In the United States today, about one in three women gives birth by cesarean section. In some situations, including when the baby is positioned side-to-side (transverse lie) or the placenta is covering the cervix (placenta previa), cesarean sections are the safest way of giving birth. However, in most situations, spontaneous vaginal births (births that are not induced and do not involve the use of forceps, vacuum extraction, or a cesarean) are safest for both women and babies.

While most mothers and babies who have cesarean births … More