When is a caesarean section necessary?

Although many births now choose cesarean section, we cannot blindly pursue this simple method of delivery. After all, cesarean section is a surgery and is not as beneficial as natural birth in all aspects. So under what circumstances is a cesarean section necessary? Women who choose cesarean section are generally older; the fetus is in an abnormal position; or the fetus is too large; or some other conditions prevent natural delivery.

What situations require a caesarean section

Caesarean section, as the main medical means to deal with dystocia, must have certain medical indications.

Fetal indications include:

(1) The fetus is too large and the mother’s pelvis cannot accommodate the fetal head.

(2) The fetus suffers from intrauterine hypoxia or hypoxia during delivery, and cannot be delivered smoothly in a short period of time.

(3) Abnormal fetal position, such as transverse presentation, breech presentation, especially when the fetus enters the pelvis first or persists in the occiput posterior presentation.

(4) Labor is stagnant and the fetus is difficult to deliver through the vagina.

Indications for expectant mothers include:

(1) Pelvic stenosis or deformity.

(2) There are abnormalities in the soft birth canal, such as obstruction, scarring, uterine body repair, sutures, and corrections.

(3) Suffering from severe gestational hypertension and unable to undergo natural childbirth.

(4) First birth at an advanced age.

(5) Placenta previa or placental abruption, etc.

(6) Severe pregnancy complications, such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic nephritis, etc.

(7) Expectant mothers with a history of multiple miscarriages or adverse birth outcomes. The impact of cesarean section on the mother and fetus should be judged based on the situation during delivery. After a cesarean section, you should pay attention to rest, supplement nutrients such as protein and vitamins, pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene, and avoid wound infection.

Caesarean section postpartum care

1. Use less analgesics. Generally, the wound begins to hurt severely a few hours after a cesarean section. In order to get a good rest and recover as quickly as possible, you can ask your doctor to give you some painkillers on the day of surgery or on the night of surgery. After this, be more patient with the pain and it is best not to use painkillers to avoid affecting the recovery of intestinal motility.

2. Generally speaking, the pain of the wound will disappear on its own after 3 days. The patient should be turned over more often after surgery. Anesthetic drugs can inhibit intestinal peristalsis and cause varying degrees of intestinal flatulence, thus causing abdominal distension. Therefore, it is advisable to do more turning movements after delivery to promote the early recovery of the paralyzed intestinal muscle peristalsis function and expel the gas in the intestine as soon as possible. It is advisable to lie in a semi-recumbent position in bed. The body of a mother who has undergone a cesarean section recovers slowly, and she cannot get up and move around 24 hours after delivery like those who have given birth naturally through vaginal delivery. Therefore, those who have undergone cesarean section are prone to difficulty in expelling lochia. However, if they adopt a semi-recumbent position and turn over more often, it will help the lochia to be discharged, avoiding the lochia from accumulating in the uterine cavity and causing infection that affects the repositioning of the uterus. It will also help the healing of the uterine incision.

3. Pay attention to urination after delivery. As soon as you feel the urge to urinate after surgery, you should try to urinate on your own to reduce the risk of urinary tract bacterial infection caused by keeping the catheter in place for too long. Keep the vulva and abdominal incision clean within 2 weeks after the operation, avoid getting the abdominal incision wet, and use sponge baths to clean the whole body. You can shower after that, but you must not take a tub bath until the lochia is completely discharged; rinse the vulva 1-2 times a day, and be careful not to let dirty water enter the vagina; if the wound becomes red, swollen, hot, or painful, do not squeeze or apply it at will, and you should seek medical attention in time to avoid prolonged infection of the wound.