Updated March 14, 2014.

Question: Why would you need an unplanned cesarean section?

Answer:

There are many reasons why a cesarean might be performed in labor. Here are some of the most common ones.

• Failed induction - this may be the cervix fails to dilate in a preset amount of time, or mother or baby become ill from the induction of labor.
• Labor dystocia - labor stalls, can be early or late in labor.
• Fetal distress - where the baby's heart rate is non-reassuring or has developed a pattern of not returning to a normal baseline on the fetal monitoring strip.

• Maternal distress - this may be fever or other problems with the mother.
• Infection of mother or baby.
• Bleeding from the uterus or placenta as in a placental abruption or uterine rupture.
• Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) where the pelvis and baby are a supposed mismatch, often termed big baby.

It is important to note most of these reasons are not emergent and provide you with time to get informed consent and to make a decision.

See also: Cesarean Birth: Step by Step