Cesarean Section


CESAREAN SECTION BIRTH (C-SECTION DELIVERY)

Cesarean birth (C-section delivery) is the surgical delivery of a baby through incisions made in the mother’s uterus and abdomen.  A C-section delivery can be planned or unplanned (sometimes referred to as an ‘emergency’ C-section), and may be considered an appropriate option in the following circumstances:

Planned Cesarean Indications

  • The mother has had an invasive uterine surgery in the past
  • The mother suffers from a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
  • The fetal position is sideways (transverse) or the child’s buttocks or feet would be born first (breech)
  • There are concerns about macrosomia (very large baby)
  • The mother is carrying multiples (specifically in cases of 3 or more children)
  • The placenta is too low in the uterus and is covering the cervix (referred to as placenta previa)
  • An obstruction (i.e. fibroid) is blocking the vaginal opening
  • The mother is HIV-positive with a high viral load at the time of delivery
  • The baby suffers from neural tube defects or another complication that would make vaginal birth delivery too dangerous

Unplanned Cesarean Indications

  • Placental abruption—the placenta begins to separate from the uterine wall, cutting off oxygen to the child
  • Fetal heart rate abnormalities
  • Cervix dilation ceases and the baby is no longer moving down the birth canal despite attempts to stimulate contraction or induce labor
  • To avoid infecting the child should the mother have a genital herpes outbreak when the labor commences or the water breaks
  • Prolapsed umbilical cord—the umbilical cord slips through the cervix, cutting off the baby’s oxygen supply

At OBGYN on the Park, with convenient office locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY, our well-respected team of board certified Obstetricians/Gynecologists will work closely with you to develop a customized birth plan that takes into consideration your personal preferences and medical history, while prioritizing the health of both mother and child. Your OBGYN on the Park obstetrician will take the time to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding about all of your C-section birthing options, and that you are completely comfortable with every facet of your birth process. We are affiliated with the prestigious Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, where our patients have access to the best possible amenities throughout their labor and delivery experiences.

CESAREAN SECTION PROCEDURE

Should you decide to have a C-section birth (or should one become medically necessary), you will be given either general anesthesia, a spinal block, or an epidural block—if you are given a spinal or epidural block you will be awake for the procedure, but the lower half of your body will be numb. Your obstetrician will make a transverse or vertical incision along your abdomen and will deliver the baby through the incision before removing the placenta. He will then close the uterus with dissolvable stitches and utilize staples or sutures to close the abdominal incisions.

If you were awake for the C-section surgery, you will be able to hold your child right away, but you may need to stay in the hospital for 2-4 days to allow your body to heal, and you will need to limit your activities when you return home. You will be given pain medication to manage any soreness, and you may experience cramping (particularly if breastfeeding), incision pain, and bleeding or discharge for the next 4-6 weeks. Although rare, potential cesarean delivery complications include: blood loss, adverse reaction to anesthesia, infection, blood clots, and injury to the bladder or bowel.

Contact OBGYN on the Park

At OBGYN on the Park, we take pride in providing a superior level of patient care and clinical expertise in a compassionate and comfortable environment. Our exceptional staff members are experts in the field of Obstetrics/Gynecology and all our physician are faculty members at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As a patient at OBGYN on the Park, you will experience an unparalleled level of attentiveness and responsiveness—we will always make time to thoroughly address every question and concern you might have, and will work tirelessly to ensure that your experience is a positive one.

Our multidisciplinary approach involves cooperative collaboration with your primary care physician and a network of highly esteemed specialists (when necessary) in order to create a customized treatment plan that meets your unique obstetric/gynecological concerns. We look forward to speaking with you, and to scheduling your initial appointment with one of our board certified physicians.