What is caesarean birth
What is caesarean birth
What is a caesarean?
A caesarean is an operation where your baby is born through a cut made in your abdomen and womb.
In most cases, the cut is horizontal, across your abdomen just below your bikini line (low transverse incision).

Low transverse incision on abdomen - most common cut:

Low transverse cut into womb to deliver the baby - the usual cut:

However, in some cases, a different type of cut might be needed. These cuts include a vertical midline incision which is a longitudinal cut in the middle of the tummy. These are not routinely used but may be required because of a complex surgical indication before birth or complication during the surgery.
Women and pregnant people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m2 or more may need a higher incision.
Your Surgeon will discuss the type of incision according to your surgical needs beforehand.
When is caesarean birth an option?
Caesarean birth can be an option before or during labour.
There are different levels of urgency for a caesarean birth:
Planned caesarean birth
Unplanned caesarean birth (with time to discuss options within 72 hours)
Emergency caesarean birth (can be within 30 minutes).
Read more about when and why a caesarean birth might be an option here
How common are caesareans?
NHS Maternity statistics for England are published every winter.
The most recent are from 2023-24. In 2023-24 the national caesarean section rate was 42%. Similar proportions of women had caesarean births as spontaneous vaginal births. Further information can be found here. Births - NHS England Digital
In England 44% of women had a caesarean birth in their first pregnancy (2023-2024)
How likely you are to have a caesarean birth depends on your current pregnancy, previous birth experience and personal preferences.
If you have had a vaginal birth before, your chance of caesarean birth is 4 in 100.

The figures in the NICE Caesarean Birth Guideline are out of date. They suggest around 25% to 30% of women have a caesarean birth. The 2023-24 statistics show:
13 in 100 of women/birthing people will have a planned Caesarean birth.

While 31 in 100 will need unplanned/emergency Caesarean birth

References
NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 2023-24. last accessed 10/03/25. Available from: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-andinformation/publications/statistical/nhs-maternity-statistics/2023-24/births
Jardine J, Blotkamp A, Gurol-Urganci I, Knight H, Harris T, Hawdon J, van der