Caesarean Section

WHY
YOU MAY NEED A CS FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING REASON: BABY NOT PRESENTING WITH THE HEAD, PLACENTA LOW, PREVIOUS CS, BIG BABY, HYPERTENSION. IT MAY BE RECOMMENDED AS AN EMERGENCY IN LABOUR FOR : POOR PROGRESS OF LABOUR, FETAL DISTRESS (BABY STRESSED BY LABOUR OR UNABLE TO TAKE STRESS OF NORMAL LABOUR)

YOU MAY REQUEST FOR A CS

COMPLICATIONS
GENERALLY IT IS A SAFE PROCEDURE BUT STILL CONSIDERED TO BE MAJOR SURGERY.
MOST WOMEN GO THROUGH UNCOMPLICATED SURGERIES.


VERY RARELY COMPLICATIONS CAN OCCUR:
BLEEDING REQUIRING TRANSFUSION, INFECTION OF SURGICAL SITE, INJURE TO SURROUNDING STRUCTURES ESP IF PREVIOUS CS.. THIS REQUIRES REPAIR OF BOWEL/BLADDER, CHRONIC PAIN AND THROMBOEMBOLISM (BLOOD CLOTS IN THE LEGS THAT RARELY GO TO THE LUNGS AND THEN BE LIFE THREATENING)

POST OPERATION

  • WITH SPINAL ANESTHESIA YOU MAY STILL NOT NOT BE ABLE TO FEEL AND MOVE YOUR LEGS UP UNTIL 4 HOURS POST OPERATION. SOME REGAIN SENSATION EARLIER. PAIN KILLERS SHOULD BE STARTED BEFORE PAIN SENSATION GETS TOO MUCH.
  • LIE FLAT FOR THE FIRST 6 HOURS ONLY. AFTER THIS YOU CAN REQUEST TO BE PROPPED UP
  • YOU CAN TURN TO YOUR SIDES IF IT MAKES YOU MORE COMFORTABLE.
  • WITH SPINAL ANESTHESIA YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK  AS SOON AS YOU RETURN TO YOUR ROOM. USUALLY START WITH LIQUIDS FIRST AND THEN EAT IF YOU FEEL WELL. YOUR DOCTOR WILL ADVICE.
  • WITH GENERAL ANESTHESIA YOU MUST NOT EAT AND DRINK UNTIL ADVISED SO BY YOUR SURGEON
  • SHIVERING AND ITCHING CAN COMPLICATE ANESTHESIA. YOU SHOULD INFORM YOUR ANESTHETIST IF THESE BECOME UNBEARABLE TO YOU.

PAIN: PAIN KILLERS CAN HELP BUT NOT REMOVE THE PAIN. PAIN KILLERS SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR THE FIRST 5 DAYS REGARDLESS OF SEVERITY OF PAIN. IT IS DIFFICULT TO FORGET PAIN ONCE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IT SO TAKE PAIN KILLERS AS ADVISED.

URINE: YOU WILL HAVE A URINE TUBE INSERTED DURING THE OPERATION. THIS MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE LATER. PAIN KILLERS WILL HELP. IT IS USUALLY INSERTED ONLY FOR ONE DAY TO HELP THE HEALING PROCESS AND AVOID RETENTION OF URINE WHICH CAN HARM THE BLADDER.

WOUND: POST OPERATIVELY THERE WILL BE A PLASTER OVER THE WOUND.
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THIS PLASTER WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE YOU ARE DISCHARGED AND A PROTECTIVE SPRAY WILL REPLACE IT. KEEP THE WOUND DRY FOR 5 DAYS. YOU CAN WET IT AFTER THE 5TH DAY BUT DRY IT WITH CLEAN TOWEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER. KEEP THE WOUND DRY AND EXPOSED SO IT CAN BREATH. IF YOU HAVE FAT THERE FOLDING OVER THE WOUND, LIFT UP THE FAT AND PLACE CLEAN GAUZE ALONG THE WOUND AND THEN RELEASE FAT OVER THE WOUND.. CHANGE THE GAUZE REGULARLY 4-6 HOURS TO PREVENT MOIST.
REST IS IMPORTANT FOR HEALING ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST ONE WEEK. AFTER THIS LIGHT ACTIVITIES CAN BE STARTED AS LONG AS THE PAIN IS TOLERATED.

PREVENTION OF BLOOD CLOTS (DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS):
DRINK LOTS OF WATER 2-3L RECOMMENDED. WHILE STILL UNABLE TO WALK, MOVE ANKLES AND TIGHTEN THIGH MUSCLES EVERY 20 MINUTES OR SO TO PROMOTE BLOOD FLOW. BUYING A DVT STOCKING PRIOR TO OPERATION IS GOOD. USE THIS STOCKING DURING THE WHOLE DAY.. YOU MAY REMOVE IT AT NIGHT. GETTING OUT OF BED EARLY AFTER OPERATION IS IMPORTANT. SO PAIN KILLERS WILL HELP YOU GET OUT OF BED EARLY AND MOVE ABOUT.  DO NOT CROSS YOUR LEGS AS THIS BLOCKS BLOOD FLOW.

BREASTFEEDING
MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED SHOULD BE SAFE FOR BREASTFEEDING. PAIN KILLERS MAY ACTUALLY PROMOTE BREASTFEEDING AS YOU ARE LESS TROUBLED BY PAIN TO MOVE ABOUT WITH BABY AND BREASTFEED.
STARTING BREASTFEEDING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IS BENEFICIAL FOR THE BABY. YOU CAN START AS SOON AS YOU READY AFTER DELIVERY.

CARE OF WOUND
1. USE UNDERWEARS WITH HIGH LINES.
2. IF SKIN FOLDS - LIFT FAT PLACE DRY GAUZE/PAPER TOWEL - CHANGE EVERY 4 HOURS - 1ST 5 DAYS ONLY 
3. KEEP DRY 1ST 5 DAYS
4. CAN WET (DO NOT RUB) FROM DAY 6 TO 10 - USE SEPARATE TOWEL TO WIPE WOUND AT THE END
5. CAN WET AND RUB WITH SOAP FROM DAY 11 ONWARDS - USE SEPARATE TOWEL TO WIPE WOUND AT THE END - UP TO DAY 15

TROUBLESHOOTING
THE CLINIC WILL CONTACT YOU BY PHONE MESSAGING TO ASK YOU IF ARE GETTING BETTER THE DAY AFTER GOING HOME. IT IS NOT COMPULSORY TO ANSWER BUT  YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO.

YOU COULD ALSO MESSAGE THE CLINIC TO UPDATE US ON YOUR PROGRESS.

WARNING SIGNS TO COME BACK INTO HOSPITAL INCLUDE:
1. FEVER
2. RACING HEARTBEAT
3. INCREASING PAIN
4. INCREASED OR HEAVY BLEEDING FROM WOUND / VAGINA
5. SWOLLEN LEG
6. CHEST DISCOMFORT / DIFFICULTY BREATHING