A Cesarean Delivery
A Cesarean Delivery
A Cesarean Delivery
A cesarean section is also known as a c-section, which is sometimes also written as c/s. This type of birth is done by a surgical incision in the abdomen and uterus to allow a baby or babies to be born safely when a vaginal birth is not the safest route. The current cesarean rate in the United States is over 30%.
The surgery is relatively safe for mother and baby. Still, it is major surgery and carries risks. It also takes longer to recover from a C-section than from vaginal birth. After healing, the incision may leave a weak spot in the wall of the uterus. This could cause problems with an attempted vaginal birth later.
However, more than half of women who have a C-section can give vaginal birth later.
A C-section may be planned or unplanned. In most cases, doctors do cesarean sections because of problems that arise during labor. Reasons you might need an unplanned C-section include labor is slow and hard or stops completely; the baby shows signs of distress, such as a very fast or slow heart rate; a problem with the placenta or umbilical cord puts the baby at risk or the baby is too big to be delivered vaginally this is called fetopelvic disproportion.
When doctors know about a problem ahead of time, they may schedule a C -section. Reasons you might have a planned C-section include the baby is not in a head-down position close to your due date; you have a problem such as heart disease that could be ma de worse by the stress of labor; you have an infection that you could pass to the baby during a vaginal birth; you are carrying more than one baby
(multiple pregnancy) or you had a C-section before, and you have the same problems this time or your doctor thinks labor might cause your scar to tear (uterine rupture).
In some cases, a woman who had a C-section in the past may be able to deliver her next baby through the birth canal. This is called vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). If you have
A Cesarean Delivery
A cesarean section is also known as a c-section, which is sometimes also written as c/s. This type of birth is done by a surgical incision in the abdomen and uterus to allow a baby or babies to be born safely when a vaginal birth is not the safest route. The current cesarean rate in the United States is over 30%.
The surgery is relatively safe for mother and baby. Still, it is major surgery and carries risks. It also takes longer to recover from a C-section than from vaginal birth. After healing, the incision may leave a weak spot in the wall of the uterus. This could cause problems with an attempted vaginal birth later.
However, more than half of women who have a C-section can give vaginal birth later.
A C-section may be planned or unplanned. In most cases, doctors do cesarean sections because of problems that arise during labor. Reasons you might need an unplanned C-section include labor is slow and hard or stops completely; the baby shows signs of distress, such as a very fast or slow heart rate; a problem with the placenta or umbilical cord puts the baby at risk or the baby is too big to be delivered vaginally this is called fetopelvic disproportion.
When doctors know about a problem ahead of time, they may schedule a C -section. Reasons you might have a planned C-section include the baby is not in a head-down position close to your due date; you have a problem such as heart disease that could be ma de worse by the stress of labor; you have an infection that you could pass to the baby during a vaginal birth; you are carrying more than one baby
(multiple pregnancy) or you had a C-section before, and you have the same problems this time or your doctor thinks labor might cause your scar to tear (uterine rupture).
In some cases, a woman who had a C-section in the past may be able to deliver her next baby through the birth canal. This is called vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). If you have
References: Christensen, B.L. & Kockrow, E.O. (2011) Foundations of Nursing (6 th ed.) St. Louis: Mosby "Cesarean Section – A Brief History: Part 1" Bewley S, Cockburn J. (2002). "The unfacts of 'request ' Caesarean section". BCOG 109 (6): 597–605.