Caesarean birth

• Review your pregnancy and medical history.
• Listen to your baby’s heartbeat.
• Take a small blood sample – this is to confirm that you are healthy for surgery and to check your blood type.
• Answer any questions you and your support person may have about the planned C-section.

• Have a snack and a drink before going to bed the night before.
• Do not eat, drink, or chew anything for 8 hours before your surgery time. This includes candy or gum.

• Bathe or shower with chlorhexidine 2% pre-op wash.
• Remove all nail polish.
• Wear your glasses, not contact lenses.
• Wear comfortable clothes to the hospital.
• Leave credit cards and large amounts of money at home.
• Do not wear make-up.
• Do not wear jewellery or bring jewellery to the hospital.

• Ask you to change into a hospital gown.
• Complete a pre-surgical checklist, take your blood pressure and your temperature, and answer any questions you may have.
• Your obstetrician makes a small mark on your tummy with a marker/pen. This is done as a safety check.
• Listen to your baby’s heartbeat and feel your tummy to check the baby’s position.
• Give you some antacid medication. This helps reduce the chances of you having an upset stomach during the surgery.
• Arrange for your support person to put on operating room clothing called hospital ‘scrubs’ to wear while in the operating room. Your support person must change back into their own clothes when you return to the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre.
• Note: Only you, your support person, and a camera are allowed in the operating room. No cell phones or personal items are allowed.

• Intravenous: We start an intravenous (intra meaning ‘into’ and venous meaning ‘vein’ – commonly called an IV). We use a needle to put a small flexible tube into a vein in one of your arms. This is so we can give fluid and medicines directly into your body.

• Pain control: The anesthesiologist prepares for the anesthetic. You will get an anesthetic that numbs only the lower part of your body. It is called a ‘spinal’. This type of anesthetic lets you be awake during your surgery so you can see your baby right away. You will not feel pain. The medicine used for the spinal is quite safe for both you and your baby.

  
  After the spinal is working and you are feeling numb, we place a small tube into your bladder known as a Foley catheter. This tube collects your urine and stays in place until after surgery.

• The C-section: Your obstetrician starts the surgery by making an incision in your skin above your pubic hairline and another one in your uterus. You may feel some movement as your baby is gently removed from your body. The doctor clears your baby’s mouth and nose of fluids. The umbilical cord is clamped and cut. After your baby is born, the doctor closes the incision in your uterus with stitches and in your skin with staples or stitches.
• Your baby: A pediatrician (a doctor whose specialty is babies and children) is present at the birth. This doctor checks your baby as soon as they are born. Your support person can help trim the baby’s umbilical cord. If your baby is okay, you and your support person can hold and cuddle with the baby skin to skin soon after it is born.
• Pictures: Your support person is allowed to take pictures or videos of your new baby in the operating room. However, your support person is not allowed to take pictures or video of the surgery. You can only take photos or videos of hospital staff if they say you can. Please ask for their permission.

• Check your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.
• Check your baby’s heart rate and temperature.
• Check your incision and bandage.

• To start with, we offer you ice chips. If you are feeling well and not sick to your stomach, you can gradually go back to eating normally.
• Your nurse helps you to get up and walk around your room within six hours of your surgery. Moving around can speed up your recovery and help prevent blood clots and constipation.
• We remove the Foley catheter.

• We take out your intravenous (IV).
• You can take a shower.

If applicable, we remove the staples that were holding your skin closed. Your skin should have healed enough by this time.

We have what is called a ‘Self-Administered Medication Program’ in the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre. This means we give you a supply of medicines to keep at your bedside. You can then take them when you need them (self-administer). Included in the supply are medicines for pain and constipation.

Take your pain medicine regularly so you can move around and care for your baby without too much pain.

We suggest you take stool softeners for a couple of days so you can have softer bowel movements. This helps prevent any pain and straining on your incisions.

Your C-section should not stop you from nursing your baby. We encourage all new parents to breast/chest feed their babies if they are able. Human milk is the best food for your new baby during the first two years of life and beyond. Our nurses will help you and your baby get off to a good start.

For the first few days, you and your baby will be learning how to breast/chest feed. It often takes practice. Skin-to-skin contact will help you to be successful. To learn more about infant feeding, see Feeding your Baby.

For pregnant people who have planned to have a caesarean section, about one third of them go into labour before their planned surgery.

If you go into labour, you may continue to a normal vaginal delivery or proceed with the planned caesarean birth adjusted to the date of your labour.

If you wish to proceed with a C-section, when labour starts:

• Stop eating and drinking.
• Call the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre.

If you have any questions or concerns about your planned C-section, please contact your doctor or midwife.