Cesarean delivery (C-Section) is a surgical birth performed by making an
incision in the abdomen and uterus. It is used when a vaginal delivery
is not possible or if there are safety concerns for you or your baby.
A c-section may be recommended for a number of different reasons prior
to and sometimes during labor. Regardless of the reason for c-section,
Women’s Health and the
Family Birth Place strive to create a family-centered, baby-friendly c-section experience
for you and your baby. C-sections are performed in a dedicated operating
room within the Family Birth Place and we encourage you to invite your
partner or support person to accompany you. A VVH pediatrician will attend
the delivery and all newborn assessments and care are completed in the
Operating Room so that you may initiate skin-to-skin contact with your
new arrival as soon as possible.
If your delivery plans include a planned c-section you will be scheduled
for a pre-operative appointment during one of your OB visits. This longer
appointment will allow you time to review the surgical consent with your
surgeon and to review your questions and what to expect the day of delivery.
The day of your scheduled c-section:
You will check in at the
Family Birth Place (“FBP”) no later than 6 am. Once you arrive you will change
into a gown, get an IV started and have bloodwork drawn. If you have a
support person accompanying you during the c-section, they will be given
any special clothing required for the operating room (“OR”).
When it is time for surgery, the FBP staff will accompany you to the OR
where you will receive anesthetic to numb the lower half of your body
while you remain awake. This means you will be awake to meet your baby
the moment they are born. Sterile drapes will be placed around your legs
and abdomen, and a curtain will be raised just above your abdomen which
blocks your view of the operating field. VVH offers a clear curtain for
those patients who do not wish to have their view obstructed. Once anesthesia
is placed and the sterile field is draped, your support person will be
invited to join you in the OR before surgery begins.
A c-section takes about one hour from start to finish and baby will usually
be born 5-10 minutes after the c-section begins. Your baby will be lifted
up for you to see as soon as they are delivered. A
Valley View pediatrician will be present in the operating room to immediately evaluate your baby
and provide any necessary care without leaving the room. Your support
person is welcome to watch this assessment and take pictures of your baby.
After a quick assessment, baby will be brought to you for skin-to-skin
contact and will remain with you unless they require extra care right
away. Your OB/Gyn will place dissolvable stitches to close your uterus
and the incision on your skin will be closed with either stitches, staples,
or glue before being covered by a bandage.
After surgery you will spend about an hour in the FBP recovery area next
to the OR with your support person and baby while you are recovering from
surgery. If you are planning to breastfeed this can be done right away.
Once you are stable, you will be moved to your postpartum room where you
will be able to welcome visitors and continue to recover until you and
baby are ready for discharge.
After a c-section you should plan to stay in the hospital for 2-3 nights.
To enhance your recovery, we will strongly encourage you to get up within
6 hours following surgery and to walk at least 3 times per day around
the unit after that. You should plan to have an appointment at one of
our Women’s Health clinic locations one week after your c-section
to check on your incision.
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