Learn all you need to know about cesarean sections!

HPV During Pregnancy

HPV in pregnancy has not been connected with pregnancy complications such as miscarriage or premature labor. ... read more »

Does a Previous C-Section Scar Affect Implantation?

Researchers from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit at Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital in London recently published a study in the journal Human Reproduction on the effect of C-section scarring on future implantation. ... read more »

All About Breech

Breech presentation is when the fetus' feet or butt present first to the vagina, as compared to vertex presentation where the head presents first. About 1 in 4 fetuses are in breech position by 28 weeks and about 1 in 30 fetuses are in breech presentation close to the due date. ... read more »

Repeat C-Sections and Uterine Rupture Risk

After a vaginal birth, the uterus shrinks back down to normal size, ready for the next pregnancy. However, when a C-section is performed, there may be an increased risk of uterine rupture. ... read more »

Cesarean Section and Delivery

When vaginal births are too risky or the birth must happen very quickly, a cesarean section or delivery, or c-section, is chosen for the safety of both baby and mom. ... read more »

What Is Labor Induction?

Labor induction or inducing labor is usually done to start contractions of the uterus or to prepare the cervix to soften and/or dilate for a vaginal birth. It usually involves the stimulation of uterine contractions during pregnancy before labor begins on its own to achieve a vaginal birth. ... read more »

You Simply Will NOT Believe the Story of These Triplets!

Sarah and Bill Imbierowicz wanted to be parents but it proved to be a mission easier said than done. They turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF) but that didn't really work as expected. ... read more »

Is It Healthy to Work Up Until My Due Date?

You may be wondering if working up until your pregnancy due date is safe for your health and the health of your unborn child. There are several factors to consider when choosing when to leave work and go on maternity leave, but the most important consideration is your overall health. ... read more »

Umbilical Cord Prolapse

An umbilical cord prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord which connects the baby to the placenta slips before the baby's presenting part close to or into the vagina. ... read more »

What Is Placenta Previa?

A placenta previa is a placenta that is implanted at or close to the internal os (mouth) of the cervix.
 Placenta previa happens in about 1 in 200 pregnancies. ... read more »

Top Childbirth Fears: Questions and Answers

There are so many worries and concerns when it comes being pregnant, with perhaps the largest surrounding what might potentially happen during labor and delivery. Knowledge is power so we compiled top worries about labor and delivery along with information on how to conquer them! ... read more »

Do Snoring Moms Have Smaller Babies?

Snoring is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, a breathing problem that occurs during sleep and causes lowered levels of oxygen in the blood. This lowering of blood oxygen levels can affect the health of a developing baby. ... read more »

Hospitals Effectively Reducing Elective C-Sections

In recent years C-section rates have increased significantly. Many of the C-sections performed are elective and some are performed during the 37th and 38th week of gestation. ... read more »

Cesarean Section (C-Section)

Cesarean sections (C-section) are often related to unproductive labor and baby size. A woman's pelvic width may also come into play when choosing between a vaginal delivery and a C-section. ... read more »

Tubal Ligation or Sterilization For Contraception

After having children, some women choose to have a tubal ligation to prevent future pregnancies. ... read more »

Diabetes Risk for African-American Women With Gestational Diabetes

Researchers have found a link between gestational diabetes and increased risk of type 2 diabetes in African-American women. ... read more »

Plastic Surgery During Pregnancy

Plastic surgery is an elective medical procedure in most cases, and few plastic surgeons will perform elective plastic surgery during pregnancy. ... read more »

Study Links Consumption of Trans Fats to Bigger Babies

We've known for over twenty years that trans fats (man-made fats used to preserve the shelf life of foods) negatively affect our health, but new research is showing that it may also affect the health of our newborns. ... read more »

Relieving the Itch After C-Section Requires Promptness

One nagging problem that some women face after their cesarean section is incessant itching all over their skin. ... read more »

Labor Induction: Methods and Potential Benefits

If the time has come to give birth and the natural labor process has not begun, doctors can choose to induce labor in a variety of ways. ... read more »

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section (VBAC)

There is something intangibly important about giving birth to a baby vaginally and after having a c-section, the woman may choose to try a vaginal birth for her next child. ... read more »

Impact Of Obesity On Fertility And Pregnancy

Obesity increases pregnancy complications. The prevalence of obesity is currently rising in developed countries, making pregravid overweight one of the most common high-risk obstetric situations. ... read more »

Midwives Provide Equal Care to Hospitals

The level of healthcare provided by certified nurse midwives may be better than or equal to the same care provided in a hospital setting, according to research published in the journal Health Services Research. ... read more »

Very Rare “Mono Mono” Twins — 2 Sets, 1 Hospital, 1 Week

An exceptionally unusual event occurred at the Akron General Medical Center in Ohio, where the twins were born. A second set of mono mono twins was born there. ... read more »

Why Would You Need a Cesarean Section?

A cesarean section is an operative delivery done by cutting through the mother's abdomen and uterus and delivering the baby through the incision. ... read more »

Unproductive Labor

Unproductive labor occurs when mom successfully makes it through the first stage of labor only to have the cervix become unresponsive to contractions and hormonal changes. If the cervix does not dilate and efface, the baby cannot pass through the cervix and into the birthing canal. ... read more »

What is a Birth Plan?

A birth plan is a simple, clear, flexible plan expressing the birth mother’s preferences during birth. The plan is not a medical guide or definitive declaration of how the birth will go, but it does give everyone involved an idea of the pregnant woman’s wishes. ... read more »

Beyoncé and Jay-Z Welcome Their Daughter to the World

Not all babies are welcomed into the world by a slew of A-list celebrity tweets, but Blue Ivy Carter is not your average girl. The two-day old little princess was born on Saturday, January 8, to parents Beyoncé Knowles and Shawn Carter (a.k.a. Jay-Z). ... read more »

Cesarean Section: Postpartum Incision Care

After a baby is born via a C-section, mom will have a wound that must heal. While you may not wish for a Cesarean section (C-section), sometimes health issues or risks to you and your baby make it necessary. ... read more »

Increasing Rate of C-Section May be Linked to Impatience

Since 1996, rates of C-sections have risen 50%. While C-sections are deemed necessary for multiple reasons, some experts believe impatience, both in a clinical sense and personal sense, may play some part in the consistent rise in C-sections. ... read more »

Cesarean Section Maternal Risks

Complications of a cesarean section include bleeding, infections, injury to organs, and future placenta accreta and placenta previa. ... read more »

Obesity and Pregnancy Guidelines

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a practice bulletin to summarize the risks for obesity in pregnancy and outcomes of pregnancy after bariatric surgery as well as to provide recommendations for management during pregnancy and delivery after bariatric surgery. ... read more »

Women Afraid of Childbirth Have More C-Sections

Reports and research studies have noted a steady climb in C-section rates in the last decade. A new study found women are more likely to have a C-section because they are scared of childbirth. ... read more »

What Is A Cesarean Section

What is a cesarean section? ... read more »

Consequences of Excessive Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Possible consequences of excessive weight gain during pregnancy. ... read more »

Pfannenstiel incision

The Pfannenstiel incision is a horizontal skin incision made just above the symphysis pubis (pubic bone). It is the most popular skin incision made for a cesarean section, and it is also known as the 'bikini cut.' ... read more »

Maternal Diabetes May Increase Risk of C-Section Delivery

Half of the women who have diabetes prior to becoming pregnant, undergo C-sections that could have been avoided. ... read more »

Different Types of Pregnancies

While pregnancy may seem like a simple term, there are different types of pregnancies. Most are a result of physical differences but some are related to multiple egg release, among other reasons. ... read more »

Am I Able to Get Pregnant After…

In many cases, illness, disease and injury will not affect the ability to become pregnant, but that is not always the case. ... read more »

What Happens After the Baby is Born?

Once the baby has moved through the birth canal and out of the vagina, the labor process is almost over. However, a few more contractions are needed to detach the uterus and push out the placenta. ... read more »

Spinal Anesthesia

Spinals are pain medications delivered via the spinal column in one dose. The medication is fast acting and can achieve a complete block of pain in as little as 15 minutes. ... read more »

Oxytocin Does Not Reduce Risk of C-Section

Slow labor is often treated with an oxytocin drip. Oxytocin is a pregnancy hormone that speeds up labor progression. Oxytocin is given as Pitocin. ... read more »

C-Section Numbers Still on the Rise Despite Risks

The number of C-sections in the United States rose by 25-percent in the last seven years. Despite the risk factors associated with C-sections, there are viable reasons for the increase. ... read more »

Why Can't I Use the Bathroom?

While dehydration is not typically a problem thanks to IV fluids, fear of urinating may cause a woman who has just given birh to refrain from heading off to the bathroom too quickly. ... read more »

Factors Influencing Vaginal Births After Cesarean Sections

Based on reviews posted in the August copy of Journal of Advanced Nursing, there are several factors, clinical and non-clinical, that influence vaginal births after cesarean sections (VBAC).   ... read more »

12 Reasons Why This Blogger Mom Loves Her C-Section

Kathryn Kefauver Goldberg describes herself as a "writer, blogger, twin mom" and she suggests that cesarean-section deliveries (C-sections) are misunderstood. ... read more »

C-Section Not More Common in Induced Labor

A new study from London debunks the belief that inducing labor increases the need for a c-section, finding instead that induced labor lowers the risk of C-section delivery by as much as 12%. ... read more »

“Gentle” C-Section: Small Changes Deliver Big Results

Many mothers who undergo C-section deliveries aren’t always satisfied with the experience, as evidenced by a recent story on NPR. One mother describes feeling as if she “missed out on a pivot ... read more »

24-Hour Access to OBs, Midwives Reduces C-Section Numbers

In April 2011, a community hospital in Northern California changed the way it handled maternity patients. After the hospital policy change, the number of cesarean-section deliveries dropped. ... read more »

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