Model Marriage
Caesarean Section
The doctor may tell you before you go into labour that you will need a caesarean section. This
may become necessary because the placenta may have embedded low down in the uterus, or
because your pelvis is an awkward shape or is too small. Caesareans are also performed as an
emergency if the baby is in distress, or if there are other complications and the baby needs to be
born quickly.
With a caesarean birth, the baby is delivered from the abdomen and in many cases, this is done
after the woman has been given an epidural. This means that you are awake throughout the
process. Sometimes however, this is not possible, and the caesarean has to be done under general
anaesthetic.
The Third Stage (Delivery of the Placenta)
After the Baby Is Born
Soon after the baby is born, the doctor will clamp and cut the cord and wait until the placenta
(afterbirth) has been delivered. The placenta is what supports the baby throughout most of the
pregnancy, but now comes away from the wall of the uterus, where it has been embedded. After
it is delivered, the uterus contracts quickly, closing off the blood vessels and minimizing bleeding.
This usually happens naturally and with little effort.
The Placenta
After the placenta has been delivered, the doctor will examine it to ensure it is complete and
that no part of it has been left inside the uterus. He also checks that it has the right number of
veins and arteries, and that there are no lumps or pale spots in it.^1
Fig. 44: Removing the Placenta