What happens right before a C-section?

Cesarean section is the surgical procedure designed to deliver the fetus through the abdomen. It is the only way to deliver a baby when it cannot be delivered through the vagina. Anything that prevents vaginal delivery leads to cesarean section. Conditions such as contracted pelvis, large baby, anatomical abnormalities of the birth passage and obstructed labor prevent safe delivery of the fetus vaginally. These abnormalities leave cesarean section as the only hope to deliver the baby safe without damaging the mother as much as possible.

The preparations for the cesarean section are carried out from the moment the obstetrician decides to deliver the baby by a cesarean section. Then the mother is managed accordingly and a date for the C-section will be booked. The preparations for a C-section are started from the day before the surgery. You will be advised to stay without eating anything. The duration should be not less than 6 hours. This is done to keep your stomach empty at the time of the surgery to prevent regurgitation and aspiration of stomach contents. On the night before the C-section, you will be also given some other medications. These medications include an anxiolitic to ease your anxiety and an anti-emtic to prevent vomiting during the surgery. These medications will help you to sleep well at night.  

Usually an elective cesarean section is done in the morning. They will give you another dose of anxiolytic and anti-emetic. Before you are sent to the operation theatre, the doctor will check you to see how you and your baby are doing. He will check everything you need to undergo a surgery is present. For example, the presence of crossed matched blood is checked. C-section is a surgery that can lose a lot of blood. Therefore, blood should be preserved to give to the mother if such thing happens. He will also explain the procedure and answer any questions that you have. Then you will be sent to the operation theatre.

After you arrive to the theatre, the surgery will not be started right away. Still there are some procedures that you will have to undergo just before the surgery. The obstetrician and the anaesthetist will double check your medical records. Then you will be taken to the anaethetic room where you will be given anaesthesia. An intravenous cannula will be inserted and you will be connected to a saline drip. Usually, C-sections are performed under spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia only anesthetizes the body below the waist line. Then you will be taken to the operating theatre. During this whole time you and your baby’s vital signs will be checked to see whether you two are doing fine. Just before the surgery a urinary catheter will be inserted and the perineal area will be shaved. Meanwhile, you will be connected to various machines to monitor your vital signs throughout the procedure.

C-section is a surgical procedure designed to deliver the baby abdominally when it cannot be done through the vagina. Sometimes the procedure is done when the parents specifically request to deliver the baby by a C-section. Like any other medical procedure, C-section also has some complications. Above mentioned pre-operative preparations are carried out thoroughly to minimize these complications.