Caesarean Section

What is a Caesarean section?

Caesarean section is the surgical procedure for the delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) in the mother’s belly (abdomen) and uterus to take her baby through it.

Reasons for an unplanned Caesarean delivery

• 1. Arrest of dilation i.e. when cervix stops dilating
• 2. Arrest of descent in labor i.e. when baby stops progressing down the birth canal
• 3. Failed attempts to stimulate uterine contractions
• 4. Irregular heart rate of the baby and slow/fast heart rate of the baby
• 5. Decreased oxygen supply to the baby due to umbilical cord prolapses and other cord related issues
• 6. Signs of placenta separation
• 7. Vaginal bleeding

Conditions for a planned C-section

In some conditions, it’s clear that a woman will need a caesarean even before she goes into labor. It includes:

• 1. Maternal history of previous uterine surgery [e.g. Myomectomy, or previous c-sections]
• 2. Breach or transverse position of the baby
• 3. Two or more foetuses.
• 4. Low lying placenta or a placenta praevia
• 5. Genital herpes in mother at the time of labor (it could pass to a baby delivered vaginally)
• 6. Hypertensive mother
• 7. Diabetic mother
• 8. Foetal illness or abnormality
• 9. Very large baby