What is a caesarian section?
A caesarian section is an operation (lasting about 45 minutes) to remove your baby from your uterus under local anasthaetic (which means you stay awake) or general anasthaetic (which puts you to sleep). The surgeon makes a small cut in your abdomen and lifts the baby out. If you are awake, you can have someone in the operating theatre with you. You won’t be able to see anything, as a screen will be placed across your abdomen. On the NHS, a caesarian section is only given when there is a medical reason for it. If you want the choice of giving birth by caesarian section, then you will have to go private.
