	Traumatology
	Find a Trauma Specialist
	About the Department of Traumatology
	Emergency Medical Preparedness
	Injury Prevention Center (IPC)
	Research & Medical Education
	Learn About Conditions and Procedures

Learn About Conditions and Procedures

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.

It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.

This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.

Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding

Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.

Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions.

Search for

Cesarean Birth

(C-Section)

by Editorial Staff and Contributors

En Español (Spanish Version)

Definition | Reasons for Procedure | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor

Click here to view an animated version of this procedure.

Definition

In a cesarean birth (C-section), the baby is delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen. In the United States, some estimates suggest almost half of all births are delivered by C-section.

Cesarean Delivery

Reasons for Procedure

The following situations may require a C-section:

Large baby
Pregnancy with twins or more
Baby is not in a head-down position
Maternal medical conditions, for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, active herpes infection, or HIV-positive
Problem with the position of the placenta
Failure of labor to progress
Baby shows signs of distress, such as an abnormal heart rate during labor
Previous cesarean birth
Fetal problems

Possible Complications

Cesarean birth is a surgery. There are some risks involved. The estimated risk of a woman dying after a cesarean birth is extremely small. The risk of death after a vaginal birth is even smaller. Other risks include:

Infection
Bleeding
Decreased bowel function
Damage to other organs in the abdomen
Longer hospital stay and recovery time
Bad reactions to anesthesia
Risk of additional surgeries, including hysterectomy, bladder repair, or repeat C-sections with future pregnancies.

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

Prior cesarean section
Prior surgery of the uterus
Abnormal placenta
Smoking

Cesarean birth also has risks for babies. Babies born prematurely have more risks. The risk of death for premature babies delivered by elective C-section is very small. The risk of death for premature babies born vaginally is even smaller.

What to Expect

C-sections are often unplanned. If you have a scheduled C-section, you may be asked not to eat or drink after midnight before the procedure.

You may be given:

General anesthesia —You will be asleep.
Regional anesthesia such as epidural or spinal block —An area of your body will be numb, but you will be awake.

Many women prefer regional anesthesia so that they can be awake to see their new baby.

Your doctor will make incisions in your abdominal skin and womb.

After the incisions are made, the baby will be delivered. Your uterus will be closed with stitches that later dissolve on their own. Staples could also be used to close the abdomen.

Your baby will be examined. You may be able to hold your baby. It will depend on the condition of you and your baby.

45-60 minutes

Anesthesia prevents pain during the surgery. You may feel some pressure and tugging as the uterus is opened and the baby and placenta are removed. You will receive pain medicines while you recover. They will help you manage your pain and discomfort.

3-5 days

Very soon after birth, your baby may be placed on your chest. This skin-to-skin contact may lead to improved breastfeeding success.
You may need help learning breastfeeding positions. The correct position will keep you from putting too much pressure on your incision.
You may need medicine to help with nausea or pain.
You will likely experience some uterine cramping and pain.
Your bowels will work more slowly than usual. You may need to eat a light diet at first. Chewing gum may help speed the process of your bowel function returning to normal.
You may be given special compression stockings. They will help to decrease the possibility of blood clots forming in your legs.
For lung health, you may be asked to use an incentive spirometer and cough often. These steps will help you breathe deeply.
You will be encouraged to walk very soon after surgery. You will be asked not to lift anything heavier than your baby.
After any delivery, there will be moderate-to-heavy vaginal bleeding. You will need to use an absorbent sanitary napkin.
You may be on a clear liquid diet after surgery. You will advance to a normal diet as you are able.

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

Avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby for the first weeks after surgery.
Do not drive until your doctor says it is all right to do so.
Ask your doctor when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water.
Delay having sexual intercourse or putting any objects in the vagina until you have had your 6-week check-up.
Breastfeeding is encouraged.
Consider joining a support group for new mothers. You can get encouragement and learn new parenting strategies.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions .

You should heal quickly and completely after a C-section. Talk with your doctor about the type of incisions used during your procedure. It may play a role in decisions about future births.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Excessive bleeding, redness, swelling, increasing pain, or discharge from the incision site
Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
Swelling and/or pain in one or both legs
Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
Joint pain, fatigue, stiffness, rash, or other new symptoms
Dizziness or faintness
Heavy vaginal bleeding
Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

http://www.acog.org

American Pregnancy Association

http://www.americanpregnancy.org

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada

http://www.sogc.org

Women's Health Matters

http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

Cesarean section. Childbirth.org website. Available at: http://www.childbirth.org/section/section.html. Accessed October 8, 2012.

Cesarean section. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://dynamed.ebscohost.com/. Updated August 7, 2012. Accessed October 8, 2012.

7/21/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance. Available at: http://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us: De Luca R, Boulvain M, et al. Incidence of early neonatal mortality and morbidity after late-preterm and term cesarean delivery. Pediatrics. 2009;123:e1064-1071.

10/23/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance. Available at: http://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us: Abd-El-Maeboud KH, Ibrahim MI, et al. Gum chewing stimulates early return of bowel motility after caesarean section. BJOG. 2009;116:1334-1339.

12/4/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance. Available at: http://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us: Marín Gabriel M, Llana Martín I, et al. Randomized controlled trial of early skin-to-skin contact: effects on the mother and the newborn. Acta Paediatr. 2009 Nov 12. [Epub ahead of print]

6/2/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance. Available at: http://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us: Mills E, Eyawo O, et al. Smoking cessation reduces postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2011;124(2):144-154.e8.

Last reviewed March 2013 by Andrea Chisholm

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.