Cesarean delivery, which is the most common surgical procedure in the world, is performed in cases where there are risks to the mother or the baby. Cesarean delivery, carried out through surgery from the abdomen, takes place in an operating room under anesthesia. The main advantage of cesarean delivery is the ability to plan the timing of childbirth, which is particularly beneficial in cases where delivery needs to be expedited.
Unless there are any complications, a certain recovery period is required for the mother after a planned cesarean delivery, usually after the completion of the 39th week of pregnancy. Complete recovery after cesarean delivery typically takes about 6 weeks. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Öz from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Memorial Ankara Hospital provided information about cesarean delivery.
What is Cesarean Delivery?
Cesarean delivery is the surgical delivery of a baby through an incision in the abdomen, rather than through the vagina.
When is Cesarean Delivery Performed? When is Cesarean Necessary?
There are some situations in which cesarean delivery is preferred. These can be categorized into two groups: situations related to the mother and situations related to the baby.
Situations Related to the Mother
Some physiological conditions and illnesses related to the mother may require cesarean delivery. These conditions include:
-Previous uterine surgeries or previous deliveries by cesarean section are among the leading conditions related to the mother. While not every uterine surgery prevents vaginal delivery, in cases where the uterus has been incised to remove large fibroids or when the uterine cavity needs to be reopened and re-sutured, cesarean delivery may be preferred due to the risk of uterine rupture during labor.
-Some medical problems that may prevent the mother from undergoing normal labor may also require cesarean delivery. These include severe herniated discs and neurological or orthopedic problems that may cause restricted movement in the legs and pelvic bones.
-Cesarean delivery may also be preferred in the presence of widespread warts in the mother’s genital system caused by the HPV virus.
Situations Related to the Baby
There are also some reasons related to the baby that may require cesarean delivery. These include:
-One of the primary conditions related to the baby is breech presentation, meaning the baby is in a buttocks-first position. Due to the high risks associated with breech presentations, cesarean delivery is preferred.
-Especially in diabetic mothers, if the estimated weight of the baby is over 4000 grams for diabetic mothers or 4500 grams for non-diabetic mothers, cesarean delivery may be necessary due to the risk of difficult labor and shoulder dystocia.
-In cases where certain anomalies are present in the baby, the specialist may opt for cesarean delivery.
-If the baby is under stress during labor or if the specialist believes that the baby may not receive enough oxygen during the stages of labor, cesarean delivery may be performed after the onset of labor.
-In situations where labor progress stops, despite adequate contractions, or there is no cervical dilation or descent of the baby, cesarean delivery may be preferred.
-In some cases, the baby’s placenta, known as placenta previa, may block the birth canal. In such cases, vaginal delivery is not possible, and cesarean delivery will be preferred by the specialist.
