Cesarean birth

What is a Cesarean birth?

In a Cesarean birth, your baby is born through an incision in your abdomen instead of being pushed out through your vagina. A Cesarean birth is a possibility with any pregnancy.

In the operating room, an incision is made through your abdomen into your uterus. Your health care provider lifts out your baby, and if you are awake, you can see your baby right away. The placenta is peeled away from your uterine wall, and the incisions are repaired.

The surgery takes about an hour. Your baby will be born 5 to 10 minutes after surgery begins. The remainder of your time in surgery is needed to deliver the placenta and to repair the incisions. For more about the surgery and recovery see Cesarean birth.

Planned Cesarean birth

You may have a planned Cesarean birth, which means that you and your health care provider know before your labor begins that this will be the way your baby will be born.

A Cesarean birth might be planned if:

• your baby is breech (not head-down in your uterus, but head-up)
• you've previously had a Cesarean birth
• you have had complications in a previous birth
• your placenta is not in the right position (see Placenta previa)

Unplanned Cesarean birth

You may have an unplanned, emergency Cesarean. This might occur because of:

• your baby's position, size, or health
• your own health

A decision for an unplanned Cesarean birth can occur very quickly, and you may not feel like you have much time to ask questions or adjust to this new idea. You will be prepared for surgery and you may be unconscious during the Cesarean.

Ask your health care provider what the reasons are in your case and talk them through thoroughly. Ask all the questions and raise all the concerns that you have.

Related Links

Birth

What happens after a Cesarean birth

Cesarean birth recovery

Vaginal birth after a Cesarean

First published: 10/04/2002
Last updated: 06/19/2003

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts