Are C-Sections Avoidable? What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know About C-Sections

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A cesarean section (C-section) is a surgery that is sometimes performed to help deliver a baby. During a C-section, a doctor will cut into your belly to deliver your baby. Sometimes, doctors perform C-sections to keep you and your baby safe. But not all C-sections are necessary. Today, too many people are getting C-sections when they might not need them. Experts currently say that only about 1 in 10 births should be C-sections. But in the U.S., about 1 in 3 babies are born this way. C-sections can take more time to heal, can be expensive, and can even be more dangerous than vaginal births. That is why it is important that only people who need them have C-sections.

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Why Do C-Sections Happen?

There are many reasons doctors perform C-sections. Here are some of the most common:

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Labor takes too long: If you're trying to push your baby through your vagina for many hours and the baby is not coming, a C-section might be needed.

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Baby is in distress: If your baby is in distress, for example, if their heartbeat is not normal or there are problems with the umbilical cord, a C-section may be needed.

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Twins, triplets, and more babies: If you are having twins, triplets, or more babies, a C-section might be needed. This is most common if the babies are born too early or if they are not in a good position to be delivered through the vagina. The more babies you are having, the more likely it is that you will need a C-section.

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Placenta problems: The placenta is the organ that feeds and gives oxygen to your baby inside the womb. If it detaches from the wall of the womb (placenta abruption), or if it moves to the bottom of the womb and covers the entrance to the birth canal (placenta previa), it can cause you to bleed heavily, which is dangerous. If either of these occurs, you may need to have a C-section.

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Big baby: If your baby is more than 9 or 10 pounds, or 4,000 to 4,5000 grams, a vaginal birth may be difficult or unsafe and you may need to have a C-section.

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Baby is badly positioned: If the baby is not positioned well—for example, if the feet or buttocks are at the bottom or it is sideways in the womb, it can make a vaginal birth difficult and a C-section might be needed.

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Mom has health problems: If you have high blood pressure, heart problems, or certain infections, a C-section may be needed to keep you and your baby safe.

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Past C-section: If you had a C-section before, you might need to have a C-section again, especially to prevent your C-section scar from reopening, which can be dangerous. But you may be able to safely have a vaginal birth—this is called a vaginal birth after C-section, or VBAC. It is important to talk to your doctor to see what the best option is for your specific needs.

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Can C-Sections Be Prevented?

While sometimes a C-section is needed to protect the health of you and your baby, many times they are not needed. By knowing the signs of problems that could lead to needing a C-section, you can avoid having one. Keep track of your health, watch out for signs that something might be wrong, and get help early. Pay attention to the following warning signs:

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Baby’s movement: If your baby is not moving as much as they usually do, something may be wrong. This could be serious, so call your healthcare provider immediately if this happens.

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Blood pressure: Check your blood pressure often. Attend all prenatal appointments, so your healthcare provider can monitor your blood pressure. You may also need to continue to check your blood pressure at home, if your healthcare provider asks you to do so. High blood pressure can be a sign of preeclampsia, which can be dangerous for you and your baby.

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Weight gain: Gaining too much weight may be a sign that you have a large baby. Large babies can be difficult to deliver vaginally.

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High blood sugar: High blood sugar during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. It is important to monitor your blood sugar levels and get treatment, if needed. Your healthcare provider can test and treat you for gestational diabetes. Typically, when you reach 24 to 28 weeks in your pregnancy, your healthcare provider will ask you to give a blood sample that they will use to measure your blood sugar level.

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What Should You Do If You Experience Warning Signs

If you experience any of the warning signs, call your healthcare provider. Do not wait for your next appointment. Seeing your healthcare provider right away and getting treatment early can help keep you and your baby safe.

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Maria’s Baby Stopped Moving

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Story: Maria was in her third trimester when she noticed her baby was not as much as it used to. She thought the baby was “resting” so she did not get help right away. After a few days, she got worried so she went to the hospital. Her doctor told her that her baby was in danger and she needed an emergency C-section.

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Lesson: If your baby stops moving or is not moving as much as you are used to, it could be in trouble. Call your doctor right away. You can keep track of your baby’s kicks to help. If your baby kicks less than 10 times in two hours, something may be wrong.

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Mira Had Headaches and Swelling

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Story: At 35 weeks, Mira had bad headaches and swelling in her face and hands. She thought these were normal things that happened with pregnancy. After a few days, she started having trouble seeing right—everything seemed blurry. When this happened, Mira went to the hospital, where her doctor told her she had a bad case of preeclampsia. Mira had to have an emergency C-section in order to keep her and her baby safe.

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Lesson: Bad headaches and swelling can be signs of preeclampsia, which can be dangerous for you and your baby. Call your doctor if you experience headaches or swelling.

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How BobiHealth Can Help

BobiHealth is an app that can help you keep track of your health at home during your pregnancy. Other pregnancy apps only track kick counts and weight gain. With BobiHealth, you can track kick counts and weight gain, but you can also track other key health information that can help you spot signs of health problems that could lead to you needing a C-section. For example, BobiHealth can help you track:

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• Blood pressure: High blood pressure during pregnancy is the first sign of preeclampsia, which can be dangerous for you and your baby.
• Blood oxygen levels: Blood oxygen levels show how much oxygen is in your blood. Your body needs a certain amount of oxygen in your blood to function. Low blood oxygen is a sign that something is wrong.
• Body temperature: Your temperature maybe a little higher during pregnancy—that is normal. But fevers or big changes in temperature can be signs that you have an infection, which can be dangerous for your baby.

The app will remind you to track these health signs and symptoms every day. If you have a smartwatch, you can connect it to the app to make tracking even easier. If the app finds that something does not look right, it will alert you to call your healthcare provider so you can get the care you need. And, you can share information from the app with your doctor so that they can better understand what you are experiencing.  

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This information is important for all pregnant people. It is especially important for those who are not able to see their healthcare provider easily. For example, if you live far away from your healthcare provider or if it is hard for you to take time away from work or to find transportation, BobiHealth can help you track your symptoms at home and remind you to call your healthcare provider if you experience problems.  It is also important to attend all prenatal appointments as this app is meant to support, not replace, the comprehensive care your healthcare provider offers through regularly scheduled visits.

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Stay Informed to Protect Yourself and Your Baby

Not all C-sections can be avoided, but many can, if you know what to look for and when to get help. Keeping track of your health during pregnancy can you help prevent small problems from becoming big problems. Know your risk, watch for warning signs, and talk to your healthcare provider about any and all concerns you have.

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Download the BobiHealth app now, start tracking your health today, and protect yourself and your baby throughout your pregnancy journey.

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Useful Terms

Here are definitions of a few terms we use in this blog. It may be helpful to read these definitions so you know what they mean if your healthcare provider uses these terms with you.

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Cesarean section (C-section): A cesarean section, or C-section, is a surgery that involves a doctor cutting into a pregnant person’s belly to deliver the baby.

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Gestational diabetes: Diabetes is a health problem that occurs when your body does not process sugar the right way. When your body doesn’t process sugar correctly, the sugar can stay in your blood and make you sick. When this happens during pregnancy, it is called gestational diabetes.

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High blood pressure: High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, happens when your blood pushes too hard against the walls of your blood vessels.

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Placenta: The placenta is an organ that forms in the womb during pregnancy. The placenta provides the baby with oxygen and nutrients to help it grow.

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Placenta abruption: Placenta abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the wall of the womb and can cause heavy bleeding that can be dangerous for you and your baby.

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Placenta previa: Placenta previa occurs when the placenta moves to the bottom of the womb and covers the entry to the birth canal. During labor and delivery, this can cause heavy bleeding that can be dangerous for you and your baby.

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Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a health problem that can happen during pregnancy. Preeclampsia happens when your blood pressure is too high and can lead to dangerous complications. Read our blog, What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia, to learn more.

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Trimester: The word trimester, which means three months, is used to divide a pregnancy into three parts: first trimester, second trimester, third trimester.

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Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC): The term vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC, is used when a patient has had a C-section in the past but then delivers vaginally in the next pregnancy.

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