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In a cesarean birth (C-section), the baby is delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen. In the US, 15%-40% of all births are delivered by C-section.
The following situations may require a C-section:
Cesarean birth is a surgery, and there are risks involved. The estimated risk of a woman dying after a cesarean birth is less than one in 2,500. The risk of death after a vaginal birth is less than one in 10,000. Other risks include:
Cesarean birth also carries risks for babies, especially those who are born prematurely. The risk of death for premature babies delivered by elective C-section is 54 out of 10,000, while the risk of death for premature babies born vaginally is 14 out of 10,000.
Having a C-section is often unplanned. If you have a scheduled C-section, you may be asked to not eat or drink after midnight before the procedure.
You may be given:
The doctor will make incisions in the abdominal skin and uterus. There are two different types of abdominal skin incisions: vertical (up and down) or horizontal (side to side). There are three different types of incisions for the uterus:
Your baby will be examined. Depending on the condition of you and your baby, you may be able to hold your baby.
45-60 minutes
Anesthesia prevents pain during the surgery. You may feel some pressure and tugging as the uterus is opened and the baby and placenta are removed. You will receive pain medicines while you recover to manage pain and discomfort.
3-5 days
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
You should heal quickly and completely after a C-section. Talk with your doctor about the type of incision used. It may play a role in decisions about future births.
After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
http://www.marchofdimes.com/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org/index_e.asp
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/
References:
Cesarean fact sheet. International Cesarean Awareness Network website. Available at: http://www.ican-online.org/pregnancy/cesarean-fact-sheet . Accessed June 10, 2008.
Cesarean section. Childbirth.org website. Available at: http://www.childbirth.org/section/section.html . Accessed June 10, 2008.
Cesarean section. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cesareansection.html . Accessed June 10, 2008.
7/21/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : De Luca R, Boulvain M, Irion O, Berner M, Pfister RE. Incidence of early neonatal mortality and morbidity after late-preterm and term cesarean delivery. Pediatrics . 2009;123:e1064-1071.
10/23/2009 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Abd-El-Maeboud KH, Ibrahim MI, Shalaby DA, Fikry MF. Gum chewing stimulates early return of bowel motility after caesarean section. BJOG . 2009;116:1334-1339.
12/4/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Marín Gabriel M, Llana Martín I, López Escobar A, et al. Randomized controlled trial of early skin-to-skin contact: effects on the mother and the newborn. Acta Paediatr. 2009 Nov 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Last reviewed October 2009 by Ganson Purcell Jr., MD, FACOG, FACPE
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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