A C-section refers to the surgical delivery of your baby. If you need to have a C-section, your doctor will make a low horizontal incision in your abdomen and uterus to deliver your baby. To numb your lower body, you'll be given either:

• A spinal block, which is injected into the sac surrounding your spinal cord
• An epidural, which is injected into the space outside the sac surrounding the spinal cord, or
• General anaesthetic to put you into a painless sleep
  
  

After a C-section, you'll probably need to stay in the hospital for around 3 days to recover. Then you'll probably need a couple of weeks at home to rest.

Can I have a C-section?

Doctors will usually only advise having a caesarean if there's a health reason behind it. But you can also elect to have a C-section if that feels right for you.

Your doctor may also recommend a C-section if giving birth vaginally would put you or your baby at risk. Some of the reasons why you might need a C-section include:

• Your baby's head is too big for the birth canal
• Your baby is in the wrong position
• You have a health condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease
• You have active genital herpes
• You have already had a C-section previously
• There's a problem with the umbilical cord or placenta
• Your labour has stalled
  
  

What are the benefits and risks of having a C-section?

Some women may choose to have a C-section for non-medical reasons, and this can be discussed with their doctors. Preference for a C-section delivery is usually because parents have more control in deciding when their baby is born and it can also reduce some anxiety of waiting for labour to start.

Some of the benefits of a C-section are:

• Lower risk of incontinence and sexual dysfunction after the birth of the baby
• Lower risk of the baby being deprived of oxygen during delivery
• Lower risk of the baby experiencing trauma while passing through the birth canal
  
  

What are the risks of having a C-section?

A C-section is often more predictable than a vaginal birth, but it is also a major surgery, so it's not surprising that it comes with some risks. These include:

• Bleeding and infection. There is a higher risk of blood loss and infection as a C-section involves cutting into the abdomen, adjusting the organs and making incisions near the bladder and bowel.
• Blood clots. There is a higher chance of developing blood clot inside a deep vein, especially in the legs or pelvic organs after a C-section. It can be life-threatening if the blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow.
• Increased risks for future pregnancies. After a C-section, a woman faces a higher risk of potentially serious complications in a subsequent pregnancy than after a vaginal delivery. Women who have three or more C-sections are at higher risk of experiencing complications during the surgery than those who have not. Therefore, it’s important to keep the procedure limited to those that are medically necessary.
• Injury to the baby during surgery. Although rare, accidental cuts to the baby’s skin can occur during surgery.
• Breathing problems for the baby. Babies born via a scheduled C-section are also more prone to developing a breathing problem marked by abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth.
  
  

If your doctor has advised you to have a C-section, it's because they believe it will be a safer, healthier option for you and your baby. Speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Can I give birth vaginally after having a C-section?

It's often possible to have a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC), but there are a lot of factors involved, so you'll need to discuss it with your doctor before you decide if it's right for you.

One big factor is your scar. If your previous C-section was an emergency and resulted in a vertical scar, there's a high risk of this bursting during labour. If, however, your scar is horizontal and low on your tummy, VBAC is more likely to be possible.

Bear in mind that if you have high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia), you’re older than 35 or your body mass index is 30 or higher, your doctor will probably recommend that you don’t have a VBAC.

Reference: Mt Elizabeth Hospital