Cesarean delivery (also called a cesarean section or C-section) is the surgical delivery of a baby by an incision through the mother's abdomen (belly) and uterus(womb). This procedure is done when it is determined to be a safer method than a vaginal delivery for the mother, baby, or both.
In a cesarean delivery, an incision (cut) is made in the skin and into the uterus at the lower part of the mother’s abdomen. The incision in the skin may be vertical (longitudinal) or transverse (horizontal), and the incision in the uterus may be vertical or transverse.
A transverse incision extends across the pubic hairline, whereas, a vertical incision extends from the navel to the pubic hairline. A transverse uterine incision is used most often because it heals well and there is less bleeding. Transverse uterine incisions also increase the chance for vaginal birth in a future pregnancy. However, the type of incision depends on the conditions of the mother and the fetus.