Cesarean Section

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

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• Related Issues
• Specifics

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• Images
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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

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Summary

A Cesarean section (C-section) is surgery to deliver a baby. The baby is taken out through the mother's abdomen. In the United States, almost one in three women has their babies this way. Some C-sections are planned, but many are done when unexpected problems happen during delivery. Reasons for a C-section may include

• Health problems in the mother
• The mother carrying more than one baby
• The size or position of the baby
• The baby's health is in danger
• Labor is not moving along as it should

The surgery is relatively safe for mother and baby. Still, it is major surgery and carries risks. It also takes longer to recover from a C-section than from vaginal birth. It can raise the risk of having difficulties with future pregnancies. Some women may have problems attempting a vaginal birth later. Still, many women are able to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Start Here

• C-Section Recovery: What to Expect (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Cesarean Birth (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Cesarean Sections (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Delivery by Cesarean Section (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Having a C-Section (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
• What Is a Cesarean Delivery? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Breastfeeding After Cesarean Delivery (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Medications for Pain Relief during Labor and Delivery (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Repeat C-Sections: Is There a Limit? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Scheduling a C-Section (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery: Deciding on a Trial of Labor After a Cesarean Delivery (TOLAC) (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF Also in Spanish
• VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-Section) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• What is vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
• Why at Least 39 Weeks Is Best for Your Baby? (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)

Specifics

• Medical Reasons for a C-Section (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) Also in Spanish
• What is a C-section? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

Images

• C-section - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Videos and Tutorials

• Cesarean section (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Cesarean Section: Recovering After Surgery (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
• Cesarean Section: The Operation (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)

Statistics and Research

• Changes in Cesarean Delivery Rates by Gestational Age: United States, 1996-2011 (National Center for Health Statistics)
• FastStats: Births -- Method of Delivery (National Center for Health Statistics)
• FastStats: Obstetrical Procedures (National Center for Health Statistics)
• PeriStats: Perinatal Statistics (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cesarean Section (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The effects of methotrexate and uterine arterial embolization in patients with...
• Article: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine can decrease the 95% effective dose of bupivacaine in...
• Article: A new surgical technique "cervical internal os plasty" in cesarean delivery...
• Cesarean Section -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• After a C-section - in the hospital (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• C-section (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Going home after a C-section (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Vaginal birth after C-section (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish