P486ORACLE 486 Mon 3 Feb C4 1711:21  1/6      by Margaret Carter  THE CAESAR BABY Usually labour and birth proceed in a straightforward pattern of stages, culminating in the birth of the baby and the severance of the umbilical. Sometimes however, birth in this way is not possible or advisabvle for a variety of reasons, and it is then decided to deliver by Caeserean section This may be planned before labour begins, or the necessity may arise during labout when the decision will be taken by the obstetrician. more follows Home File Index 480 Best buys 487 Bargain Travel ─ British Rail 125
P486ORACLE 486 Mon 3 Feb C4 1701:04  2/6      by Margaret Carter  THE CAESAR BABY A Caesarean section delivrs the baby through the mother's abdomen. An incision is made through the skin of the abdomen and then through the muscles of the uterus. The baby and placenta are removed and the opening stitched. The operation takes very little time and recovery for the mother is very rapid. The incision is most frequently made along what is called the 'bikini line" - i.e. low down on the abdomen, horizontally, so that it is not usually visible afterwards - even in a bikini! more follows > Home File Index 480 Best Buys 487
P486ORACLE 486 Mon 3 Feb C4 1712:13  3/6      by Margaret Carter  THE CAESAR BABY The main reasons for performing Caesarean sections - where the mother's health is in question - is if the pelvis is too small for normal delivery From the point of view of the baby, a Caesar is indicated if he shows signs of foetal distress - usually through lack of oxygen. Caesarean sections used to be performed very rarely - the risk of infection was too high. Today the use of antibiotics makes the risk to either mother or baby very small indeed. more follows > Home File Index 480 Best buys 487 Crosse & Blackwell Recipes 195
P486ORACLE 486 Mon 3 Feb C4 1702:09  4/6      by Margaret Carter  THE CAESAR BABY The operation can be performed under general anaesthetic, but many mothers felt to be woken from the anaesthetic and "handed a baby" made them feel the baby was not really theirs. An alternative nowadays is the use of an epidural block which means the mother can be fully awake and aware of what's going on. Anaesthetic is injected into the back which blocks all sensation in the lower part of the body The mother can watch in a mirror while her baby is lifed from the womb and given to her. more > Home File Index 480 Best Buys 487 BARCLAYCARDTHEATREGUIDE *** 231
P486ORACLE 486 Mon 3 Feb C4 1710:18  5/6      by Margaret Carter  THE CAESAR BABY A baby born by Caesarean section usually looks a lot more serene and less 'travel weary' than the baby who arrives by the normal method! He has not experienced any of the trauma of birth nor undergone the journey down the birth canal which often results in a slightly elongated head (strictly temporary). It used to be thought that women who had given birth to a baby by section would have to have her future babies babies the same way, but this is not neccessarily true. more follows > Home File Index 408 Best Buys 487
P486ORACLE 486 Mon 3 Feb C4 1713:44  6/6      by Margaret Carter  THE CAESAR BABY In some hospitals fathers aren't allowed to be with their wives during a Caesarean section delivery by epidural. In others, this is allowed. This is something you could discuss with your osbtetrician if you know you are to have a baby by this method, or if you think the possibility may arise. You'll also need to discuss it with the father-to-be, after all, he's the one who'll be intimately involved! more BABYCARE NEWS on TUESDAY more follows > Home File Index 480 Best Buys 487