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What to expect with a repeat C-section
By Mayo Clinic staffAs you may remember from your prior C-section, epidural and spinal anesthetics block pain — but not the ability to feel motion. You'll likely feel some tugging as the baby is taken out of your uterus. If you have general anesthesia for an emergency C-section, you won't be aware of the procedure.
Once the baby is delivered, the doctor will clamp and cut the umbilical cord. While other members of the medical team assess your baby, the doctor will remove the placenta from your uterus and close the incisions layer by layer. You may be separated from your baby during this process, or a loved one or a member of the medical team may hold the baby close to you.
The hospital stay after a planned or unplanned C-section is typically three days, compared with two days after a VBAC. Recovery at home also is longer after a C-section. The first week after the birth, you'll likely have less energy, feel more discomfort and need more sleep than you would if you'd had a VBAC. You'll need to restrict your activity for four to six weeks after the delivery.
If you had a long and difficult labor before your first C-section, a repeat C-section may be less physically taxing — but the healing process will take at least as long. If you develop complications, recovery may take longer.
Repeat C-section: Pros and cons Repeat C-section: The risks
