Birth - Caesarean Delivery

Introduction

The term "caesarean" comes from the historic description of Julius Ceasar's birth, though probably ficticious as his mother Aurelia survived his birth. The procedure involves surgically cutting skin, abdominal wall and uterus to allow abdominal delivery.

The rate of caesarean delivery compared to normal vaginal birth is variable between countries (12-25%, 20% of all births in Australia) and increasing, particularly in older women. There are a number of different explanations as to why this is occuring, including maternal or fetal complications of either development or delivery.

Importantly this is a maternal surgical procedure which requires time for recovery and there are several studies that have looked also into the effects of caesarean delivery on potential future normal vaginal births.

Video Webcast: Hartford Hospital Cesarean Childbirth (September 23rd, 2005)

Links: Birth - Caesarean Delivery | Normal Development- Birth