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November 21, 2009
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Cesarean Birth
(C-Section)

C-section introduction

Cesarean delivery, also called C-section, is surgery to deliver a baby. The baby is taken out through the mother's abdomen. Most cesarean births result in healthy babies and mothers. But C-section is major surgery and carries risks. Healing also takes longer than with vaginal birth.

Most healthy pregnant women with no risk factors for problems during labor or delivery have their babies vaginally. Still, the cesarean birth rate in the United States has risen greatly in recent decades. Today, nearly 1 in 3 women have babies by C-section in this country. The rate was 1 in 5 in 1995.

Public heath experts think that many C-sections are unnecessary. So it is important for pregnant women to get the facts about C-sections before they deliver. Women should find out what C-sections are, why they are performed, and the pros and cons of this surgery.

What are the reasons for a C-section?

Your doctor might recommend a C-section if she or he thinks it is safer for you or your baby than vaginal birth. Some C-sections are planned. But most C-sections are done when unexpected problems occur during delivery. Even so, there are risks of delivering by C-section. Limited studies show that the benefits of having a C-section may outweigh the risks when:



Next: Can a women choose to have a C-section (patient requested C-section)? »

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C-Section (Cesarean Birth)

What Is Placenta Previa?

The placenta is the organ created during pregnancy to nourish the fetus, remove its waste, and produce hormones to sustain the pregnancy. The placenta is attached to the wall of the uterus by blood vessels that supply the fetus with oxygen and nutrition, and which remove waste from the fetus and transfer it to the mother.

The fetus is attached to the placenta by the umbilical cord. Through the cord, the fetus receives nourishment and oxygen and expels waste. On one side of the placenta, the mother's blood circulates, and on the other side, fetal blood circulates. The mother's blood and fetal blood usually don't mix in the placenta.

The placenta is usually attached to the upper part of the uterus, away from the cervix, the opening which the baby passes through during delivery. On rare occasions, the placenta lies low in the uterus, partly or co...

Read the Placenta Previa article »










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