What is a C-section? - NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National . . . A cesarean delivery, also called a C-section or cesarean birth, is the surgical delivery of a baby through a surgical cut or incision in a woman's abdomen and uterus After the baby is removed from the womb, the uterus and abdomen are closed with stitches that later dissolve 1 According to the U S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, 32% of births were by cesarean delivery
What is vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)? - NICHD What is vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)? VBAC refers to vaginal delivery of a baby after a previous pregnancy was delivered by cesarean delivery In the past, pregnant women who had one cesarean delivery would automatically have another
What are the risk factors for preterm labor and birth? Rupture of the uterus is more likely if you have had a prior cesarean delivery or have had a uterine fibroid removed Diabetes (high blood sugar) and gestational diabetes (which occurs only during pregnancy) Blood clotting problems Other factors that may increase risk for preterm labor and premature birth include: Ethnicity
What are some common complications during labor and delivery? If labor is not progressing, a health care provider may give the woman medications to increase contractions and speed up labor, or the woman may need a cesarean delivery 3 Perineal tears A woman's vagina and the surrounding tissues are likely to tear during the delivery process Sometimes these tears heal on their own
Risks From Labor After Prior Cesarean Delivery Low, Study Reports The risks from vaginal delivery after a prior Cesarean delivery are low, but are slightly higher than for a repeat Cesarean delivery This finding is from the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted, undertaken by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health
What factors increase the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality . . . Although vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is safe for some women, women who had certain types of incisions are at higher risk for rupture of the uterus, a rare but serious problem, during VBAC A rupture can lead to infection, bleeding, and other problems 5 Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
What is a high-risk pregnancy? | NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver . . . A high-risk pregnancy is one that threatens the health or life of the mother or her fetus It often requires specialized care from specially trained providers Some pregnancies become high risk as they progress, while some women are at increased risk for complications even before they get pregnant for a variety of reasons Early and regular prenatal care helps many women have healthy