What it means
A major surgery to deliver a baby, also called a cesarean section or C-section. It may be planned, for example for a baby lying in breech position or placenta previa, or done during labor when labor stops progressing or the baby shows signs of distress. It is usually done under spinal or epidural anesthesia, so the parent is awake. Many people can later give birth vaginally (VBAC).
For the nurse
Care combines postpartum and post-surgery care: check the fundus, bleeding, the incision, pain and the bladder. Help the client walk early to prevent clots, and support skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding when possible.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | C/S; VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | cesárea |
| Also written | cesarean births, cesarean section, caesarean section, cesarean delivery, C-section |
Related terms
postpartum
The time after giving birth, usually the first six weeks, while the body returns to its non-pregnant state.
epidural anesthesia
Pain relief or numbness from an anesthetic drug given through a thin catheter into the space just outside the covering of the spinal cord.
uterus
The hollow, muscular organ in the female pelvis where a fetus grows during pregnancy; the womb.
incision
A clean cut made through the skin and tissue during surgery.