When is cesarean necessary

This uterine rupture may cause extreme bleeding or hemorrhaging, and it threatens the baby and the mother. Many insurance providers refuse to cover VBACs, or they make the procedure very expensive. You have placenta previa. If your placenta lies at the bottom of your uterus instead of at the side or top , it can block your baby's exit from your womb or cause heavy bleeding during delivery.

The mother experiences health issues such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, or diabetes that may spark pregnancy complications. The mother has a sexually transmitted disease , like active genital herpes or HIV, that could pass to the baby during vaginal delivery. Depending on the situation, a baby with a major birth defect like hydrocephalus may have a better outcome if delivered by cesarean.

You had a previous uterine operation, which risks rupturing the uterus during a vaginal birth. You're pregnant with twins or multiples. Though a vaginal birth is possible with twins, most are delivered by C-section, where both babies can be more closely monitored. Triplets or larger groups of multiples are always born via C-section. Laura Riley. Be the first to comment! No comments yet. Close this dialog window Add a comment. Add your comment Cancel Submit.

Close this dialog window Review for. If you're considering an elective C-section, here's what you can expect from a C-section versus a natural birth. Read up on the procedures, benefits…. Eyeing an enormous spike in the number of cesarean deliveries, two major medical groups urge for more patience during labor in an effort to protect….

HBAC, or home birth after cesarean, is something more people are interested in for future pregnancies. We'll tell you the benefits and risks, as well…. A new study finds that epidurals do not affect child development in their later years. A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm.

It's often benign. Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal. Sharing our experiences of pregnancy and infant loss can help us heal. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Share on Pinterest. Should you schedule an elective C-section? What are the medical reasons for a C-section? If you schedule a c-section and your due date is off by a week or 2, your baby may be born too early.

Babies born early called premature babies may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born on time. If your provider talks to you about scheduling a c-section, ask if you can wait until at least 39 weeks to have your baby. In these cases, your provider may recommend an early birth because the benefits outweigh the risks. Having a c-section before 39 weeks of pregnancy is recommended only if there are health problems that affect you and your baby.

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Need help? Frequently asked questions Contact us. Baby Caring for your baby Feeding your baby. This might take one to two weeks. Check your C-section incision for signs of infection. Pay attention to any signs or symptoms you experience. Contact your health care provider if:. If you experience severe mood swings, loss of appetite, overwhelming fatigue and lack of joy in life shortly after childbirth, you might have postpartum depression.

Contact your health care provider if you think you might be depressed, especially if your signs and symptoms don't fade on their own, you have trouble caring for your baby or completing daily tasks, or you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that postpartum care be an ongoing process rather than just a single visit after your delivery.

Have contact with your health care provider within the first three weeks after delivery. Within 12 weeks after delivery, see your health care provider for a comprehensive postpartum evaluation.

During this appointment your health care provider will check your mood and emotional well-being, discuss contraception and birth spacing, review information about infant care and feeding, talk about your sleep habits and issues related to fatigue and do a physical exam. This might include a check of your abdomen, vagina, cervix and uterus to make sure you're healing well. In some cases, you might have the checkup earlier so that your health care provider can examine your C-section incision.

Use this visit to ask questions about your recovery and caring for your baby. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Cesarean delivery C-section is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Abdominal incisions used during C-sections Open pop-up dialog box Close. Abdominal incisions used during C-sections A C-section includes an abdominal incision and a uterine incision. Uterine incisions used during C-sections Open pop-up dialog box Close.