Your Pregnancy: Week 36 for Mom
By: ePregnancy
The final countdown has begun! And although we love those lads from Sweden, it’s not rockers Europe we mean, but the final month of your pregnancy. This week or the next, you will visit the doctor for your first internal exam, which will check the dilation (or lack thereof) of your cervix. You’ll also have a Group B Strep test if you haven’t already. If you test positive, your doctor will prescribe a round of antibiotics to make sure you don’t pass the bacteria on to your child during birth.
In this last month, you’ve tossed, you’ve turned, you’ve tried every position that belly will allow. And still, you cannot get comfortable enough to sleep. Since you shouldn’t turn to prescription sleep aids right now, instead try those home remedies your grandmother was so fond of: chamomile tea, warm milk and so on. But if you're so agitated that you’d rather shoot the sheep than count them, try to relax and get some rest -- even if you can't actually sleep.
Over the past couple of weeks, we've talked about the process you'll go through if you have a vaginal birth. But what if, either by choice or circumstance, you have a cesarean section? Approximately 1 in 4 women will experience a cesarean birth, which is surgical rather than natural. Here's what you can expect from the typically hour-long procedure:
Before Surgery
You'll receive either a general or local anesthetic -- although general anesthesia is typically preferred only for an emergency c-section, since its effects are almost immediate. If you receive a spinal or epidural local anesthetic, your entire abdominal area will be numb, and sometimes even your legs! You will probably receive a catheter as well (good thing you're numb at this point!).
During Surgery
An incision is made in your abdomen and then again in your uterus. If you are having an emergency c-section, the incision will probably be vertical, running from your belly button to your pubic area. This allows the quickest possible access to your baby. If your c-section is not an emergency procedure, the incision is generally made horizontally, just above your pubic bone. Your stomach muscles won't be cut, but they will be pulled aside to provide access to the baby -- so you can expect them to be extra sore during recovery!
Once the incision is made, your surgeon will suction out the amniotic fluid, and then your baby will be delivered -- headfirst, so that her nose and mouth are cleared for her first breath. After you meet your wee babe, a nurse will usually take her to complete any necessary evaluations. Finally, the placenta is removed and then the surgical team will close you up, lickity split!
After Surgery
The anesthesia may cause some nausea or trembling -- this is completely normal, and you'll probably be very sleepy once it passes. If your baby is healthy from the start, you'll get to visit and begin the process of breastfeeding and bonding. Otherwise, your visitation may simply be delayed a bit. You and the little one will be constantly monitored for any potential complications.