Medical reasons for a c-section (original) (raw)

What is a c-section?

A c-section (also called Cesarean birth) is surgery where your baby is delivered through a cut in your belly and uterus. For some people, a c-section is safer than vaginal birth. If you have medical conditions that affect your pregnancy, you may need a c-section to protect the health of your baby.

A c-section can be planned (scheduled) together with your health care team based on your health needs and the needs of your baby. In some cases, a c-section may be an emergency and might be done immediately if your health or your baby’s health is in danger.

If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s best to let labor begin on its own. If your provider suggests scheduling a c-section, ask if you can wait until at least 39 weeks. This gives your baby’s lungs and brain all the time they need to fully grow and develop before they’re born. However, if there are problems with your pregnancy or your baby’s health, your provider may recommend an earlier c-section for your and your baby’s safety.

What are medical reasons for a c-section?

You may need a c-section if you have complications that make vaginal birth unsafe for you or your baby. Common reasons include:

Complications during pregnancy

• If you've had a c-section in the past or you’ve had other surgeries on your uterus (womb), a c-section may be recommended. Some women can safely have a vaginal birth after they’ve had a c-section (also called a VBAC). However, talk to your prenatal care provider to see if VBAC may be possible in your next pregnancy.
• If you've had problems with your placenta, such as placenta previa, which is when the placenta covers the opening to the cervix, a c-section may be recommended. Placenta previa can cause dangerous bleeding during vaginal birth.
• Certain conditions, like having an infection, such as HIV or genital herpes may require a c-section. This is because you can pass these infections to your baby during vaginal birth. So a c-section may be safer for your baby.
• Having chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, may make vaginal birth risky. Other health conditions that can make vaginal birth risky include fibroids that can block the birth canal or a pelvic fracture. Fibroids are benign growths made of muscle tissue in the uterus. Benign means they aren’t cancer.
• Being pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more), may require a c-section.

Complications that affect your baby and labor and birth

• Your labor doesn’t progress. This means it’s too slow or stops.
• Your baby is very large.
• Your baby isn’t in a head-down position for birth. If your baby is in a breech position, it means your baby's bottom or feet facing down and are in position to come out first during birth. A transverse position is when your baby’s shoulder is facing down. Some babies can be turned in the womb to move into a head-down position. But a c-section may be safer for your baby.
• The umbilical cord is pinched or you have umbilical cord prolapse. This is when the umbilical cord slips into the birth canal (vagina) before the baby.
• Your baby is in distress. This means your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen or their heartbeat may not be regular.
• Your baby has certain birth defects, like severe hydrocephalus. This is when fluid builds up on your baby’s brain. It can cause a baby’s head to be very large.

What are the risks of scheduling a c-section for non-medical reasons?

Scheduling a c-section may cause problems for you and your baby because your due date may not be exactly right. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly when you got pregnant. 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 preterm babies) may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born on time. This is why it’s important to wait until at least 39 weeks for a scheduled c-section.

Other risks of c-sections:

• Breathing and other medical problems for your baby. Babies born by c-section may have more breathing and other medical problems than babies born by vaginal birth.
• Injury. It’s rare but your baby’s skin may be cut during surgery. You may also have injuries to body parts like your bladder or bowel during the surgery, but this is also rare.
• Needing a c-section in another pregnancy. Once you have a c-section, you may be more likely to need a c-section in future pregnancies. The more c-sections you have, the more problems you and your baby may have, including problems with the placenta.
• Longer recovery. A c-section is major surgery. It takes longer for you to recover from a c-section than from a vaginal birth. You can expect to spend 2 to 4 days in the hospital after a c-section. It may take you between 6 to 8 weeks after you give birth to fully recover. You also may have complications from the surgery, like infections, bleeding or blood clots. So be sure to go to all of your postpartum checkups.

If your provider recommends scheduling a c-section, ask these questions:

• Why do I need a c-section?
• Are there problems with my health or the health of my baby that makes it necessary to have my baby before 39 weeks? Can we wait until 39 weeks to have my baby?
• What are the risks of a c-section for me and my baby?
• What should I expect my recovery to be like?
• Can I have a vaginal birth in future pregnancies?

Last reviewed: November, 2024

See also: 39 weeks infographic