Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurposeRisksProcedureRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose
Risks
Procedure
Recovery
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
In the United States, 32% of babies are born via C-section.
A cesarean can be a lifesaving procedure, but like all surgeries, it does come with risks. This article explains the purpose of C-sections, how the procedure is performed, the risks and complications, and expectations when recovering.
These situations can include:
According to ACOG, the drastic increase in the cesarean rate between 1996 and 2011 without concurrent decreases in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality indicates that C-sections were overused.While the World Health Organization does not recommend a target C-section rate, it is concerned with the rising rates of cesarean sections globally and recognizes that not all cesarean sections are performed for medical reasons.
Pregnancy
Risks to the pregnant person include:
The most significant risk of C-sections is the risk posed to future pregnancies. The more cesarean sections a person has, the greater their risk of complications.
Risks to future pregnancies include:
An obstetrician usually performs a C-section in an operating room. The surgery itself usually takes around 45 minutes.
Before Surgery
Before the surgery, a nurse andanesthesiologistwill prepare you for the surgery. Preparation may include:
To administer an epidural, the anesthesiologist will ask you to sit very still while they inject the medication and insert a tube into a space in your lower spine. The line will allow the anesthesiologist to continue to administer more anesthetics as needed during the surgery.
During Surgery
During the procedure, your doctor will make an incision in the abdominal and uterine walls. The type of incision on the skin may be different than the incision on the uterus. The skin incision and uterine incision could be transverse, horizontal and placed beneath the belly button, or vertical.
The risk of uterine rupture with a vertical uterine incision is 8% to 10%, while the risk with a transverse incision is 1%.
After Surgery
Soon after the surgery, a nurse will remove your catheter. You may feel pain around your incision, and your doctor can prescribe medications to help you feel comfortable as you recover.
C-Section Scar Healing Stages: From Delivery Onwards
Hospital stays after aC-sectionare usually between two and four days. Remember that you are recovering not just from giving birth but also from a major surgery. Some things you may experience after a C-section include:
When to Call a DoctorSeek medical attention right away if you notice any of the following:Severe painHeavy vaginal bleedingRedness, swelling, or excessive pain at the incision siteDischarge from incisionCough or trouble breathingSwelling in your lower legPain while urinatingor difficulty holding urineFever
When to Call a Doctor
Seek medical attention right away if you notice any of the following:Severe painHeavy vaginal bleedingRedness, swelling, or excessive pain at the incision siteDischarge from incisionCough or trouble breathingSwelling in your lower legPain while urinatingor difficulty holding urineFever
Seek medical attention right away if you notice any of the following:
Summary
A Word From Verywell
If you think you may need a C-section, you may be feeling worried. Rest assured that while a C-section is major surgery, it is also a common surgery. In addition, for some people, it is the safest way to give birth.
The most significant risk of C-sections is the risk they pose to your future pregnancies. Keep in mind that these C-section risks increase the more C-sections you have. So if you’ve had a prior C-section, you may want to talk to your doctor to see if you are a good candidate for avaginal birth after cesarean(VBAC).
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Cesarean birth.*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Births—Method of delivery.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Obstetric care consensus: Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery.World Health Organization. Cesarean section rates continue to rise amid growing inequalities in access: WHO.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Committee Opinion: Cesarean delivery on maternal request.Cleveland Clinic.Cesarean birth (c-section).Sandall J, Tribe R, Avery L et al.Short-term and long-term effects of caesarean section on the health of women and children.The Lancet. 2018;392(10155):1349-1357. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31930-5.U.S. National Library of Medicine.C-section—series—procedure, part 3.National Health Service.Recovery: Cesarean section.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Cesarean birth.*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Births—Method of delivery.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Obstetric care consensus: Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery.World Health Organization. Cesarean section rates continue to rise amid growing inequalities in access: WHO.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Committee Opinion: Cesarean delivery on maternal request.Cleveland Clinic.Cesarean birth (c-section).Sandall J, Tribe R, Avery L et al.Short-term and long-term effects of caesarean section on the health of women and children.The Lancet. 2018;392(10155):1349-1357. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31930-5.U.S. National Library of Medicine.C-section—series—procedure, part 3.National Health Service.Recovery: Cesarean section.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Cesarean birth.*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Births—Method of delivery.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Obstetric care consensus: Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery.World Health Organization. Cesarean section rates continue to rise amid growing inequalities in access: WHO.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Committee Opinion: Cesarean delivery on maternal request.Cleveland Clinic.Cesarean birth (c-section).Sandall J, Tribe R, Avery L et al.Short-term and long-term effects of caesarean section on the health of women and children.The Lancet. 2018;392(10155):1349-1357. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31930-5.U.S. National Library of Medicine.C-section—series—procedure, part 3.National Health Service.Recovery: Cesarean section.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Cesarean birth.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Births—Method of delivery.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Obstetric care consensus: Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery.
World Health Organization. Cesarean section rates continue to rise amid growing inequalities in access: WHO.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Committee Opinion: Cesarean delivery on maternal request.
Cleveland Clinic.Cesarean birth (c-section).
Sandall J, Tribe R, Avery L et al.Short-term and long-term effects of caesarean section on the health of women and children.The Lancet. 2018;392(10155):1349-1357. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31930-5.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.C-section—series—procedure, part 3.
National Health Service.Recovery: Cesarean section.
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