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In the United States today, a woman who is pregnant with her first child has a 1 in 5 chance of delivering the baby by Caesarean section. If you’ve already delivered a baby vaginally, your chances are much greater of another vaginal birth. Only about 1 in 20 or 30 women will need a Caesarean section if they’ve delivered vaginally before.

In a Cesarean, the mother may receive general anesthesia or epidural anesthesia. The doctor will make an incision in the skin then another in the uterus and gently lift out the baby. The whole thing usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

What’s the most common reason for a Caesarean section? The labor is just not progressing to the doctor’s satisfaction. If you have a slow labor, your doctor will probably try to get the contractions moving along by giving you oxytocin, a drug that causes contractions and can be given intravenously so the amount you receive can be adjusted to your body’s needs. If the contractions become strong enough, but your cervix doesn’t fully dilate, the doctor may recommend a Caesarean section.

Or, you may have strong contractions, but your cervix only dilates part way, then stops. Even if you’re fully dilated and have strong contractions, the baby’s head may not be able to descend into the birth canal. In both cases, you need to deliver by Cesarean.

If the baby doesn’t appear to fit, it’s important for the doctor or midwife to be patient and allow the baby to come in his own time, if his heart rate is normal.

Your contractions and the baby’s heart rate will be monitored during labor. It is common for the heart rate to go up and down during the stress of labor. Most drops in heart rate are not a sign of danger for the baby, and the doctor or midwife must use wisdom and judgment to know whether a Caesarean section is needed.

About 4 to 5 percent of babies are breech, and a significant number are delivered by Caesarean because some doctors aren’t comfortable delivering breeches vaginally. Up to half of these babies can be turned headfirst in utero; a procedure called a version.

If your doctor is considering an elective Caesarean section because the baby is in a breech (butt or feet first) position, ask about cephalic version. Applying her hands to the mother’s abdomen, the doctor gradually shifts the position of the fetus, guided by ultrasound. After a version, the baby is in the vertex (headfirst) position and has a greater likelihood of being born vaginally.

If you do need a Cesarean, bear in mind that most women are up and around and eating the next day and only spend about three or four days in the hospital. Unlike other types of surgery, the recovery time from a Caesarean appears to be faster, perhaps because when you have a new baby, your body responds with the release of endorphins, hormones that help us feel good.

Many people think the number of cesareans performed in the United States these days is too high, but nobody knows what an ideal Caesarean rate is. It is important to talk matters over with your midwife or doctor if a Caesarean is recommended to be sure you and your partner are comfortable with the reasons for it. And remember, having a Caesarean isn’t a defeat, or a sign of failure. Often it is a needed because you grew a large, healthy baby.

If you are interested in getting pregnant, find ways to maximize chances of having a child and discovering more facts about ovulation, when to have intercourse, signs of pregnancy and also menstrual cycles.