Cesarean section - Procedure 76

Cesarean section (C-section) is the surgical delivery of a baby through incisions in a woman’s abdomen and uterus. C-sections may be elective, but more often are performed because of potential health risks to the mother or child. The procedure is considered major abdominal surgery and is typically performed by a physician who is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) or by a family physician who has received enhanced training in obstetrics through an extended residency, an obstetrics fellowship, and/or a preceptorship with a physician who has cesarean privileges. Despite lingering inconsistencies regarding the privileging of family medicine physicians for cesarean deliveries, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) argues that “provision of cesarean delivery by well-trained family physicians augments maternity care services available to women or, in some cases, provides a service that would not otherwise be available.”

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