Indications A 7-week old Caesarean section scar and linea nigra visible on a 31-year-old mot her.

Caesarean section is recommended when vaginal delivery might pose a risk to the mother or baby. Not all of the listed conditions represent a mandatory indicatio n, and in many cases the obstetrician must use discretion to decide whether a Ca esarean is necessary. Some indications for Caesarean delivery are: Complications of labor and factors impeding vaginal delivery, such as: prolonged labour or a failure to progress (dystocia) (Dystocia may arise due to incoordinate uterine activity, abnormal fetal lie or presentation, absolute or relative cephalopelvic disproportion, or (rarely) a m assive fetal tumor such as a sacrococcygeal teratoma.) fetal distress The term fetal distress is commonly used to describe fetal hypoxia (low oxygen l evels in the fetus), which can result in fetal damage or death if it is not reve rsed or if the fetus is not promptly delivered. cord prolapse Umbilical cord prolapse happens when the umbilical cord precedes the fetus' exit from the uterus. uterine rupture Uterine rupture is a potentially catastrophic event during childbirth by which t he integrity of the myometrial wall is breached. increased blood pressure (hypertension) in the mother or baby after amniotic rup ture increased heart rate (tachycardia) in the mother or baby after amniotic rupture placental problems (placenta praevia, placental abruption or placenta accreta) Placenta praevia (placenta previa AE) is an obstetric complication in which the placenta is attached to the uterine wall close to or covering the cervix. Placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) is a complication of preg nancy, wherein the placental lining has separated from the uterus of the mother. Placenta accreta is a severe obstetric complication involving an abnormally deep attachment of the placenta, through the endometrium and into the myometrium (th e middle layer of the uterine wall). abnormal presentation (breech or transverse positions) failed labour induction Labor induction is a method of artificially or prematurely stimulating childbirt h in a woman. failed instrumental delivery (by forceps or ventouse (Sometimes a trial of force ps/ventouse delivery is attempted, and if unsuccessful, it will be switched to a Caesarean section.) overly large baby (macrosomia) umbilical cord abnormalities (vasa previa, multilobate including bilobate and su ccenturiate-lobed placentas, velamentous insertion) contracted pelvis It is a pelvis in which one or more of its diameters is reduced so that it inter feres with the normal mechanism of labour. Other complications of pregnancy, pre-existing conditions and concomitant diseas e, such as: pre-eclampsia hypertension [29] multiple births precious (high risk) fetus HIV infection of the mother Sexually transmitted infections, such as genital herpes (which can be passed on to the baby if the baby is born vaginally, but can usually be treated in with me dication and do not require a Caesarean section) previous Caesarean section (though this is controversial see discussion below) prior problems with the healing of the perineum (from previous childbirth or Cro hn's disease) Bicornuate uterus

Rare cases of posthumous birth after the death of the mother