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Cesarean Section – What You Need To Know

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It is important to be properly informed of a cesarean section while pregnant, whether you’re planning on it or not.  Emergency c-sections are a reality and it’s best to be prepared. Here is what you should know about c-sections and information to discuss with your doctor, to ensure you and your baby’s safety and recovery.

Misgav Ladach method for Cesarean Birth

  • The Misgav Ladach Method has been shown to have fewer side effects with a faster recovery.
  • The main difference with the standard way of C Sections, is they go through the muscle belly below the belly button with their fingers and pull open the muscles to expose the Uterus.
  • Less bleeding and a faster recovery are the benefits, but a small scar under the belly button would be the main downside. In our opinion the small exposed scar is worth not having the tendon cut and the bladder removed during the surgical birth.

C Safe Scalpel

  • Please ask your doctor to reduce any chances of baby being hurt by using the protective plastic C Safe scalpel.
  • Approximately 45,000 babies are cut each year during Cesarean surgical births.
  • The Dr. can also use a Hemostatic Agent to reduce your internal bleeding.

Vitagel to reduce bleeding and promote a quick recovery

  • Hemostatic Agents can greatly reduce internal bleeding, abdominal adhesions and speed healing.
  • We found Vitagel by Stryker Corp. to be effective for C Section healing.
  • Helps stop bleeding and has collagen to promote healing.

“Seeding” Babies with Bacteria from Birth Canal Fluids

  • Using gauze to transfer vaginal fluids from mother to baby, provides a healthy population of necessary bacteria.
  • Together with bacteria and viruses that help us digest food and ward off illnesses.  The bacteria in the vagina is part of the microbiom, a collection of trillions of microbes that keep our bodies functioning
  • Studies over the past few years have hinted that this difference could change the way a baby’s immune system develops, and explain why C-section babies are more prone to things like allergies and asthma.

Abdominal Surgery Belly Band Support Wrapc-section care and healing

  • Cesarean or vaginal births both require compression to help the tissue shrink back. This is doubly true after c-section to help the incision heal and to get you back to your pre pregnant shape.
  • Wearing a belly band will allow you to move more easily while reducing pain.
  • Shrink your hips, tummy and create a smaller scar with the C Section Recovery Kit.

Scar Care and Massage

  • Massage is a proven technique and modality to improve tissue modeling for a healthier and stronger scar after a C Section.  Combine with essential oils to boost effects.
  • The tissue that was cut upset the organization of the collagen fibers, and simple techniques done consistently can make a big difference between having a lumpy or smooth scar.
  • Massage also improves circulation and helps release chemicals in the body to reduce stress and improve your well-being.
  • Reducing the internal scarring reduces other complications, such as incontinence, bowel obstruction, infertility and back pain.

Nutrition

  • To assist in digestion, have soups and smoothies in the first few days after birth.
  • Consume a lot of protein, iron, and vitamin C. Protein helps your body tissue heal and repair as well as build muscle, iron is vital for blood loss, and vitamin C can help fight potential infection.
  • Drink at least one cup of bone broth per day to help restore vital nutrients depleted during blood loss, and collagen to boost healing.
  • Cesarean mamas should not be lifting, cleaning, or cooking for quite some time (easier said than done, right Mamas?!).

 

 

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Safer C Section Scalpel for Mom And Baby is Invented By Doctor

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C Section surgery is a widely used method for childbirth but has been show to improve and streamline better techniques for the surgery and recovery.  There is a new scalpel tool recently approved, by the FDA, the C SAFE, invented by Dr Scott Berlin of Islap, NY.  A practicing obstetrician  who is helping to improve the health field for obstetric care and fetal medicine.

After  practicing many years as a Doctor,  he has introduced anew scalpel that will minimize the risk of cutting or worse into baby, during a C Section birth. His  father is also an obstetrician, and was sued for accidentally cutting a baby while performing the cesarean surgery. So began Dr Berlin’s quest to improve an obvious tool for the surgery  and hopefully decrease accidental injury.

The uterus is at maximum stretch at delivery time, so the walls are very thin. Accidents and injury are more easily done with tools that are too big or sharp. Dr Berlin’s scalpel has a rounded edge plastic blade that is closer to baby, while cutting into the thin uterus for a c section surgery. Often baby is close to the surface or in distress and the risk of nicking or cutting baby is increased for the surgeon.  It is vital for everyone that the tools for surgery be improved.  

There is an art to incising and closing of the uterus, and should be done carefully and skillfully. Should the uterus be double sutured? Should a hemostatic or cellulose pad be used in cases of know adhesions or keloids? Is the Dr performing the bikini cut incision or doing the Misgav Ladach method for cesarean- which has fewer secondary complications…….Please ask your Doctor how they perform the operation, to engage them in doing their best.

Binding post surgery is a key to pain control, a practical tool has fewer side effects and far more benefits than standard pain medications  which will be provided to you.  A new baby has to be taken care of and fed, and fewer meds can make a difference in your state of  mind, alertness and responsiveness.

Please use the soft cotton binders found here to assist you to have a better experience for your surgical birth. Binding has been shown to reduce pain and increase mobility, making it easier to get out of bed and walk, breastfeeding and taking care of baby.

 

 

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Retained Surgical Items, Abdominal Irrigation And Adhesions After C-Section

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How does a Doctor improve a cesarean surgery, or surgical birth, for the baby and mother? How can Doctor’s reduce secondary surgeries for abdominal adhesions which may form after a c section?

Maui Healing Kits recently attended the Wombecology conference and met some very interesting Doctors, Surgeons, Nurses/Midwives and Researchers interested in improving maternal health care.  Dr Michael Stark a surgeon for the WHO has helped to develop the Misgav Ladach method for a cesareans.

Irrigating abdomen before closing during surgery

In the process of research for secondary complications, Dr Stark took samples of scar tissue (adhesions) from women’s abdomens. After analyzing them, he found that most adhesions contained cotton fibers from the “sponges” or cotton swabs the Dr and Nurses often use during surgery.  Dr Starks suggestion is that Dr’s irrigate the abdominal area to reduce cotton fibers before closing the patient.

There has been a movement to set up a check off list to reduce objects left behind in peoples bodies after surgery but it is not mandatory, though it is common for nurses to count sponges in and out of the patient and sponges are the most common item left in a patient.

Retained surgical items are defined as being items left in a body after the person has left the operating room. A newer  system of detecting sponges aside from the manual Sponge counting system and the electronic Computer Assisted Sponge Counting System, is with radio frequency technology as a detection and accounting device to aide in reducing issues. Really this must be a consistent practice throughout the OR, or the patient is exposed to more XRAYS to find hidden items, but thats better than leaving something in the body cavity.

If your experiencing pain and high fever, remember to always call your Dr right away.

 

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Dearmabond in C-Section Trials

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Dermabond was approved by the FDA in 1998 and is currently one of the options for closing c-section incisions. Women are currently being recruited for trails to compare results between women who’s c-section incision was stapled with those closed using Dermabond. Another trail will compare c-section closures using staples and sutures (stitches).

Essentially Dermabond is a medical grade version of superglue. It dries very fast (10 seconds) and forms a strong waterproof bond.

As the morbidity associated with cesarean delivery, usually results from wound complications, especially infection, and with c-sections accounting for one in every three births in the US, knowing which method of incision closure is most effective is paramount.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that Dermabond works well when used to close c-section incisions. Many women report infection free recovery and small, even scar healing. Sadly in instances of emergency c-section, there is no prior consultation about the method used for closing the incision. When the c-section is elective, we recommend talking to your caregiver about the options available.

One of Dermabond’s advantages is that it seals the incision to both air and water. This allows for immediate bathing and importantly prevents infection-causing bacteria access to wound. At least it does as long as the seal remains intact. Care must still be taken after delivery in regard to physical activity, especially the first 2 weeks. This will itself alleviate potential for the glues seal breaking.

Another advantage over staples and non dissolving stitches, is there is nothing to remove later. The glue will simply break down and fall off by the time it’s job is completely done and the incision has healed. You will though be cleaning up bits of glue from your bed and clothes when this happens!

Another issue that can effect the integrity of the wounds sealing, is the potential for itching. In some cases there can be an allergic reaction to Dermabond, particularly if there is allergy to cyanoacetate and formaldehyde which are the main components of Dermabond. In any case a healing wound usually becomes itchy. If this results in picking or scratching, the glues seal can be broken and the wound itself re-opened.

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Antibiotics Before a C Section

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The American Congress of Obstericians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now say that “All women need antibiotics one hour before cesarean delivery”

The reason this has not been general practice to prevent the 10-40% post surgery infection rate for cesarean delivery (1-3% for vaginal birth), was the concern that the antibiotics that made it into the baby’s bloodstream from the mother would interfere with newborn lab tests or could lead to antibiotic-resistant infections.

The ACOG is now making this recommendation because based on the latest data, prophylactic antibiotics given to pregnant women before a cesarean significantly reduce maternal infection and do not appear to harm newborns,” Dr. William H. Barth, Jr., chair of the ACOGs Committee on Obstetric Practice, said in a college news release.

Dr Barth went on to say None of the studies were large enough to say definitively that giving the mother the antibiotics before the cesarean incision does not appear to increase problems in the newborn, “but given the overall benefit to the mother, our committee which included pediatricians felt that this was the right thing to do.

Instances when this new recommendation does not apply are when the patient is already receiving appropriate antibiotics. When it is not possible to begin administration within 60 minutes of the first incision as with emergent c-section prophylaxis should be administered as soon as possible.

Hopefully it will prove to be the case that there are no negative consequences for cesarean delivered babies and that the mothers will be advised to  take probiotics as part of their c section recovery.

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