Here’s what to expect if you need an emergency C-section

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]I'm a labor and delivery nurse and here's what to expect if you do need an emergency C-section. Emergencies happen for a variety of reasons, but the most common being fetal braticardia and this basically means there's a drop in the baby's heart rate during labor. Your care team will do a lot of different things to try to bring baby's heart rate back up, but if it doesn't come back up, ultimately you will need an emergency C-section if you're examined and you're not fully dilated. So, at this time, your doctor or midwife or nurse will do an exam and see if you are fully dilated. They might also tickle baby's head at this time to try to bring the heart rate back up. Another thing they can do to help better monitor the baby's heart rate at this time is insert what's called a fetal scalp electrode or a scalp clip. And this just helps to better monitor baby's heart rate because sometimes it's hard to monitor on the outside of the tummy using an electronic fetal monitor. So, at this time, they might call a code just to make sure all the necessary people arrive who need to be there. And then they'll also take some up-to-date blood work if you don't have any and make sure you have a working IV. Then they'll check your epidural to see if your epidural is in working order. And this means that you have an appropriate block so you won't feel any pain during the C-section. If your epidural is not working properly or you don't have one yet, anesthesia will put you to sleep for the operation. So, your partner will most likely get a hairet and a mask in order to come into the operating room with you. You'll be rushed into the operating room by your nursing team and within a few minutes, baby will be out and the pediatrician team will be there to