Cesarean Section

A cesarean section, or C-section, is a surgery performed to deliver a baby through the mother’s lower abdomen, usually when unexpected problems develop during delivery. These problems may involve how the baby is positioned in the womb (uterus), whether the baby is too large to fit through the vagina, the mother’s current health and medical history, and signs of distress in the baby, such as an abnormal heart rate. During this surgery, the mother usually is awake but is numbed from chest to feet using spinal or epidural anesthesia. The procedure requires an incision (cut) across the lower abdomen and into the womb and the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby, then the baby is removed.

Classified as major surgery, C-sections involve some risk. Also, it takes longer to recover from a C-section than from a vaginal delivery. The incision may leave a weak area in the wall of the womb, which could cause problems if a vaginal birth is attempted later. However, most women who have a C-section can later give birth normally through the vagina.

Why choose UAB Medicine

UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology offers complete women’s health care, delivered by physicians and nurses dedicated to excellence. Our physicians are nationally recognized specialists in their fields, so you can rest assured that you are receiving the most advanced care available. Our program is consistently ranked among the best of its kind in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

As part of the UAB Division of Women’s Reproductive Healthcare, UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology’s services range from complete obstetric care to the medical and surgical treatment of complex gynecological concerns. Because UAB Medicine is a major center for research, patients may have access to promising new techniques and treatments not available at other medical centers. Our physicians are here for you at every stage of life, from your first gynecological exam to delivering your baby and helping guide you through menopause.

The Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists at the UAB Women & Infants Center are available on site 24/7 to manage problems associated with high-risk pregnancies. Our physicians are experts at managing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, Rh sensitization, multiple births, premature delivery, and other potential complications. Patients have access to cutting-edge treatments that may not be available elsewhere, which can reduce a woman’s chance of having another preterm birth by one-third to one-half.

We are among the nation’s most advanced MFM programs and one of only 14 centers participating in the national Maternal­ Fetal Medicine Units Network for high-risk pregnancy research. Patients have access to the most up-to-date care, including first-trimester diagnosis, genetic testing and counseling, and 4D ultrasound and fetal imaging. Our team is staffed by board-certified MFM specialists, along with certified genetics specialists.

Care Providers

Margaret Boozer, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Stefanie Fieno, CRNP Obstetrics and Gynecology Shweta Patel, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Alan Tita, MD, PhD Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Luisa Wetta, MD Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Videos

Resources

• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• National Institutes of Health
• Warning Signs of Post-Birth Complications