To stay awake during a C-section, you'll receive regional anesthesia, usually a spinal or epidural, which numbs you from the waist down, letting you stay alert for the birth while feeling pressure but no pain, though you can also ask for mild sedatives (like midazolam) for anxiety, but avoid eating beforehand to prevent needing general anesthesia. Communicate with your anesthesiologist about your preferences for awareness and anxiety management, as they can adjust medications for comfort.
Anesthesia. Most C-sections use regional anesthesia, which numbs only the lower part of your body. You are awake during the procedure.
You can have a C-section, or other surgeries, under a general anesthetic without feeling or remembering any part of the surgery. To start general anesthesia, you'll breathe pure oxygen until your lungs are filled with oxygen. You'll drift off to sleep quickly after we give you medicines through an IV line.
You won't feel any pain during the C-section, although you may feel sensations like pulling and pressure. Most women are awake and simply numbed from the waist down using regional anesthesia (an epidural and/or a spinal block) during a C-section. That way, they are awake to see and hear their baby being born.
When it occurs, the mother may feel faint or nauseous and may vomit. If her blood pressure falls excessively, the mother runs serious risks (such as loss of consciousness), as does the baby (such as lack of oxygen and brain damage).
When general anesthesia is used, the mother will not be conscious during the C-section. While general anesthesia is safe for pregnant women, it's not usually the first choice (in part because many women wish to be awake for the birth of their child) unless it's medically necessary.
It is estimated that 303,000 women are killed each year in childbirth and pregnancy worldwide. The global rate in 2017 is 211 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 45% of postpartum deaths occur within 24 hours. Whereas in 2020, the global rate was 223 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Dexmedetomidine is another second line agent for pain that can provide analgesia and anxiolysis but can cause maternal bradycardia and hypotension. Maternal anxiety can be treated with anxiolytics such as midazolam, dexmedetomidine, or subanesthetic doses of propofol.
The average amount of blood loss after the birth of a single baby in vaginal delivery is about 500 ml (or about a half of a quart). The average amount of blood loss for a cesarean birth is approximately 1,000 ml (or one quart). Most postpartum hemorrhage occurs right after delivery, but it can occur later as well.
Discomfort is expected after a C-section, especially around the incision and abdomen. Pain typically peaks in the first few days and improves over several weeks.
The actual operation usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. It will involve: The doctor will make a cut in your abdomen and your uterus (both about 10 cm long). Your baby will be lifted out through the cut.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
As a general rule, it's best not to eat solid foods for eight hours before the operation, instead having clear liquids such as juice, broth, clear tea and water. Do not eat or drink anything for two hours before your scheduled C-section.
Background. Supplementary oxygen is routinely administered to low‐risk pregnant women during an elective caesarean section under regional anaesthesia; however, maternal and foetal outcomes have not been well established.
You should be able to hear and see your baby once they are born. The doctor should let you hold them right after the C-section is finished. If you're planning to breastfeed, you may also be able to try feeding your baby.
If you're giving birth to one baby, and it's likely to be straightforward, there may be nine or 10 people. If you're having twins, and there are concerns for you and your babies' wellbeing, the number will be higher. There could be as many as 20 people in theatre with you.
Current pharmacological management of haemorrhage at caesarean section draws upon evidence extrapolated from studies where the majority of study subjects have laboured and delivered vaginally. Injectable agents used to prevent or treat PPH include ergometrine, oxytocics, and prostaglandins.
Your risk of postpartum hemorrhage is higher if you have a condition that affects your placenta. These conditions may include: Placenta previa. Placental abruption.
Some of the main risks to you of having a caesarean include:
In a “gentle C-section,” mom can watch the birth and have immediate skin-to-skin contact with the baby. That moment when you see and hold your baby for the first time is something many women dream about during pregnancy.
After Going Home:
Initially, you should avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby, and avoid most housework. Your lochia bleeding will change over time and can increase with activity and position changes. Use your bleeding as a way of making sure that you are not involved in too much activity.
― In the medical community, research has traditionally focused on how to prevent and treat the leading medical causes of maternal mortality, which include bleeding, infection, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
On one side scientific literature more and more clearly says that the less risky range of maternal age to bear babies is 20-30 years and on the other side, people perceive they should postpone pregnancy (31, 34).
During and after pregnancy: Heart conditions and stroke cause more than 1 in 3 pregnancy-related deaths. During birth: Emergencies, such as heavy bleeding and amniotic fluid embolism, cause the most deaths during birth.