while having conditions including gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney issues and more.
In fact, choosing vaginal delivery with any of the conditions can cause fatal consequences.
Either way, it’s safer to deliver the baby via C-section.
CORD PROLAPSE
Cord prolapse is a condition where the umbilical cord slips through the cervix before the delivery of the baby.
This factor can minimize the blood and oxygen flow to the baby.
Thus, an emergency cesarean delivery, in rare cases, is required. So, these are the medical reasons for C-section.
Moreover, there are several risks, apart from only late hospital stays, that can appear for cesarean births.
While some of the risks are expected, others can be fatal to stubble on.
RISKS OF C-SECTION
The risks of cesarean section on mother includes
- Wound infection
- Heavy bleeding
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Infection in the uterus
- Risk of future C-section
- Pain around the scar
- Complications for the anesthetic
- A minor cut on baby
- Breathing difficulties of the baby
Apart from these fatal risks, there are some typical as well as ordinary problems pregnant women often face after a C-section.
These problems can possibly include
- Pain around the abdomen or wound
- Back pain and muscle aches around the area where you had the epidural or spinal injection
- Longer hospital stays
- Leaking urine
- Constipation
- Problems while passing wind and bowel movements
- Coughing and shortness of breath
- Swelling and pain in the calf
- Vaginal bleeding and discharges with bad smell
These are some of the problems you are likely to face after having a C-section.
However, you should definitely seek medical help if any of the symptoms get worse.
Through the above discussion, it’s so obvious that a C-section can be risky while it’s alternative, which is vaginal delivery, is quite simple and plain *(not saying that it’s easy).
So, you better start preparing for a vaginal delivery instead.
There are some factors that can help you to get a vaginal delivery; in addition, can assist to minimize some pains during childbirth.
And these factors are discussed below.
HOW TO AVOID C-SECTION
Follow these following tips in order to avoid C-section as the termination of your pregnancy journey.
- Exercise throughout the gestational period
- Try to avoid labor induction
- Consider a certified childbirth coach
- Prefer a healthy diet plan and stick to it
- Gain a healthy weight
- Join in antenatal classes
- Mind getting plenty of rest especially in the last trimester
- Avoid stress
- Relax
You better be considering these rules while aiming to not to face C-section delivery.
LAST WORDS FROM PREGARLYBODY
Here the article finally terminates.
Giving birth is a very unpredictable thing. No one can be exact to predict what will happen at the panic moment. So, you better start preparing for the best.
You can start doing the above mentioned things in this article to rule out any of your reasons for C-section.
Moreover, did you know that pregnancy can cause tooth loss or maybe tooth losses?
Well, it probably can and it will obviously be embarrassing.
So, learn how to prevent tooth loss during pregnancy with these 7 ordinary life-hacks. (Get aheadJ)
All at the end, pregarlybody wishes you a safe and healthy pregnancy ahead.
