C section delivery means

Overview While it takes nine months to grow a full-term baby, labor and delivery occurs in a matter of days or even hours. However, it’s the process of labor and delivery that tends to occupy the minds of expectant parents the most. Read on if you have questions and concerns around the signs and length of labor, and how to manage pain. Many women experience irregular contractions sometime after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Known as Braxton Hicks contractions, they’re typically painless. At most, they’re uncomfortable and are irregular. Braxton Hicks contractions can sometimes be triggered by an increase in either mother or baby’s activity, or a full bladder. No one fully understands the role Braxton Hicks contractions play in pregnancy. They may promote blood flow, help maintain uterine health during the pregnancy, or prepare the uterus for childbirth. Braxton Hicks contractions don’t cause the cervix to dilate. Painful or regular contractions aren’t likely to be Braxton Hicks. Instead, they’re the type of contractions that should lead you to call your doctor. Labor and delivery are divided into three stages. The first stage of labor incorporates the onset of labor through the complete dilation of the cervix. This stage is further subdivided into three stages. Early labor This is normally the longest and least intense phase of labor. Early labor is also called the latent phase of labor. This period includes the thinning of the cervix and dilation of the cervix to 3-4 cm. It can ...

Overview Labor induction — also known as inducing labor — is prompting the uterus to contract during pregnancy before labor begins on its own for a vaginal birth. A health care provider might recommend inducing labor for various reasons, primarily when there's concern for the mother's or baby's health. An important factor in predicting whether an induction will succeed is how soft and expanded the cervix is (cervical ripening). The gestational age of the baby as confirmed by early, regular ultrasounds also is important. Why it's done To determine if labor induction is necessary, a health care provider will likely evaluate several factors. These include the mother's health and the status of the cervix. They also include the baby's health, gestational age, weight, size and position in the uterus. Reasons to induce labor include: • Nearing 1 to 2 weeks beyond the due date without labor starting (postterm pregnancy). • When labor doesn't begin after the water breaks (prelabor rupture of membranes). • An infection in the uterus (chorioamnionitis). • When the baby's estimated weight is less than the 10th percentile for gestational age (fetal growth restriction). • When there's not enough amniotic fluid surrounding the baby (oligohydramnios). • Possibly when diabetes develops during pregnancy (gestational diabetes), or diabetes exists before pregnancy. • Developing high blood pressure in combination with signs of damage to another organ system (preeclampsia) during pregnancy. Or ...

In this Article • • • • • • • Caesarean delivery may probably not be the way you envisioned bringing your baby into the world. But remember, when your doctor tells you that you need to have a caesarean delivery, it is because that is exactly what your baby needs. Read this article to educate yourself on caesarean delivery before you consult your doctor with any further questions. 1. Elective C-Section When the C-section is scheduled in advance, it is called an elective C-section. Many first-time mothers are now opting for C-section deliveries even though they may not have a medical reason to do so. While some opine that it is easier to arrange for leave or support when delivery is planned, others believe that it will help them avoid the pain and complications associated with vaginal deliveries. A doctor may also recommend an emergency C-section if the baby has a medical condition which makes a vaginal delivery risky. What Are the Reasons for a C-Section? Our mothers and grandmothers have told us that giving birth is the most natural thing on earth, that there are women in villages who stop working in the fields and go behind a tree, deliver their baby, tuck it into a shawl and go right back to work! As easy as that sounds, it is very rarely the case. Most people need a couple of days to recover from a normal delivery. Though a normal delivery (vaginal delivery) is preferred, there are many circumstances when a C-section is decided on. • Your previous delivery was a C-secti...