Elected cesarean how many weeks

Women who have irregular periods or first-trimester bleeding might be mistaken about when their last menstrual period was. An ultrasound can help to narrow it down, but the estimated date of conception could still be off by a couple of weeks. Babies born late pre-term are generally healthy but may have temporary problems such as jaundice , trouble feeding, problems with breathing, or trouble keeping an even body temperature.

You might be impatient to meet your little one, but vaginal delivery usually carries fewer risks than a C-section. Plus, you can come home sooner and recover quicker with a vaginal delivery. If you're interested in having a C-section instead of a vaginal birth, talk about the risks and benefits of both options with your doctor. When you get to hospital, you will be admitted to the maternity ward. Your pubic hair may be clipped and your tummy cleaned. You may need to wear compression stockings.

You will then be prepared for the anaesthetic. The doctor will check the anaesthetic is working before the operation begins. Remember to take a bag for your stay in hospital and clothes for the baby. Ask your doctor whether it is OK for your partner or support person to bring a camera or to video the birth.

If your baby is well, it is a good idea for you or your partner or support person to hold them straight away. Skin to skin contact keeps the baby warm and helps with physical bonding. Remember that you will need time to recover after a caesarean. Plan to have plenty of help at home in the weeks after the surgery. About 1 in 10 women whose planned caesareans are scheduled for 39 weeks will go into labour first.

That means their waters break or their contractions start. If this happens, you will have an emergency rather than a planned caesarean. Call your hospital's maternity unit or delivery suite immediately if you are booked to have a planned caesarean and you go into labour. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Sometimes birth doesn't go as expected. If you or your baby are at risk, there might be a need to do an emergency caesarean.

The cut is usually made low and around the level of the bikini line. Recovery after a caesarean section - whether it's an emergency or planned - will take several weeks. Find out what to expect after you have had your baby. Having a planned or elective caesarean birth? As with any major surgery, it helps to know what to expect during a caesarean section. Our guide explains. Read more on raisingchildren. A caesarean can be done only if you give your written permission.

Before your hospital admission, your doctor will explain the benefits, risks and complications of your elective caesarean. This usually means having no food or drink, including water, for 6 hours before the surgery. The length of fasting before surgery varies from hospital to hospital, so make sure to ask your hospital about their fasting requirements. Most hospitals give you a list of what to bring, like clothing for yourself and your baby.

You might have to arrive at the hospital very early in the morning. Being pregnant and having an operation can increase your risk of developing blood clots. The top few centimetres of your pubic hair and your lower tummy might be clipped. This is so the area is clean and clear for the cut. Before you have a caesarean section, medical staff will want to talk with you about whether you have any health problems , allergies, and bleeding or bruising problems and whether you take any medications.

Caesarean section surgery usually takes minutes. But the entire process can take a few hours, from going to the operating theatre, preparing for surgery, having the surgery, and then returning to your room in the maternity ward. Your theatre team will prepare you for surgery, which can take some time. A spinal anaesthetic is most common for planned caesarean births.

An epidural is more likely to be used for an unplanned emergency caesarean birth. You might also have a general anaesthetic if your baby needs to be born very quickly. Your tummy will be cleaned with antiseptic by the theatre team and covered with sterile cloths to lessen the chance of infection. A plastic tube a catheter will be put into your urethra where urine comes out to keep your bladder empty.