27 Mar 09 SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, REPRODUCTION: WHAT IS A CAESAREAN SECTION?

If for one reason or another a baby can’t be born in the normal way, the doctor does an operation called a Caesarean section. The woman is anaesthetized so she can’t feel anything from her waist down. Then the doctor makes an incision in her abdomen and uterus and removes the baby from her body by lifting it out through the incision. Afterwards, the incision is sutured shut. Babies born by Caesarean section are usually perfectly healthy.

There are a number of reasons why a baby might have to be born by Caesarean section. For example, labour may be taking so long that the baby is getting worn out and its heartbeat is slowing down. Or the baby might be in a position that would make normal delivery difficult or impossible. The woman’s cervix might not be dilating properly or her contractions might be too weak to push the baby out. For these or other reasons, the doctor might need to do a Caesarean section.

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