Before the Cesarean Section Procedure
After you have received
cesarean section anesthesia, a catheter (plastic tube) will be placed in your bladder to drain your urine during the surgery. Your lower abdomen is then washed with a special disinfectant cleanser, and you will be covered with sterile sheets. This helps protect you against infections.
During the Cesarean Section Procedure
To begin the
cesarean section, your doctor will make a 6- to 8-inch incision in your abdomen directly over your uterus. The incision can be either horizontal, which is side to side, or vertical, which is up and down. The direction of the incision will depend on several factors, including:
- Your body's shape and size
- The position and size of the baby and your uterus
- How quickly the delivery is needed.
If you've had a cesarean section before, your surgeon will usually try to go through the previous scar. Once the surgeon is inside, another incision will be made through the uterus. In most women, the incision is side to side on the lower part of the uterus.
Your baby is then delivered through this opening. The umbilical cord is cut, and your baby is handed to a healthcare provider, who will take him or her to a small, warmly lit plastic crib called a warmer. Then your baby is cleaned and dried and eventually checked by a pediatrician.
