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Maternity Services

Cesarean Sections

FAMILY MATERNITY CENTER

What is a cesarean section?

A cesarean section is the delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) in the mother’s belly and uterus. It is often called a C-section. In most cases, a woman can be awake during the birth and be with her newborn soon afterward.

If you are pregnant, chances are good that you will be able to deliver your baby through the birth canal (vaginal birth). But there are cases when a C-section is needed for the safety of the mother or baby. So even if you plan on a vaginal birth, it's a good idea to learn about C-section, in case the unexpected happens.

When is a c-section needed?

A C-section may be planned or unplanned. In most cases, physicians do cesarean sections because of problems that arise during labor Reasons you might need an unplanned C-section include:

  • Labor is slow and hard or stops completely.
  • The baby shows signs of distress, such as a very fast or slow heart rate.
  • A problem with the placenta or umbilical cord puts the baby at risk.
  • The baby is too big to be delivered vaginally.

When physicians know about a problem ahead of time, they may schedule a C-section. Reasons you might have a planned C-section include:

  • The baby is not in a head-down position close to your due date.
  • You have a problem such as heart disease that could be made worse by the stress of labor.
  • You have an infection that you could pass to the baby during a vaginal birth.
  • You are carrying more than one baby ( multiple pregnancy Click here to see more information.).
  • You had a C-section before, and you have the same problems this time or your physician thinks labor might cause your scar to tear (uterine rupture).

Tubal Ligations

FAMILY MATERNITY CENTER

What is a tubal ligation?

Tubal ligation, often referred to as “having your tubes tied,” is a surgical procedure in which a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked, tied, or cut to prevent future pregnancies.

Tubal ligation stops eggs from traveling from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes, where the egg is normally fertilized by a sperm. A tubal ligation is a permanent method of birth control. Only consider this method when you are sure that you will not want to become pregnant in the future.

Tubal ligation is not 100% effective at preventing pregnancy.There is a slight risk of becoming pregnant after tubal ligation. This happens to about 5 out of 1,000 women after 1 year. After a total of 5 years following tubal ligation, about 13 out of 1,000 women will have become pregnant.