Most babies are delivered through the vagina. In some cases, however, a cesarean section, or c-section, must be performed.

During a cesarian section, the baby is removed from the uterus through an incision in the mother's abdomen and in the wall of the uterus. A cesarean delivery requires general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. The procedure may be performed on an elective basis, or as an emergency.

Your doctor may recommend a c-section for one of the following:

• The mother has preeclampsia.
• Placenta previa
• Placental abruption
• Blood flow is poor through the placenta.
• The fetus is 2 weeks overdue.
• The head of the infant is too large to pass through the pelvis.
• The umbilical cord has passed through the cervix and into the vaginal canal.
• The cervix is dilating too slowly.
• The fetus is in distress.
• The mother has open sores on the vagina caused by genital herpes.