CESAREAN DELIVERY A cesarean delivery is a surgical method for delivering a baby. It is usually resorted to when a normal vaginal delivery may be risky or impossible because of the baby's position. Doctors often perform a cesarean normally when the baby is in a breech position i,e, when the baby's feet or bottom enter the birth canal first instead of the head .The operation involves an abdominal and uterine incision. The abdominal incision may be horizontal or vertical. The horizontal incision begins just above the pubic hairline while the vertical incision starts from the bellybutton extending down. The incision in the uterus runs horizontally across the lower part of the uterus. Cesarean delivery is usually done under general anesthesia. Complications arising out of cesarean delivery are uterine infection, urinary tract infection, complications arising out of the use of anesthesia, thrombophlebitis, and respiratory problems in the newborn. Cesarean delivery is more painful, requires a longer hospital stay, and is four times more risky than a normal vaginal delivery. The operation normally takes 30 to 45 minutes. What will my c-section incision look like? Although the scar from your c-section will never disappear but it will start to shrink significantly within six weeks of surgery. A c-section incision is only 4" to 6" long and about 1/8" wide. Shortly after the incision has been sewn shut, you may feel numbness and soreness at the site, and the scar will be slightly raised, puffy, and darker than your natural skin tone. As the incision site continues to heal, your scar will become closer to your own skin color and will narrow to about 1/16" in width. Your doctor will sew up the internal incisions with a synthetic, absorbable material and use metal staples to close the external incision. The staples need to be removed by a professional, usually three to four days after your surgery and just before you leave the hospital. The staples take just seconds to remove, and there may be a small pinch but no pain. Sneezing, coughing, and other actions that exert pressure on the abdominal area can be painful, especially while the stitches are still in. How should I treat the scar? Some scars can get itchy. To soothe the itch and to deter you from scratching it, some professionals recommend rubbing vitamin E oil or a moisturizing cream on and around the scar. However, this doesn't work for everyone. What are signs of an infection? Signs of an infection include warmth or redness at the incision site, oozing from the incision site, and fever. Call your doctor if you have any of these problems.