Sometimes the baby cannot be born through the natural, vaginal route of delivery. In this case, the gynaecologist decides to perform a Caesarean section. A Caesarean section is a procedure which delivers the baby through the abdominal wall.
The gynaecologist almost always makes a "bikini cut", a horizontal (transverse) incision of about 15 cm just above the pubic bone, approximately around the hairline. Exceptionally, an incision will be made from the navel downwards.
After the cut in the skin, the fat under the skin and a layer of reinforcing connective tissue above the abdominal muscles are cut, from top to bottom, to spare the muscles. The long abdominal muscles that run down from the rib arch are pushed aside, and then the gynaecologist opens the abdominal cavity.
The bladder, which lies partly over the uterus, is pushed down. The gynaecologist then removes your child, usually through a transverse incision in the womb. Quite some pressure will be exerted on your stomach.
When your baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut. Because of sterility, the father will not be asked to do this, as in a 'normal' childbirth. After the placenta is born, the gynaecologist sutures the uterus and the various layers of the abdominal wall.
The operation take about 45 minutes. The baby is usually born within 15 minutes of the start of the operation. The gynaecologist then closes the uterus and the various layers of the abdominal wall with stitches.
Consult the brochure here
