Why was caesarean birth offered or needed?
You could ask questions like:
Why was caesarean birth offered or needed?
Were these reasons associated with my safety, my baby's safety or both of us?
How common is caesarean birth?
These are some current statistics to support your conversation:
In England between 2023-2024 overall, 42% of babies are born by caesarean.
44% of women have a caesarean birth in their first pregnancy: 13% are planned 31% are unplanned or emergency.
Were there any other realistic birth options for me or my baby?
Other options to discuss might include:
Vaginal birth
Instrumental birth
Waiting longer
If there were any other options considered
How did the birth go?
You could ask questions like:
How was the operation performed?
How long did the operation take?
How was bleeding managed?
Can you tell me more about the urinary catheter to protect my bladder?
Were there any emergency measures necessary during the procedure?
What was done to reduce the chance of infection?
Where is the scar on my skin?
Where is the scar on my womb?
What anaesthetic was used?
Anaesthetic options that might have been used are epidural, spinal or general anaesthetic. Ask which you had if you are unsure.
You could also ask why the anaesthetic option was chosen.
You may also want to understand possible side effects that are commonly experienced soon afterwards and in the future.
