Caesarean Section

Why It Is Done

Some caesarean deliveries are planned ahead of time; others are done when a quick delivery is needed to ensure the mother's and infant's well-being.

Planned caesarean

Some caesarean sections are planned when a known medical problem would make labour dangerous for the mother or baby. Medical reasons for a planned caesarean may include:

• A fetus in any position that is not head-down (including breech position). For more information, see the topic Breech Position and Breech Birth.
• Decreased blood supply to the placenta before birth, which may lead to a small baby.
• The medical need to deliver and no success with inducing labour.²
• Estimated fetal size of over 4 kg (9 lb) to 4.5 kg (10 lb).
• A maternal disease or condition that may be worsened by the stress of labour, such as heart disease.
• A placenta that is blocking the cervix (placenta previa). For more information, see the topic Placenta Previa.
• Open sores from active genital herpes near the due date, which can be passed to the fetus during vaginal delivery.
• Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which can be passed to the fetus during vaginal delivery.³
• Multiple pregnancy. The direction and size of the incision depends on the position of the fetuses. In particular, caesarean delivery may be needed for multiple births involving:
  • Twins that share one amniotic sac (monoamniotic twins), because of the risk that the cords will get tangled.
  • Three fetuses or more.
  • Conjoined (Siamese) twins.
  • An overstretched uterus that cannot contract adequately during labour (uterine inertia), making labour prolonged and difficult.
  • Poorly positioned or large fetuses.

Many caesarean deliveries are planned ahead of time for women who have had a caesarean in the past. Medical reasons for a planned repeat caesarean may include:

• A current problem that has led to difficult labour and caesarean before, such as a narrow pelvis and a large fetus (cephalopelvic disproportion).
• Factors that increase the risk of uterine rupture during labour, such as having a vertical scar, three or more caesarean scars, triplets or more, or a very large fetus thought to weigh 4 kg (9 lb) to 4.5 kg (10 lb) or more. For more information, see the topic Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC).
• No access to constant medical supervision by a caesarean-trained doctor during active labour, or no available facilities for an emergency caesarean.

Should I have a VBAC trial of labour after a previous caesarean section?

Emergency caesarean

• Fetal distress (suggested by a very rapid or very slow heart rate)
• Placenta abruptio, which can cause excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) and decreased oxygen supply to the fetus. For more information, see the topic Placenta Abruptio.
• Umbilical cord problems that decrease or cut off fetal blood supply, as when the cord has slipped into the birth canal ahead of the fetus, and the fetus moves into the birth canal and presses against the cord (cord prolapse).

Other reasons you might need a caesarean

• Difficult, slow labour (dystocia)
• Labour that has stopped completely (failure to progress)
• Cephalopelvic disproportion, a combination of the fetus having a large head and the mother having a narrow pelvic structure. This condition is often linked to failure to progress or dystocia.

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Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley	Last Updated: June 16, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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