Also called surgical delivery , it is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. This procedure is performed when it is determined that this method is safer for the mother, the baby, or both than vaginal delivery.

In a cesarean delivery, an incision is made through the skin and uterus in the mother's lower abdomen. Incisions in the skin and uterus can be vertical (longitudinal) or transverse (horizontal).

A transverse incision extends through the pubic hairline, while a vertical incision extends from the navel to the pubic hairline.

The transverse uterine incision is most often used because it heals well and there is less bleeding.

Transverse uterine incisions also increase the chance of a vaginal delivery in a future pregnancy. However, the type of incision will depend on the conditions of the mother and the baby.

What are the possible causes for having a cesarean delivery?

Some C-sections are planned and scheduled, while others may be performed as a result of complications or emergencies during labor.

There are several conditions that increase the chance of a cesarean delivery. Between them:

• Abnormal baby's heart rate: The baby's heart rate during labor is a good indicator of how the baby reacts to labor contractions. Heart rate is often electronically monitored during labor; the normal thing is that it varies between 120 and 160 beats per minute. If the baby's heart rate indicates a problem, a C-section may be necessary.

• Abnormal position of the baby during labor : The normal position of the baby during labor is with the head down, and the face towards the mother's back. However, sometimes the baby is not in the correct position, which makes the passage through the birth canal more difficult.

• Failure to progress or abnormal course of labor

• The baby is too big for a vaginal delivery

• Placental complications (for example, placenta previa, where the placenta blocks the cervix and risks detaching the fetus prematurely)

• Certain maternal medical problems (for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, or human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection)

• multiple gestation

• In some cases, having had a previous cesarean delivery

Your OB doctor may recommend a cesarean section for other reasons.

What are the risks of a cesarean section?

Like other types of major surgery (in which the abdominal cavity is entered directly), cesarean sections also carry risks.

Risks for the baby :

Risks for the mother:

The most important thing is always safety for the mother and her baby, to protect their health and life.