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How painful is a cesarean?

You will not feel any pain during the cesarean section operation. Usually, you will remain awake and receive epidural or spinal anesthesia that will make you numb from the waist down. When the cesarean section is performed this way, you’ll be able to see and hear your baby immediately after it is born. 

Sometimes a cesarean is an emergency procedure and may require general anesthesia. Under those circumstances, you’ll be completely asleep during the surgery.

After a cesarean section, you’ll feel some discomfort at the incision once the anesthesia wears off. Your surgeon will prescribe medication that will help you feel comfortable while you recover. Cesarean recovery will take a little longer than a vaginal delivery, and you’ll stay in the hospital for three to four days. You’ll need to avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby until your surgeon tells you it is okay.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of ACA compliant major medical plans. Coverage and plan options vary and may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure. You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.