Cesarean birth, also termed as cesarean section, is the delivery of a neonate by surgical incision through the abdomen and uterus. This method can be done as elective surgery or as an emergency procedure when conditions impede a vaginal or normal delivery. Some women demand Cesarean section with their first babies to avoid labor or the potential complexity of vaginal birth or to take advantage of the benefit of a planned delivery.
Nursing Care Plans
Cesarean section is a procedure that is relatively harmless for the mother and baby. However, it is a major surgery and has risks. It also has lengthy recovery period than vaginal birth. Some women may have difficulty attempting a vaginal birth later. Yet, many women are able to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Hence, it is essential for mothers to work with the health care providers to make the best decision for herself and the baby.
Here are ten (10) nursing care plans for cesarean birth:
- Deficient Knowledge
- Anxiety
- Risk for Situational Low Self-Esteem
- Powerlessness
- Risk for Acute Pain
- Risk for Infection
- Risk for Impaired Fetal Gas Exchange
- Risk for Maternal Injury
- Risk for Decreased Cardiac Output
- Sensory/Perceptual Alterations
Deficient Knowledge: Absence or deficiency of cognitive information related to specific topic.
May be related to
- Lack of information
- Unfamiliarity with condition
- Misinterpretation
Possibly evidenced by
- Demand for information
- Narrative misconception
- False behaviors
Desired Outcomes
- Patient verbalizes understanding of indications for cesarean birth.
- Patient recognizes this as an alternative childbirth procedure to achieve the best result possible in the end.
| Nursing Interventions | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Appraise knowledge toward the procedure. | Most patients fail to retain the information instilled during childbirth classes. Therefore, patients have difficulty to remember or understand the details during the entire process. |
| Check on the level of stress and weather procedure was planned or not. | Defines patient’s or couple’s readiness to incorporate information. |
| Give accurate information in easy-to-understand terms and clarify misconceptions. | Stress of the situation can affect the patient’s ability to understand information required to make informed decisions. |
| Encourage couple to ask questions and verbalize their understanding on the matter. | This provides an opportunity to assess and evaluate patient’s or couple’s understanding of the situation. |
| Review indications necessitating alternative birth method. | Cesarean birth should be viewed as an alternative and not an abnormal situation to enhance the maternal and fetal safety and well-being. |
| Explain preoperative procedures in advance, and present rationale as appropriate. | Explanation of the logical reasons why a particular choice was made is vital in preparation for the procedure. |
| Educate patient postoperatively; including demonstration of leg exercises, proper coughing and deep breathing techniques, splinting, and abdominal tightening exercises. | Provides routine to prevent complications associated with venous stasis and hypostatic pneumonia, and to lessen stress on the operative site. Abdominal tightening reduces distress associated with gas formation and abdominal distension. |
| Further stress anticipated sensations during delivery and recovery period. | Having knowledge about the possible outcomes helps prevent unnecessary anxiety. |
See Also
You may also like the following posts and care plans:
- 1,000+ Nursing Care Plans List – the ultimate database of nursing care plans for different diseases and conditions! Get the complete list!
- What is a Nursing Care Plan? 9 Steps on How to Write a Care Plan – learn how to write an excellent care plan. We explain the concepts and walk you through the steps.
- Nursing Diagnosis: The Complete List – archive of different nursing diagnoses with their definition, related factors, goals and nursing interventions with rationale.
- The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Diagnosis – learn how to formulate nursing diagnoses correctly in this easy-to-follow guide!
Maternal and Newborn Care Plans
Nursing care plans related to the care of the pregnant mother and her infant. See care plans for maternity and obstetric nursing:
- Abruptio Placenta| 3 Care Plan
- Cesarean Birth | 10 Care Plans
- Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip | 6 Care Plans
- Dysfunctional Labor (Dystocia) | 4 Care Plans
- Elective Termination | 6 Care Plans
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus | 4 Care Plans
- Hyperbilirubinemia | 4 Care Plans
- Labor Stages, Induced and Augmented Labor | 36 Care Plans
- Neonatal Sepsis | 5 Care Plans
- Perinatal Loss | 5 Care Plans
- Placenta Previa | 3 Care Plans
- Postpartum Hemorrhage | 8 Care Plans
- Postpartum Thrombophlebitis | 4 Care Plans
- Prenatal Hemorrhage | 7 Care Plans
- Prenatal Substance Dependence/Abuse | 6 Care Plans
- Precipitous Labor | 3 Care Plans
- Pregnancy Induced Hypertension | 6 Care Plans
- Premature Dilation of the Cervix | 3 Care Plans
- Prenatal Infection | 3 Care Plans
- Preterm Labor | 6 Care Plans
- Puerperal Infection | 4 Care Plans
Further Reading
Recommended books and resources:
- Nursing Care Plans: Diagnoses, Interventions, and Outcomes
- Nurse's Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions and Rationales
- Nursing Diagnoses 2015-17: Definitions and Classification
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V-TR)
- Manual of Psychiatric Nursing Care Planning
- Maternal Newborn Nursing Care Plans
- Delmar's Maternal-Infant Nursing Care Plans, 2nd Edition
- Maternal Newborn Nursing Care Plans
