A Caesarean section involves making a horizontal incision across your lower abdomen to open the womb so your baby can be delivered.
The procedure takes about 30-45 minutes. The cut is made low in the abdomen to avoid weakening the muscles in the womb, and it allows the operation to be performed again in another pregnancy.
Your operation will be performed under a general, spinal or epidural anaesthetic. Spinal and epidural anaesthetics involve injecting local anaesthetic into the fluid that surrounds your spine. This causes your body to feel numb from the waist down so even though you are still awake, you won't feel any pain. In some emergency cases a vertical incision may be made rather than a horizontal one.
The baby is delivered through the incision made into the womb, and the placenta follows. Your womb will then be swabbed and stitched up with dissolvable stitches. Your abdominal wound is then closed in layers.
May 2011 | 
Introduction to Caesareans
