“What is the most commonly performed surgery in Turkey right now?” If asked, no one will say "C-section" without any mistake. Although cesarean section is performed so frequently, how much accurate information do women have about it? I wanted you to learn caesarean section from me as a doctor, not from someone else's experience.
That's why I decided to write this article.
C-section is the surgery in which the baby is delivered through an incision made in the woman's uterus.
C-section. Situations that need to be done are as follows:
Multiple pregnancy; If there is a twin pregnancy and birth starts very early, a cesarean section may be required. The positions of the babies are also important in deciding the type of birth. Other health problems are also factors
for the type of birth. As the number of babies the pregnant woman carries increases, the necessity of a cesarean section increases.
Lack of labor progress; Thanks to contractions, the cervix opens and the baby descends into the vaginal canal. If
contractions are not effective in opening the cervix, a cesarean section may be required.
If a problem has developed with the baby's health; For example, if the umbilical cord that feeds the baby is compressed and prevents adequate blood flow to the baby, then the baby's heartbeat will decrease. For this reason, an urgent
caesarean section is required.
If the baby's partner is blocking the exit
If the baby is large
If the baby's head is not forward but butt is first
If the mother has an infection such as HIV or herpes
/> If the mother has diabetes or high blood pressure
The issue that women who have previously given birth by cesarean section are most curious about is the possibility of trying normal birth in their next pregnancy. There are several factors that determine the answer to this question. For example,
how many caesarean sections have you had before, what is the baby's position, what is the placement of the baby's partner, what was the shape of the incision made in the uterus in the previous caesarean
surgery? Hospitals also need to have clear policies regarding birth after cesarean section.
Sometimes, women prefer to give birth by cesarean section even if they have the chance to give birth normally.
Before deciding on this, cesarean section should also be considered for other surgeries. You need to know that there are risks and complications such as
After a cesarean section, you will stay in the hospital longer, you may have some health problems after the surgery, and even Problems may occur even in subsequent pregnancies. Caesarean section may not be a good option for women who want to give birth to many children
.
I would like to talk a little about what to do before going into surgery. After you are admitted to the hospital, a nurse will prepare you for surgery. An intravenous line will be placed in your arm or on the back of your hand. Fluids and medications to be used in the surgery will be given through this vein. When you are taken to the operating table, your abdomen will be wiped with antiseptic liquid and if there is any hair in the area where the incision will be made, it will be shaved. A urinary catheter will then be placed in the bladder. Having an empty bladder reduces the possibility of injury to the bladder during surgery.
There are several anesthesia methods that can be chosen for surgery. General anesthesia, spinal anesthesia or
epidural anesthesia may be used. You will not be awake when general anesthesia is administered. If you have epidural anesthesia, the lower part of your body will be numbed. Medicine is administered to a space in your spine. The epidural
catheter can be placed in this space and kept for a day. Thus, when you have pain, medicine is given to your body through this thin tube and your pain is stopped. During spinal anesthesia, the lower body is anesthetized. The difference from epidural
is that no catheter is placed, the medicine is given directly into the fluid around the spinal cord.
One of the general information given by pregnant women for cesarean section is that a seven-fold incision is made. During the surgery, your skin and abdominal wall are cut. This incision can be made horizontally in the bikini area or vertically upwards. The female muscles are moved away from each other and do not need to be cut. Another incision is made on the
uterine wall. The incision made here can be vertical or horizontal.
The baby is delivered through the opening. The umbilical cord is cut and the baby's partner is removed. The incision in the uterus is closed by stitching with self-dissolving threads. When closing the skin, stitches that dissolve or need to be removed
later can be used.
As a physician who has made many campaigns against cesarean section, I would like to remind once again that cesarean section should only be performed
to save life.
We can list the risks of caesarean section as follows:
Infection Sudden infection.
Blood loss.
Clot formation in the leg, pelvic organs or lung.
Intestinal or bladder injury.
Allergy may develop due to the drugs or anesthesia used.
After surgery. I want to talk a little bit about what you may encounter next. If you had the surgery while awake, you can hold your baby immediately.
Immediately after the surgery, you can be monitored in a special room in the operating room. Sometimes you can go to your room
immediately. Blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, and amount of bleeding are checked at regular intervals. Having a cesarean section does not prevent you from breastfeeding your baby. Start breastfeeding immediately.
You need to stay in bed for a while. Your relative or nurse may need to help you the first few times you get out of bed.
Shortly after the surgery, your urinary catheter will be removed. The incision area on your abdomen will hurt for a few days.
When the anesthesia effect wears off, painkillers will be started and given to you regularly. A hot water
bag may be helpful. If you want to try alternative methods to relieve pain, you should talk to your doctor.
After the cesarean section, you will stay in the hospital for 2 - 4 days. The length of your stay varies depending on the reason for the surgery and your body's
recovery. When you go home, you will need care for a while and your movements will be limited.
During the recovery period, there will be contractions in the uterus, especially when you breastfeed. Your bleeding or discharge may last 4 – 6 weeks. There may be bleeding with clots or cramps. Pain at the incision site may continue for 3 - 6 weeks
To reduce infection, do not use tampons or have intercourse until 2 - 3 weeks after the surgery. Give yourself some time to recover before starting exercise. If you experience fever, excessive bleeding
or if your pain gets worse, be sure to inform your doctor.
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