CAESAREAN SECTIONS

The word caesarean is a latin word which means to cut.The caesarean section often abbreviated to CS is a surgical procedure in which an incission or incissions is made in the lower part of the abdominal wall and through the lower part of the uterus. The baby is removed through the incission and then the incission is carefully repaired with stiches.
A  CS is usually carried out because the baby cannot for some reason be born through the birth canal or in some cases to remove a dead foetus. Some expectant mothers  do sometimes demand for a CS because they don't want to go through the pains of vaginal delivery. Below are some of the reasons  a CS  is carried out;

1. When vaginal delivery is risky to either mother or baby.
2. If the 'bag of waters' has ruptured and the blood pressure of the expectant mother or the baby increases.
3. Fetal distress.
4. Placenta problems
5. If an induction of labour fails
6. Increased heart rate
7. Largeness of the baby
8. High blood pressure
9. Hiv infection of the mother
10. Sexually transmitted disease of the mother such as genital herpes which can be passed on to the baby.

The view held by some that once a woman delivers her baby through a CS that she would continue doing so is  no longer true. The caesarean section is a safe  procedure today and a woman whose first baby was delivered through a CS  has a 50-50 chance of delivering her next baby vaginally.