Cesarean Birth for Medical Reasons

Cesarean birth is the birth of a baby by surgery. The doctor makes an incision (cut) in the belly and uterus (womb) and then removes the baby. The surgery is called a cesarean section or c-section.

The natural way for a baby to be born is through the mother’s vagina (birth canal). But sometimes vaginal birth isn’t possible. If you or your baby have certain problems before or during labor, c-section may be safer than vaginal birth.

You and your health care provider may plan your cesarean in advance. Or you may need an emergency (unplanned)

c-section because of a complication that arises for you or your baby during pregnancy or labor.

•  Your health care provider may suggest that you have a c-section for one or more of these reasons:

•  You’ve already had a c-section in another pregnancy or other surgeries on your uterus.

•  Your baby is too big to pass safely through the vagina.

•  The baby’s buttocks or feet enter the birth canal first, instead of the head. This is called a breech position.

•  The baby’s shoulder enters the birth canal first, instead of the head. This is called a transverse position

•  There are problems with the placenta. This is the organ that nourishes your baby in the womb. Placental problems can cause dangerous bleeding during vaginal birth.

•  Labor is too slow or stops.

•  The baby’s umbilical cord slips into the vagina, where it could be squeezed or flattened during vaginal delivery. This is called umbilical cord prolapse.

•  You have an infection like HIV or genital herpes.

•  You’re having twins, triplets or more.

•  The baby has problems during labor that show it is under stress, such as a slow heart rate. This is sometimes called “fetal distress.”

•  You have a serious medical condition that requires intensive or emergency treatment (such as diabetes or high blood pressure).

•  The baby has a certain type of birth defect.

•  A woman who has a c-section usually takes longer to recover than a woman who has had a vaginal birth. Women can expect to stay 3 to 4 days in the hospital after a c-section. Full recovery usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. Usually, the hospital stay for vaginal birth is 2 days, with full recovery taking less time than a cesarean. C-section may be more expensive than a vaginal birth.