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When is a Caesar necessary?
Most pregnant mothers hope that their baby will be born naturally
with as little medical intervention as possible and pay little
attention to any media on Caesareans. Unfortunately there are times
when by no choice of her own, the mother may find herself being
prepared for an emergency Caesar, throwing the expectations of the
baby's birth off-balance, and sometimes making the emotional
recovery a longer process.
There are a number of reasons why a baby may have to be delivered
via a Caesarean Section:
- Foetal Distress - The baby's oxygen supply is greatly
reduced or cut off, and this may be due to:
- Prolapse of the umbilical cord
- Placental Insufficiency (when the placenta fails to supply
the baby with adequate nourishment.)
- Placenta Abruptio (the separation of the placenta from the
uterine wall.)
- The stresses of labour
- Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion - The baby's head is too
big to easily fit through the pelvis, either because the head is
relatively large or the mother's pelvic structure too small.
- Abnormal presentation - If the baby is lying heads up
(breech) and your doctor is unable to turn him before the onset
of labour, vaginal birth will not be favoured.
- Placenta Praevia - A Caesarean section will have to
be considered, only if the low-lying placenta is actually
blocking the exit from the womb.
- Serious disease present in the mother - Conditions
such as diabetes, high blood pressure or even genital herpes
will make a Caesarean a necessary option.
You may have to undergo either an elective caesar where the
operation is planned in advance or an emergency caesar which is
performed when labour is affected by a medical situation which
demands that your baby be delivered as quickly as possible, and by
being informed, both can be joyous events.
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