The most common reason for a scheduled C-section is that a woman has had one or more C-sections before. For first-time moms, the most common reason is that the baby is not in the head-down position for birth, Dr. Brimmage says. The baby might be breech (bottom or feet down) or transverse (sideways).
A caesarean is generally a very safe procedure, but like any type of surgery it carries a certain amount of risk. It's important to be aware of the possible complications, particularly if you're considering having a caesarean for non-medical reasons. Possible complications include: infection of the wound or womb lining.
Babies born at or after 39 weeks have the best chance at healthy outcomes compared with babies born before 39 weeks. When the health of a woman or her fetus is at risk, induction before 39 weeks may be recommended.
At 39 weeks pregnant, you've got what is officially considered a full-term baby. Your baby now weighs around 7 to 8 pounds and measures 19 to 21 inches.
In the past, a baby born anytime between 37 weeks and 42 weeks was considered "term." A pregnancy is now considered "full term" at 39 weeks.
In rare cases, your
C-
section incision might
open (or reopen). In medical terms, this is called
C-
section dehiscence.
These include:
- severe abdominal pain.
- vaginal bleeding.
- dizziness.
- low blood pressure.
- a fever.
- painful urination.
- painful bowel movements.
- severe constipation or the inability to have a bowel movement.
Reasons to Schedule C-Sections After 39 WeeksIn these cases, the benefits of delivering early clearly outweigh the risks of what's called "late preterm" birth. Otherwise, although a baby is considered full-term after 37 weeks, most doctors' offices won't schedule a C-section until you have reached 39 weeks gestation.
Cesarean deliveries with no trial of labor were much more concentrated during the day, especially around 8 a.m. "This makes sense, as C-sections are usually scheduled during the daytime hours, and wouldn't be scheduled overnight or into the early hours of the morning," says Jennifer Wu, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist at
Labor induction is a procedure that stimulates uterine contractions during pregnancy to start the labor process. Inductions are performed a couple of ways, one is with medicine to ripen the cervix and to get the uterus to contract.
It can take from a few hours to as long as 2 to 3 days to induce labour. It depends how your body responds to the treatment. It's likely to take longer if this is your first pregnancy or you are less than 37 weeks pregnant.
If your pregnancy is healthy, it's best to let labor begin on its own. If your provider talks to you about inducing labor, ask if you can wait until at least 39 weeks to be induced. This gives your baby's lungs and brain all the time they need to fully grow and develop before he's born.
There is no evidence that bed rest during pregnancy — at home or in the hospital — is effective at treating preterm labor or preventing premature birth.
Early Signs of Labor that Mean Your Body Is Getting Ready:
- The baby drops.
- You feel the urge to nest.
- No more weight gain.
- Your cervix dilates.
- Fatigue.
- Worsening back pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Loose joints and increased clumsiness.
Full term: Your baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days. Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks, 0 days and 41 weeks, 6 days. Post term: Your baby is born after 42 weeks, 0 days.
Natural ways to induce labor
- Nipple stimulation. Nipple rolling or gentle rubbing may lead to a release of oxytocin, which could help induce labor.
- Exercise. Exercise is advisable during pregnancy unless a doctor specifies otherwise.
- Sex.
- Homeopathy and herbs.
- Castor oil.
- Food.
"There's a linear increase in maternal risk starting at 37 weeks, which is a full 2 weeks before any increase in perinatal risk," emphasized Dr. Hart. "We conclude that the optimal time of delivery is 38 weeks for women with 2 previous cesarean deliveries and 37 weeks for those with 3 or more," she said.
A preterm or premature baby is delivered before 37 weeks of your pregnancy.
- Extremely preterm infants are born 23 through 28 weeks.
- Moderately preterm infants are born between 29 and 33 weeks.
- Late preterm infants are born between 34 and 37 weeks.
Care For Your Wound: Like any surgery, after a c-section you need to ensure you take care of your wound and stitches to avoid infection and fast healing. You can do this by making sure you keep the area dry and clean, washing the incision daily with soap and water (this can be done when you shower).
In most c-sections, the patient's bladder and intestines are just moved aside – still within the abdominal cavity – so the surgeon can better see and reach the uterus. In rare cases, the intestines may need to be temporarily lifted out of the patient's body if they were harmed during the surgery and need attention.
You may need to give birth in a hospital where you can have an emergency c-section if you need one. If your labour needs to be induced for any reason, you can choose whether to go ahead with induction or have a planned c-section.
The latent phase can last several days or weeks before active labour starts. Some women can feel backache or cramps during this phase. Some women have bouts of contractions lasting a few hours, which then stop and start up again the next day. This is normal.
For first-time mothers the average length of pushing is one-to-two hours. In some instances, pushing can last longer than two hours if mother and baby are tolerating it. Normally, the baby is born with his face looking toward mother's back (referred to as an anterior position).
Moms-to-be can expect intense contractions during the transition phase—and possibly nausea, pelvic pressure, shakiness, and fatigue as well. Your cervix will finish effacing and dilating to the full 10 centimeters. This phase lasts anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours.
The Big Number — 21 percent of babies are born by C-section, nearly double the rate in 2000. Around the globe 21 percent of babies, or nearly 30 million, are delivered by Caesarean section, according to research from 169 countries published in the Lancet.
In general, most people experience more difficulty, pain, and longer recovery times with cesarean birth than with vaginal, but this is not always the case. Sometimes, vaginal birth that was overly difficult or caused extensive tearing can be just as, if not more, challenging than c-section.
Risks to YouThese include blood clots, hemorrhaging, and reaction to the anesthesia. You could also have any of the following: Infection. Surgical injury to your bladder or intestines.
The Night Before Your C-sectionTry to get a good night's sleep. You may brush your teeth in the morning. Check with your doctor if you are taking any medication. Take a shower before coming to the hospital.
Your baby's overall growth slows down considerably now. They do not grow as much in length and put on approximately 230 grams per week (about an ounce a day). Also, the amount of amniotic fluid around your baby slightly decreases from around 37 weeks.
Planned C-sectionBefore the procedure, you'll get an IV so that you can receive medicine and fluids. You'll also have a catheter (a thin tube) put into place to keep your bladder empty during the surgery. Most women who have planned C-sections get local anesthesia, either an epidural or a spinal block.
Regardless of the type of skin incision, the uterine incision is made horizontally and low down on the uterus unless the position of your baby or the placenta demands a vertical cut instead. The amniotic sac will be opened and the amniotic fluid will pour out.
Caesarean sections should ideally be performed as near the due date as possible to avoid complications. But a new study shows that there is no significant difference between performing an elective Caesarean section in week 38 and 39. In some cases it may actually be better to get it done a little earlier.
Some moms who have had a C-section find that their milk comes in a little later than expected, probably due to the extra stress of surgery. You can keep your milk supply on track by: Cuddling skin-to-skin with your baby as often as you can. Staring those first nursing sessions as soon as possible.
Risks to you include:
- Infection. After a C-section, you might be at risk of developing an infection of the lining of the uterus (endometritis).
- Postpartum hemorrhage.
- Reactions to anesthesia.
- Blood clots.
- Wound infection.
- Surgical injury.
- Increased risks during future pregnancies.
