C-Section: Procedure & Recovery

C-Section birth is a relatively complex surgery that has become part of the routine of a child's arrival in the world. What a c-section means in detail and how long it takes to heal to find out in this article. C-Section procedure and recovery.

What is c-section surgery?

Cesarean surgery is the birth of a child through an incision surgically applied to the mother's abdomen and uterus.

In some circumstances, the intervention is scheduled in advance, while in others it is due to an unforeseen complication.

However, it should be stated that not all of the mother's condition is a mandatory indication for c-section surgery and in many cases the obstetrician must decide whether or not it is necessary.

Also, many women who have had a c-section birth may have a vaginal birth later, it is the specialist who decides the risks. In this regard, the type of incision and the reason why it was imposed previously counts.

Along with the definition of c-section, it is useful for understanding the concept and its classification.

Thus, the main criterion considered is the one that indicates the strategy to be addressed in sedation, whether local or general anesthesia is used, c-section interventions being appropriately classified in elective or emergency.

Another criterion considered in their classification takes into account the characteristics of the mother, as follows: c-section at the request of the mother (even if there is no medical recommendation), after another c-section (multiple), and c-section birth with pelvic presentation.

C-Section Procedure

What happens before a cesarean surgery?

First of all, the doctor will explain in detail the reasons why he considers this surgery as necessary and you will be asked to sign a consent form. If a doctor watched your pregnancy and intends to join you but requires a c-section delivery, you will be assigned to an obstetrician who will take the decision.

Usually, your partner can be both in the stage of preparation and during the actual birth period, but it is good to check the hospital policy in advance.

If c-section is scheduled in advance, you may be asked to clean yourself before getting to hospital/maternity with an antiseptic soap to reduce the risk of infection.

An anesthetist will consult you and provide you with various pain management options. There are quite rare situations in which general anesthesia is administered, except for urgent cases or if you can not benefit from local anesthesia for various reasons.

Therefore, you will most likely receive an epidural anesthesia (especially if it has already been given during labor to relieve pain) which will numb the lower part of your body (it will feel a pressure or stretching sensation at some point), but will allow you to keep conscious at birth.

A catheter is inserted into the urinary bladder to drain urine during surgery and an infusion line (for liquids and medication) is also initiated in the arm. If you are not inguinal shaved, you can shave the upper portion of the pubic hair and you will be moved to the operating room.

To prevent possible complications that may be caused by vomiting and stomach upsets during general anesthesia (may cause aspiration pneumonia), antacid medication will also be given to neutralize gastric acid. Also, intravenous antibiotic medication is also used to reduce the risk of postoperative complications.

A protection will be lifted so you can not see the surgery but if you want to see the baby, you can ask for it to be lowered. Your baby and you will be carefully monitored for heart rate, tension, and breathing. If general anesthesia is used, you will be placed with an oxygen mask on the face.

What does cesarean surgery mean?

Once the anesthesia works, the abdomen will be buffered with an antiseptic and the doctor will make a small, horizontal incision in the portion of the skin above the pubic bone (near the pubic hair line).

The surgeon will cut through the tissue under the skin, gradually progressing to the uterus.

When it reaches the abdominal muscles it will separate it (usually by hand and not through the incision) and will separate them to expose the structures below them.

When it reaches the uterus, it will probably perform a horizontal incision in its lower section (lower incision, depending on the positioning of the child may be a different incision) and the uterus and the amniotic sac will be broken.

Only in rare situations the doctor prefers a vertical or classical incision (from below the pubic bone to the pubic bone), for example when the baby is premature and the lower portion of the uterus is not thin enough to be cut. Underline the fact that such incision reduces the chances of a future vaginal birth.

Then your doctor will take your baby out and clean your nose and mouth, and check your breathing/vital signs. Once the umbilical cord is clamped/cut, you will soon be able to see the baby before getting to the care of a pediatrician or a nurse.

While the newborn is being examined, the placenta is extracted and the incision closes.

Fat and connective tissue layers will be sutured one at a time, lasting for about 30 minutes. All c-section surgery lasts for up to an hour.

C-Section Recovery

After surgery, you will be transported to a salon where you will be carefully monitored for several hours.

If your child and his condition allows, you can keep him in your arms shortly and even nurse him (the most comfortable position is the lateral position). You will receive fluid intravenously until you can eat and drink normally.

The sutures used for the uterus will dissolve in the body. The last layer can be sewn using staples or sutures that are usually removed within 3 days to a week.

The time of hospitalization varies, but on average it is 3 days. You will be monitored for signs of infection, fluid level, intestinal transit, and frequency of urination. The doctor will discuss with you about the pain relief options.

Most patients use intravenous analgesia, following analgesic medication as needed.

You will be encouraged to go to toilet as soon as you feel able to prevent constipation and blood clots.

You may experience dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness after c-section. In addition, pain at the incision site, cramps and bleeding may occur with or without clots (the severity of the symptoms varies from person to person).

The effective recovery period varies from one woman to another, depending on the body's specificity and tolerance to pain and inflammation levels. Specialists recommend in any case to abstain from intense work (such as lifting heavy objects, running, climbing stairs, or doing sports) up to 16 weeks and additionally they are recommending a period of about 18 months to try to conceive another child.

Chronic Constipation: Causes, Symptoms & Remedies

Chronic constipation can occur in diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, dementia, depression, or as side effects of drugs (opioid analgesics, medicines used to treat ischemic heart disease or hypertension).

Chronic Constipation: Causes

According to gastroenterologists, chronic constipation may be an isolated condition linked to eating style or a colon of greater length or caliber, or with motility disorders.

When intestinal transit suddenly changes and constipation occurs, we need to see it as an alarm signal that requires colonoscopy, as the newly installed constipation, especially in an elderly person, may be due to a tumor in the colon.

Also, when constipation is associated with anemia, with unexplained weight loss, and severe abdominal pain, thorough investigation is recommended, indicating a structural colon disease.

Causes related to diet and lifestyle:

l  Advanced age

l  Delay to the moment when the sensation occurs

l  Lack of physical activity

l  Diet poor in fiber

l  Low fluid consumption

l  Pregnancy

l  Stress or anxiety

l  Travel (travel constipation)

Gastrointestinal causes of constipation:

l  Anal fistula

l  Bowel obstruction

l  Colon inertia (abnormal functioning of nerves and colon muscles)

l  Colorectal cancer

l  Dehydration due to excessive vomiting or diarrhea

l  Surgery in the digestive tract

l  Diverticulitis (inflammation of a diverticula, an abnormal "pocket" in the colon wall)

l  Food intolerance or allergies

l  Hirschprung disease (caused by a congenital neurological defect resulting in severe constipation and intestinal obstruction in newborn and infant)

l  Irritable bowel syndrome (digestive discomfort that does not cause lesions or intestinal diseases)

l  Dysfunction of the pelvic floor

Other causes of constipation:

l  Depression

l  Diabetes

l  Eating disorders

l  Hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium)

l  Hypothyroidism (decrease in thyroid hormone levels)

l  Multiple sclerosis (a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord leading to weakness, balance disorders and coordination)

l  Parkinson's disease (a brain disorder affecting movement and coordination)

l  Spinal cord injuries

l  Stroke

l  Systemic lupus erythematosus (a condition in which the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues)

l  Uremia (increase in nitrogen metabolism)

Medicines that cause constipation:

l  Anesthetics

l  Antacids containing calcium or aluminum

l  Anticonvulsants

l  Antidepressants;

l  Calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure

l  Diuretics

l  Iron supplements;

l  Abuse of laxatives

l  Narcotics

l  Medicines to treat Parkinson's disease

l  Tranquilizers

Chronic Constipation: Symptoms

Chronic Constipation may persist for a long time when it is produced by the poor diet in fibers and liquids.

Digestive symptoms that may appear alongside constipation are:

l  Cramps or abdominal pain

l  Bloating, abdominal distension

l  Changing habits in terms of defecation

l  Fecal incontinence

l  Flatulence, gases, or indigestion

l  Feeling full

l  Liquid leakage without having a stool

l  Nausea or vomiting

l  Rectal pain or burns

l  Difficulties at the level of intestinal transit

Other symptoms that may appear alongside constipation are:

l  Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, generalized pain)

l  Decreased appetite

l  Stress or anxiety

l  Weakness

l  Unexplained weight loss

Chronic Constipation: Treatment

The first rules in the treatment of constipation are to respect healthy lifestyle and diet.

It is necessary to consume 1.5-2 liters of fluids every day and have a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, salads, cereals, and whole cereals bread.

Physical activity is also essential because constipation occurs more frequently in people living a sedentary lifestyle.

Many people skip over the breakfast. Colonial motility stimulation, however, is maximal after breakfast and exceeds the stimulation caused by coffee consumption. Thus, resuming breakfast is important for people suffering from constipation.

When constipation is associated with certain conditions, their treatment may improve the symptoms.

Chronic Constipation: Natural Remedies or Pills?

If these measures do not solve the problem, medication is needed, usually with fiber supplements (methylcellulose, psyllium) or osmotic laxatives (lactulose, polyethylene glycol, magnesium salts).

Fiber supplements and lactulose may have side effects of bloating and flatulence. However, the effect of osmotic laxatives does not occur immediately, and may occur after 2-3 days, time in which they only retain water in the intestine and soften the intestinal content, which is easily eliminated by the colon movements.

Irritant laxatives - senna, cascara, aloe, bisacodyl - stimulate intestinal movement and secretion and have a rapid effect. However, they cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which can not be controlled by dose modification, so it can lead to a decrease in colon motility over time.

Suppository administration cause evacuation, either through the distension it performs or through osmotic effect, but can cause lesions of the rectal mucosa.

Many of the supplements on the market are actually irritating laxatives, so their composition should be carefully studied before administration.

Also, pills containing senna, cascara or aloe are considered 'natural'. These are, however, irritating laxatives and are not the first line of treatment in chronic constipation. Irritant laxatives can be used in people with severe constipation who are not responding to any treatment.

'Supplements can solve the problem of constipation in people who have a poor diet in fiber. For this to happen, it is important that they are associated with proper hydration. Half of the weight of the stool is bacteria, so modulation of intestinal flora by prebiotics and probiotics may play a role in the treatment of chronic constipation,' says gastroeneterologists.

Chronic Constipation: How much nutrition counts in chronic constipation?

In light constipation, diet, proper hydration, and high fiber foods can be sufficient. In severe forms, however, medical treatment is almost always needed.

A diet based on animal protein from meat, cheese, and low in fiber, with low fluid intake, can lead to constipation. If we leave the constipation untreated, the reabsorption of water and electrolytes make the colon debris gain a high consistency and become more and more difficult to be eliminated.

Canker Sores: Causes & Treatments

Aphthous ulceration is a condition that causes small painful ulcers in the mouth, commonly known as canker sores. Canker sores usually appear on the lips, cheeks, or tongue. They affect about 20% of the population, and are more common in children and teenagers.

These usually occur between the ages of 10 and 40, have a recurrent nature, and the frequency of the recurrence of canker sores is varying considerably. Some people only have one or two episodes per year, while others have a continuous series of canker sores.

The diagnosis is usually based on the examination of the oral cavity. Sometimes the doctor may require some tests, such as blood tests, bacteriological examination, or ulceration biopsy.

Canker Sores: Statistics

The period of remission between appearing may be days, weeks, months, or years.

Canker sores will appear more and more rarely in adulthood, the frequency decreasing significantly after 40 years. These are more common among women than men.

There are also the most common forms of ulceration in the oral cavity, at least 1 out of 5 people developing canker sores at a certain stage of life.

Canker Sores: Causes

The exact cause of canker sores is not known. However, there are many factors that favor the emergence of this condition, such as:

l  a poor immune system

l  stress

l  unbalanced eating diet

l  smoking

l  certain medications

l  various traumas in the mouth

l  various bacteria or fungus

Other possible causes for oral canker sores include autoimmune diseases, menstrual periods, and pregnancy.

Canker sores: Symptoms

Ulceration begins as a small, red and sensitive swelling that gives a burning sensation for at least one day. The canker sores are covered with a yellow or white membrane, bounded by a red halo.

Generally, the canker sores heal in two weeks without any treatment and without leaving any scars.

Canker sore: Treatment

The treatment of the canker sores is largely represented by the relief of symptoms.

There are no therapies that prevent the appearance or recurrence. The treatment may consist of rinses with light antiseptic solutions, applying trichloracetic acid solution on the vesicles, and antibiotic gels or creams applications.

It has been proven that baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is also effective in the treatment of canker sores. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a small glass of water and steer until the baking soda is completely dissolved in the water. Take a sip of this mixture and hold it in your mouth on the affected area. Then spit and repeat the procedure.

Canker sores: Prevention

Avoid spicy food and excessively cold or hot foods that can cause new irritations. You should also remove local irritating factors.

Canker sores can also be prevented by proper oral hygiene, going for regular check-ups at your dentist, adopting a healthy diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol abuse, cutting off carbonated drinks, and avoiding very hot or very cold foods.

Also, dental brushing twice a day (in the morning and evening), with a special toothpaste, a proper teeth brush, and the use of mouthwash and dental floss, helps maintain dental health and oral cavity's health, so it will diminish the risk of canker sores occurrence.