In plain words
A cesarean is a surgical birth. The surgeon makes a cut through the abdomen and the uterus, and the baby is lifted out. A cesarean can be planned, for reasons such as a breech baby or a previous cesarean, or it can happen during labor when labor stalls or the baby's heart rate changes. Many mothers have a cesarean and recover well. It is still major surgery, with a longer recovery than a vaginal birth, and a mother may need help with lifting, sleep, and her incision. Mothers often feel many things about a cesarean, including relief, disappointment, or grief. Talking with a provider about the birth can help some mothers.
The deeper version
A cesarean is a laparotomy with , performed under spinal, , or general anesthesia. In the United States, the cesarean rate has been near 32 percent of births in recent national data, with substantial variation by hospital, maternal risk, and region (CDC National Vital Statistics System). The WHO has stated that rates above 10 to 15 percent are not associated with reductions in maternal or neonatal mortality at the population level (WHO statement, 2015). Maternal risks of cesarean include infection, hemorrhage, , and, in future pregnancies, and uterine rupture. is an option for many women with a prior low transverse incision. The main controversy is whether rising rates reflect clinically necessary decisions or unwarranted variation.
Where it comes up
- When birth didn't go to planBirth and the First Days
- Breastfeeding after a cesareanFeeding Your Baby
- VBAC: birth after a cesareanGetting Ready for Birth
- Breech baby and turning optionsPregnancy: Your Body
What mothers here say about cesarean
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — National Vital Statistics Reports: Births, final data, recent year
- World Health Organization — WHO statement on caesarean section rates, 2015