Cesarean Section (C-Section)
Cesarean Section at UVM Health
Cesarean section (C-section) is a surgical procedure to deliver a baby. It is typically an option when vaginal birth is not recommended or is associated with higher risks. Cesarean delivery is the most common type of surgery performed in the U.S. Over one million women deliver their babies by C-section every year.
You may feel nervous about having surgery, especially when you are pregnant. At University of Vermont Health, our compassionate team is with you at every step.
Why Choose UVM Health?
Whether you have a scheduled or unscheduled cesarean section, we provide expert care and help create a positive birth experience for you and your family. As a leading obstetrics and gynecology program in the region, we offer:
- Coordinated team: Our board-certified obstetricians perform cesarean sections while anesthesiologists make you comfortable during surgery. Experienced nurses guide you through surgery and recovery. Your care team works together to provide the best possible care for you and your baby.
- Advanced care when necessary: Obstetricians across UVM Health perform C-sections. But if you need higher-level care, you have access to critical maternal care at University of Vermont Medical Center.
- Commitment to diversity: We welcome patients of all races, ethnicities, abilities, gender identities and sexual orientations and work to support your individual needs and preferences.
When Is a C-Section Needed?
We recommend vaginal birth whenever possible, due to a lower risk of complications. Your provider may recommend a cesarean section based on your individual circumstances.
It is difficult to predict whether you will need a C-section. Sometimes they are scheduled for specific reasons. But more often, issues arise that your provider will discuss with you at the time.
Common reasons for scheduled cesarean section deliveries include:
- Fetal position: Sometimes a baby’s position in the womb is not optimal for vaginal birth. A breech (bottom or feet down) or sideways position may require a C-section.
- Maternal health conditions: Some health issues increase your risk of complications during vaginal delivery.
- Multiple pregnancy: Carrying multiple babies increases the chance you will need a cesarean section.
- Obstruction: A large uterine fibroid or pelvic fracture can block the birth canal, making a C-section necessary.
- Placental problems: Cesarean section may be needed if the placenta blocks the birth canal.
- Previous C-section: Vaginal birth after C-section can be an option for people who are in good health. If VBAC is an option for you, your provider will discuss the risks and benefits and help you make an informed decision.
In some cases, you may plan for a vaginal delivery but end up needing C-section. Reasons for an unplanned C-section include:
- Concern for the fetus: Your provider has concerns about whether the fetus can tolerate labor
- Placental abruption: The placenta detaches from the wall of your uterus before delivery
- Prolonged labor: Your labor does not progress
C-Section Care Across UVM Health
Pregnant people across the region come to us for our expertise and patient-centered approach. With locations across Vermont and northern New York, exceptional care is available to you no matter where you live. Learn more about pregnancy and childbirth at:
What to Expect With a C-Section Delivery
Obstetrics teams throughout UVM Health care for expectant parents with empathy and respect. We work closely with you to ensure you are prepared for surgery and understand the recovery process.
You receive detailed instructions for the 24 hours leading up to your C-section. These instructions provide guidance on:
- Eating and drinking
- Showering
- Taking medications
- What to bring to the hospital (and what to leave at home)
- When to arrive and where to go
The day before your C-section, a nurse will call you to review these instructions and answer any last-minute questions.
If you are having a planned C-section, you should arrive a few hours early to register and meet your care team. Your nurse will help you get settled and prepare you for surgery.
In the operating room, you will receive anesthesia to block pain but will usually stay awake. Your support person can come into the operating room just before surgery begins. Your obstetrician will then deliver your baby through an incision in your abdomen.
We will let you hold your baby skin-to-skin while the team completes surgery. You will then go to your private room, where your baby can stay with you 24/7. Rooms also have sleeping arrangements for one support person.
The hospital stay after a C-section is typically up to four nights. While you are in the hospital, our nurses, lactation consultants and social workers are available to help you and provide breastfeeding support.
Going home with your new baby can be both exciting and overwhelming. We start to plan your discharge when your pain is manageable, and you are comfortable caring for yourself and your baby.
Healing from C-section surgery takes time. You may need extra help for the first few weeks after you go home. You will have a follow-up visit four to six weeks after delivery. Most people feel fully recovered after about six weeks.
Feeling a little blue after delivery is normal. Let your provider know right away if you experience depression or hopelessness. We can provide treatment and resources to help.
If you’ve had a C-section and plan to have more children, you may be able to have a vaginal delivery in future pregnancies. Your provider will explain the benefits and risks of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) so you can make an informed decision. VBAC after one C-section is a standard delivery option at all UVM Health locations. UVM Medical Center offers labor induction with VBAC and VBAC after two C-sections.
Awards & Certifications
Newsweek: America's Best Maternity Hospitals
Newsweek has included UVM Health's anchor academic medical center and Level 1 Trauma Center that serves the region on its ranking of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals after assessing the quality of perinatal care, operative obstetrics, patient education and counseling, accommodation and service, and nurse and midwife staffing.
Locations near you
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111 Colchester Avenue
McClure, Level 7
Burlington, VT 05401
115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753
130 Fisher Road
2nd Floor
Berlin, VT 05602
130 Fisher Road
MOB-A, Suite 1-4
Berlin, VT 05602-9000
116 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753-8501
75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
