A caesarean section is a surgical procedure in which a baby is born through a cut made in the mother's abdominal wall and uterus.
Most women have vaginal births (about 2 in every 3 births) although serious problems with pregnancy or labour makes a vaginal birth unsafe for some women.
However, a caesarean section may be planned (elective) in the absence of the need for one on a doctor's recommendation due to emergency.
Emergency or unplanned caesarean section may be due to baby's head not moving down or ‘fit’ through your pelvis during labour.
You may also be taken to the theatre if your labour fails to progress, baby shows signs of distress or when the umbilical cord prolapses (falls down through the cervix and into the vagina after waters brake.
You may also be wheeled in for an emergency C-Section due to a health problem such as high blood pressure, making labour riskier for you and your baby.