What are the preparations before cesarean section?

A lot of preparation needs to be done before a cesarean section to reduce the risks during the operation. First of all, pregnant women need to undergo a series of physical examinations. This is a very important step to ensure whether pregnant women can withstand a cesarean section. For example, a series of tests such as blood pressure and urine should be done, which cannot be ignored at all, and the fetus must also be examined.

[The day before surgery]

1. Measure body temperature, blood pressure, height, weight, urine and blood tests.

2. Complete the medical history interview, fill out the consent form (including surgery and anesthesia consent form), verify identity, and arrange for a fetal monitoring device (to understand the fetal heartbeat and the mother's uterine contractions).

3. Take a bath at night to prepare your skin for the next day.

[On the day of surgery]

1. Fasting. You need to fast (including water) for 8 hours to avoid vomiting and discomfort after anesthesia, which may cause aspiration pneumonia.

2. Don’t wear anything you don’t want to wear. You cannot wear jewelry before the operation, so it is best to leave it at home. Do not wear nail polish, because the color of your nail polish may mislead the doctor and affect the correct judgment of your hypoxia and bleeding conditions. Do not wear removable dentures and contact lenses (to avoid the risk of accidental swallowing after anesthesia and affect vision).

3. Skin preparation and catheterization. Skin preparation refers to shaving body hair from under the breast along the mid-axillary line to the upper thigh and perineum. The purpose is to prevent bacteria on the hair from falling into the incised wound and causing inconvenience in care. Placement of a urinary catheter is to prevent relaxation of the urethral sphincter after anesthesia, which may cause urinary incontinence or the inconvenience of being unable to urinate after surgery. It is also used to monitor urine output after surgery.

[Advancing the operating room]

1. Get an IV drip. It is necessary to establish an intravenous drip line to replenish body fluids and electrolytes and facilitate drug administration. Therefore, expectant parents should cooperate properly with medical staff to reduce the risks during delivery.

2. Anesthesia may embarrass you. After entering the operating room, you may only wear a loose top and lie naked on an extremely narrow operating table. Although there may be only female doctors in the obstetrics department, there may be many male doctors in the anesthesiology department. Don't think too much about it at this time, practicing medicine is their profession.

The anesthesiologist asks you to lie on your side, bend your body like a shrimp, and then gives you an injection in your waist. You may feel some chills and pins and needles. The doctor then asks you to lie flat and places a partition on your chest so that you cannot see any operations on your abdomen. At this time your mind is clear and you won't fall asleep.