Caesarean

Caesarean section or C-section refers to giving birth to babies by the method of operation as against natural birth. A natural method of giving birth is called the vaginal delivery in which the baby is delivered through the vagina (generally after the full term of the pregnancy). The vaginal delivery can be spontaneous, assisted, induced and normal. However, in the case of caesarean deliveries, the baby is delivered by surgery. In this surgery, the abdomen is incised to open the uterus and the womb to deliver the baby. This operation is conducted either with local or epidural anesthesia; however, some complex deliveries are known to occur under general anesthesia. Caesarean section delivery is performed in numerous instances. It is performed when the baby is in transverse position (when the baby is sideways), when the baby is in breech position (bottom first instead of head), when the position of baby is unstable, and when the pregnant woman has low-lying placenta. Women can also have caesarean section deliveries when they have an infection that can be passed on to the baby. In some cases, caesarean section can be performed as an emergency operation when the water breaks unexpectedly and the pregnant woman goes into labor, when the labor movements are sluggish or slow, and if there is a complication during the pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes are prone to the risk of caesarean section deliveries and macrosomia of the baby. Gestational diabetes occurs in women due to a family history of diabetes, high BMI, and hormonal changes during pregnancy that make them insulin resistant. Women PCOS are also at a risk of getting gestational diabetes. Though the chances of vaginal deliveries are slim, with proper management of gestational diabetes, women can avoid the risk of stillbirths, infections, and preterm births.