No matter how simple and easy your pregnancy, every woman faces the possibility of a C-section. It is a good idea to educate yourself on the procedure in the unlikely event that you need one. Knowing the reasons why C-section is necessary and what to expect can be very helpful.
Cesarean Section: Recovery Tips
Postpartum Period
Approximately 20 percent of births in the United States are done by cesarean section. Every woman, no matter how simple her pregnancy, faces the possibility that her labor could end in a C-section. It's smart for every pregnant woman to read up on and understand the procedure so that in the unlikely event that it happens to her, she will have some idea of what to expect.
Reasons for Cesarean
There is a great deal of debate in the medical community about what constitutes a necessary cesarean-section. Some common reasons are:
- Failure to progress: The risk of infection increases the longer a mother goes without delivering after her water has broken. Risk to the baby also increases and at some point, some women really can't deliver vaginally and must go to surgery to have the baby.
- Fetal distress: A baby who is in need of medical care or may not be able to withstand the stressors of vaginal delivery can be delivered quickly by C-section.
- Abnormal position of the baby: Transverse lie and breech presentation are usually delivered by C-section.
- Abnormalities of the placenta and umbilical cord: Included are Placenta Abrubtia and Placenta Previa.
- Genital herpes: If the mother is experiencing an outbreak, a cesarean is necessary to prevent the baby from contracting the disease.
- Mother's preference: Many practices and hospitals will allow elective cesarean sections at the mother's preference; although, the practice is hotly debated.
