If you need a caesarean

Around one in three babies in Australia is born by caesarean, whether planned ahead or decided during labour. If it’s not what you’d hoped for, that’s understandable — but knowing what to expect can make it feel far less daunting, and a caesarean birth is still very much your birth.

A caesarean is an operation to deliver your baby through a cut in your abdomen and uterus, usually under a spinal or epidural anaesthetic so you’re awake but numb from the chest down. Your partner can usually be with you, a screen keeps the surgery out of view, and many hospitals support a “gentle” caesarean — lowering the screen as your baby is born, and skin-to-skin on the table where it’s safe to do so.

Planned caesareans are scheduled for specific medical reasons (such as your baby’s position or the position of your placenta), while an unplanned one may be recommended during labour if things aren’t progressing safely for you or your baby. Either way, your team will explain why and talk you through it — it remains your decision, made with their guidance.

Recovery takes a bit longer than after a vaginal birth, because it’s major surgery. You’ll be encouraged to move gently but soon, you’ll have pain relief, and you’ll need to take it easy with lifting (nothing heavier than your baby) and driving for a few weeks. Your wound will be checked, and you’ll be given specific advice on caring for it as it heals.

Some things warrant a prompt call to your GP or hospital in the weeks afterwards: a wound that becomes red, hot, swollen or oozes, a fever, heavy bleeding, or calf pain or swelling. The emotional side matters too — some people feel relief, others sadness or disappointment, especially after an unplanned caesarean. All of that is valid, and worth talking through if it lingers.

It helps to know the practical shape of recovery. You’ll usually be in hospital for a few days, with a catheter and a drip at first, and you’ll be encouraged to get up and moving within a day, which genuinely helps healing. Trapped wind and a tender wound are common in the early days; loose clothing, a pillow to support your tummy when you cough or feed, and staying on top of your pain relief all help. At home, keep taking it easy — avoid heavy lifting and driving for the few weeks your team advises, accept help, and keep an eye on your wound as it heals. And if you’re hoping for a vaginal birth next time, a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) is possible for many people and worth discussing with your care team in a future pregnancy.

However your baby arrives, you grew them and brought them safely into the world. If you’d like to understand more about your own situation, your obstetrician or midwife is the best person to ask.