All About Caesareans
Medical intervention is the exception to the rule when it comes to childbirth. The vast majority of labours and births go without a hitch. But it doesn’t hurt to learn about the unusual cases, so you go into it equipped with all the information you might need. By now, you probably have an idea of what is involved in a Caesarean delivery (also called a C-section). This is an operation during which the baby is surgically delivered, or taken out of the womb through an incision in the mother's abdomen. In your pregnancy you may also have heard that Caesareans are becoming a more common metod of childbirth in recent years. Ignore these rumours. The truth is that doctors will only perform a Caesarean section if labour signs are worrying and it is absolutely necessary to safeguard the welfare of mother or baby. It is a serious operation that is never undertaken lightly.

Rare emergencies While professionals will do all they can to avoid putting mothers through emergency Caesareans, there are nevertheless certain situations in which a C-section is for the best even before or during early labour signs. If either mum or baby is seriously at risk due to, for instance, severe maternal bleeding or a cord prolapse— when the umbilical cord cuts off the baby's oxygen supply— an immediate Caesarean will often become the only safe way forward, even if the entire pregnancy was going smoothly. But these circumstances are very unusual, so they are not worth worrying over now.

The waiting game The majority of C-sections actually occur because of "failure to progress." If a labour is not developing as it should, surgical intervention can prevent mother and baby getting into difficulty. It is true that if the labour is failing to progress, the baby may become distressed, but your medical team have several other routes to try before opting for surgery. So don’t panic if things don’t go quite as planned on the big day. Your midwife and doctors only want what is best for you and your baby, and they will not be making any rash decisions. You will be kept informed and consulted before any procedure takes place.

Voicing your feelings If you have strong views about vaginal versus Caesarean childbirth, talk to your midwife about this even earlier during your pregnancy. Your views are unlikely to affect what happens in the event of a real emergency. But it is important for your midwife to know how you feel. She will be able to represent your interests more vigorously if you have made your wishes very clear. And your trust in her is very important: if a C-section does become a possibility, you'll want to be confident that you're getting the best advice, information and support.

SWOT UP Read as much as you can about all the different ways of giving birth. This should include the different positions and presentations for vaginal births; the procedures and equipment involved in assisted deliveries (ventouse, forcepts); and perhaps try to watch a video showing a C-section being perfomed so you know what to expect in the event of an emergency. Read up on your labour and birthing positions - research has shown that women who remain very mobile during labour have a lower risk of needing a C-section. From the first labour signs keep yourself well hydrated throughout your labour, and nibble regularly during the early stage to keep up your strength. Finally, stay as calm and relaxed as possible and you’ll be just fine.