Pregnancy leading to childbirth is a marvelous journey and we have a beautiful anatomy to manage natural births as well. But due to a few complications, when natural births are not possible, the cesarean section also known as the c-section comes into picture. Natural births which are vaginal births may not be possible or may be detrimental to the health of the mother and the child and in such times a c-section is recommended. C-sections are certainly life saving but they take a longer recovery time and these are major surgeries with potential risks and good quality postpartum care is required here as well. At KD Blossom Women and Child care Hospital the expert gynaecologists take care of such situations adroitly
A Cesarean section is a medium of birthing a child though a surgical procedure that involves incisions in the abdomen and uterus of the woman. C-sections are not optional, they are performed when a Vaginal delivery is not possible and the health of the baby is at risk.
1. Placenta previa
2. Fetal distress
3. Failure to progress
4. Breech presentation
5. Previous c-section
6. Multiple pregnancies
Placenta is an organ that develops inside the uterus or womb during the pregnancy. Placenta previa is that condition when the placenta is attached to the lower side of the uterus. The cervix which is the opening of the uterus may be partially or completely covered by the placenta. Placenta previa is a condition that may cause heavy bleeding in the mother, before, during or after delivery.
Though this one is a slightly uncommon complication of labor, fetal distress refers to the signs that come before or during the birth of the child that he or she is unwell. The most common reason that causes fetal distress is when the fetus has not been receiving enough oxygen. And this occurs most commonly when the pregnancy lasts longer than the period of maturity.
This condition may be a little deceiving, as before one may think that vaginal delivery will be okay but FTP may lead to the need of a c-section. It arises when the cervix does not thin and open as much as it is expected to, making it difficult for the baby to come down the birth canal.
Breech positions are those when some other part of the lower body of the baby is close to the birth canal and not his or her head and hence a c-section is safer. There are 3 types of breech positions:
(a) frank breech: this is when the baby's legs are folded from the waist flat up almost parallel to his abdomen and the baby’s buttocks are the closest to the birth canal.
(b) Incomplete breech: this is when only one of the feet of the baby is bent in the knee and his or her foot and buttocks are closest to the canal.
(c) Complete breech: this is when both the feet of the bay are bent in the knee and both the feet and the bottom are close to the birth canal.
VBAC which means vaginal birth after C-section is said to be possible but it comes with a lot of complications like the possibility of infection, blood loss, and other complications. And one of the major problems with VBAC is that the scar of the previous c-section may rupture and hence it is recommended that a woman must not opt for a VBAC after a C-section.
When the mother is having twins or triplets and the vaginal birth has exhausted her or if there is a threat to the other baby, a c-section is recommended.
KD Blossom Women and Child Care Hospital which is the best gynaecological hospital in Ahmedabad makes sure to convey about the above symptoms with their solutions beforehand to make the to-be parents aware of the situation so that the correct measure can be take physically and the parents can also mentally prepare themselves for the same.
Though it isn't all under our control having a c-section leads to quite a few issues during and post the birthing process.
a. There is a longer recovery time required for the c-section incision to heal in a healthy manner.
b. There is an increased risk of infections because C-section is a surgical procedure and if not treated right, it can also lead to complications such as sepsis, breakdown of the wound and pelvic abscess.
c. There is higher risk of blood loss during a c-section as compared to a vaginal birth. Higher loss of blood may further call for blood transfusion and other interventions to stabilize the condition of the mother.
d. C-section being a surgical procedure has a higher risk of blood clots and also other surgical complications like adverse effects of anesthesia or injury to some other organ. These issues may require additional medical treatment post the c-section which consequently means extra time for recovery.
e. It could also have an impact on future pregnancies such as uterine rupture or something like placenta accreta or placenta previa. And such complications call for an early delivery along with a hysterectomy post the delivery.
f. It could also lead to respiratory issues in the baby, as it has been researched and proven that the babies born through c-section are more likely to have respiratory problems like Transient Tachypnea of Newborn (TTN). These issues may resolve on their own but some cases may certainly require medical interventions from time to time.
g. C-sections also impact breastfeeding, it increases the challenges in breastfeeding up a notch, as post a c-section low mobility is recommended due to the pain it may cause. Early skin-to-skin contact may also get delayed.
The above listed are a few among the many disadvantages of C-sections. We may have always heard the older women in our house saying that vaginal birth is better and it causes a few hours of pain but keeps a woman healthier for longer. Though this is true it is only partially in our hands these days to make sure that we have a vaginal birth. But a woman can make sure that she tries her level best during the pregnancy that she has a vaginal birthing, avoiding c-section. At KD Blossom Women and Child Care Hospital we have the best gynaecologists who give proper guidelines about the same.
Although cesarean sections can be risky, they are occasionally required for the mother's and the baby's health. Expectant moms can make well-informed decisions regarding their preferred method of delivery by being aware of the causes of C-sections and actively working to maximize vaginal birth. Our best gynecologists at KD Blossom Women and Child Care Hospital offer knowledgeable advice to accompany pregnant women throughout their pregnancy experience.