A–Z Glossary

General anesthesia

General anesthesia makes the patient unconscious during surgery and uses an airway device to support breathing.

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Step-by-step cesarean overview

Step-by-step cesarean overview

Before the operating room A step-by-step c-section procedure begins before the first incision. The clinical team confirms identity, gestational details, indication for cesarean, allergies, relevant medical history, blood type considerations, consent, and whether the operation is planned, urgent, or emergency. This pause is not paperwork for its own sake; it reduces wrong-patient, wrong-procedure, medication, and […]

Differences between planned and emergency C-section

Differences between planned and emergency C-section

What the terms mean A planned C-section, sometimes called an elective caesarean, is arranged before labor begins. In everyday language, “elective” can sound optional or non-medical, but in obstetrics it often means scheduled rather than sudden. The reason may be strongly medical, such as placenta previa, certain fetal presentations, multiple pregnancy complications, or previous uterine […]

What happens in emergency cesarean and timing

What happens in emergency cesarean and timing

What emergency cesarean means An emergency cesarean is an unplanned cesarean delivery performed because continuing pregnancy or labor is judged to carry a higher risk than proceeding to surgical birth. The word emergency can describe a wide range of situations. Some are truly time-critical, such as severe fetal bradycardia, major placental bleeding, uterine rupture, or […]

What happens during surgery and how long it takes

What happens during surgery and how long it takes

Why surgery may happen during birth In the birth setting, “surgery” most often means a cesarean section, a procedure in which the baby is delivered through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. A cesarean may be planned before labor begins, scheduled because of a known obstetric factor, or performed after labor has started if the […]

Emergency C-section explained and warning signs

Emergency C-section explained and warning signs

What an emergency C-section means An emergency C-section is an unplanned cesarean birth performed because the obstetric team believes cesarean delivery is the safest way to protect the mother, the baby, or both. The word “emergency” can be confusing, because it is sometimes used broadly for any cesarean that was not scheduled. In clinical practice, […]

Step-by-step C-section procedure explained

Step-by-step C-section procedure explained

Before the operating room: assessment, consent, and preparation A C-section begins before the first incision. The obstetric team confirms the indication, reviews maternal and fetal status, checks allergies, discusses risks and benefits, and obtains informed consent whenever circumstances allow. In a , this preparation may occur calmly over hours or days. In an , the […]