What is a caesarean birth?
A caesarean birth is when your baby is born via a surgical operation. This operation is called a caesarean section or c-section.
You might hear caesarean births called caesareans, caesars, caesarean sections or c-sections.
This article explains what to expect from a caesarean birth experience. You might also like to read more about caesarean birth safety, risks and reasons.
What to expect before c-section surgery
Medical staff will prepare you for surgery by:
- shaving your lower abdomen and the top of your pubic hair
- cleaning your abdomen with antiseptic
- giving you an anaesthetic – usually an epidural or spinal anaesthetic or sometimes a general anaesthetic
- inserting a small plastic tube in the back of your hand or the crook of your elbow for your intravenous (IV) fluid drip
- putting an indwelling urinary catheter into your urethra.
If you’re feeling anxious, distressed or not sure about what’s happening, it’s OK to ask for support or information. If you’re not up to it, your support person can ask for you.
What to expect during c-section surgery
Who’ll be in the operating theatre?
Everyone in the operating theatre plays a role in keeping you and your baby safe. These people include the obstetrician, an assistant surgeon, an anaesthetist, theatre nurses, a midwife and often a paediatrician.
Your support person is usually allowed into the operating theatre with you too, unless you need a general anaesthetic or there are serious medical problems. Your support person can sit next to you, hold your hand and be there to welcome your baby.
There’ll be a drape or curtain over your chest area so that you and your support person can’t see the surgery.
How does your baby and placenta come out?
Once the doctors have checked that the anaesthetic is working properly, the obstetrician will make a cut through your tummy and uterus. The cut will be about 10 cm long.
Your baby will be lifted out through the cut. You might feel a tugging or pulling sensation, but there won’t be any pain. Sometimes the obstetrician might use forceps to help with lifting out your baby’s head. If everything is OK, the doctor will hold up your baby so you can get a first look.
The umbilical cord will be cut. You can have delayed cord clamping after a caesarean birth, so the doctors might wait before they cut the cord. Your placenta will then be removed.
What happens after your baby is out?
Your doctor will recommend an injection or medicine through an intravenous drip (IV) to make your uterus contract and to reduce bleeding. You’ll be given antibiotics through your drip to reduce the risk of infection.
The doctor will stitch the layers of the uterus, muscle, fat and skin in your abdomen back together and put a dressing over your wound.
Can you have skin-to-skin contact after a caesarean?
If you and your baby are well, you can have skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after the birth. Skin-to-skin contact helps to keep your baby warm, lets you and baby bond physically, and helps with breastfeeding.
If you can’t have skin-to-skin contact, your support person might be able to do it. Or they might be able to hold your baby instead.
Caesarean section surgery itself usually takes 30-60 minutes. The entire process can take a few hours, from preparing for surgery, going to the operating theatre, having the surgery, going to the recovery room, and then returning to your room in the maternity unit.
What to expect after a caesarean birth
In recovery
Midwives and nurses will look after you in the recovery room until you’re ready to go back to the maternity unit. You’ll probably have your baby stay with you.
If you had a general anaesthetic, you should be able to see your baby once you’re awake and medically stable.
A midwife will be with you in the recovery room to help you breastfeed your baby. If the medical staff are worried about your health or your baby’s, you might not be able to breastfeed at first.
Pain, discomfort and bleeding
It’s normal to feel pain and discomfort after a caesarean, especially when you move. Let the midwives know how you’re feeling. It’s best to keep on top of pain by taking regular pain relief, because this will help you recover faster. It’s also common to experience shivering, itchiness and nausea after a caesarean. There are medicines that can help with this.
The midwives will regularly check your blood pressure, your wound and your vaginal bleeding. You’ll probably have an IV drip and an indwelling urinary catheter for the first 12-24 hours.
Eating and drinking
You can usually start eating and drinking as normal once you return to the maternity unit.
Moving
After the first 6 hours, a midwife will help you get up so that you can shower.
Getting up and moving around as soon as possible after the surgery will help reduce your risk of blood clots. To further reduce the risk, you might also wear compression stockings. And you might get daily injections of blood-thinning medicine.
How to get started with breastfeeding after caesarean birth
Breastmilk is the best possible food to help your baby grow healthy and strong.
After a caesarean birth, starting to breastfeed can take a while. It’s a good idea to ask for support from midwives and a lactation consultant, if the hospital has one. The midwives can help you find the most comfortable ways to hold your baby while breastfeeding.
The sooner you start with breastfeeding, the easier it is for you and your baby. The hospital should help you breastfeed as soon as possible after birth. If everything is OK with you and your baby, this is usually in the recovery room but sometimes you can do this in the operating theatre.
Extra things to know about planned (elective) caesarean births
Before you go to hospital
If you’re having a planned (elective) caesarean birth, the preparations for surgery might happen over time.
Before your hospital admission, your doctor will explain the benefits, risks and possible complications of a planned caesarean birth. A caesarean birth can be done only if you give your written permission, so you’ll need to sign a consent form.
You’ll need to fast before a planned caesarean birth. This usually means having no food or drink, including water, for 6 hours before the surgery. The length of fasting before surgery varies from hospital to hospital, so make sure to ask your hospital about their fasting requirements.
What to bring to hospital
Most hospitals give you a list of what to bring, like clothing for yourself and your baby. Before you leave home, it’s a good idea to check that you have everything you need.
You might like to ask your support person to bring a camera or phone, but check with hospital staff that it’s OK to take photos or videos of your baby being born. You’ll also need permission to take photos of hospital staff or equipment.
At the hospital
You’ll usually be admitted first to the maternity unit. You might have to arrive at the hospital very early in the morning.
Being pregnant and having an operation can increase your chance of developing blood clots. To help prevent this, you’ll be given compression stockings to wear during and after the surgery.
You’ll be taken to an operating theatre for caesarean section surgery. Your theatre team will prepare you for the surgery.
Extra things to know about unplanned (emergency) caesarean births
If you need an unplanned (emergency) caesarean birth, things might happen quickly and unexpectedly in the birthing unit.
Your doctor will explain why they think you need to have a c-section. The surgery can happen only if you give your written permission, so you’ll need to sign a consent form. Your partner or next of kin can sign the form if you can’t.
You’ll be taken to an operating theatre for the surgery. Your theatre team will prepare you for the surgery in the same way as they would for a planned caesarean.
It’s good to ask for practical help, especially in the first 6 weeks after a caesarean birth. For example, you can ask friends to help with housework or with driving your other children while you recover.