C-section - Symptoms,Causes
A C-section, also called a cesarean section, is the delivery of a baby through a surgical opening in the lower belly area.
Description
A C-section delivery is performed when a vaginal birth is not possible or is not safe for the mother or child.
Surgery is usually done while the woman is awake but numbed from the chest to the feet. This is done by giving her epidural or spinal anesthesiaanesthesia.
The surgeon make a cut across the belly just above the pubic area. The uterus and amniotic sac are opened, and the baby is delivered.
The health care team clears the baby's mouth and nose of fluids, and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. The pediatrician or nurse makes sure that the infant's breathing is normal and that the baby is stable.
The mother is awake, and she can hear and see her baby. The father or another support person is often able to be with the mother during the
Watch this video about:Cesarean
Why the Procedure is Performed
The decision to have a C-section delivery can depend on the obstetrician, the delivery location, and the woman's past deliveries or medical history. Some reasons for having C-section instead of vaginal delivery are:
Reasons related to the baby:
Abnormal heart rate in the baby
Abnormal positionAbnormal position of the baby in the uterus such as crosswise (transverse) or feet-first (breech)
Developmental problems such as hydrocephalus or spina bifida
Multiple babies in the uterus (triplet and some twin pregnancies)
Reasons related to the mother:
Active genital herpes infection
Large uterine fibroids low in the uterus near the cervix
HIV infection in the mother
Previous uterine surgery, including myomectomy and previous C-sections
Severe illness in the mother, including heart disease, toxemia, preeclampsia or eclampsiaeclampsia
Problems with labor or delivery:
Baby's head is too large to pass through mother's pelvis (cephalopelvic disproportion)
Prolonged or arrested labor
Very large baby (macrosomia)
Problems with the placenta or umbilical cord:
Placenta attaches in abnormal location (placenta previa)
Placenta prematurely separated from uterine wall (placenta abruptio)
Umbilical cord comes through the cervix before the baby (umbilical cord prolapse)
Risks
A C-section is a safe procedure. The rate of serious complications is extremely low. However, certain risks are higher after C-section than after vaginal delivery. These include:
Infection of the bladder or uterus
Injury to the urinary tract
Injury to the baby
A C-section may also cause problems in future pregnancies. This includes a higher risk for:
Placenta previa
Placenta growing into the muscle of the uterus and has trouble separating after the baby is born (placenta accreta)
Uterine rupture
All surgeries carry risks. Risks due to anesthesia may include:
Reactions to medications
Problems breathing
Risks related to surgery in general may include:
Bleeding
Blood clots in the leg or pelvic veins
Infection
Outlook (Prognosis)
Most mothers and infants recover well, with few problems.
Women who have C-section deliveries can have a normal vaginal delivery with later pregnancies, depending on the type of C-section performed and the reason the C-section was performed.
Many women who attempt a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) delivery are successful. However, there is a small risk of uterine rupture associated with VBAC attempts, which can endanger the mother and the baby. It is important to discuss the benefits and risks of VBAC with your obstetric health care provider.
Update Date: Updated by: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
C-section - Symptoms,Causes
