Caesarean delivery (single baby)
Also known as: Single delivery by caesarean section, unspecified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
A cesarean delivery, also called a cesarean section or c-section, is surgery to deliver a baby through the abdomen. This surgery may be planned, or it may be done as an emergency when unexpected problems happen during delivery. Before the surgery, pain medicine is given, such as an epidural block, a spinal block, or general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a cut in the abdomen and uterus, opens the amniotic sac, takes out the baby, and cuts the umbilical cord and placenta. Although relatively safe, it is a major surgery that carries risks including infection, blood loss, blood clots, injury to surrounding structures, and reactions to medicines.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
What is a cesarean delivery?
A cesarean delivery, also called a cesarean section or c-section, is surgery to deliver a baby. The baby is taken out through your abdomen (belly). In the United States, almost one in three babies are born this way. Some cesarean deliveries are planned. Others are emergency cesarean deliveries, which are done when unexpected problems happen during delivery.
When is a cesarean delivery needed?
You may need a cesarean delivery because:
- You have health problems, including infection
- You are carrying more than one baby
- Your baby is too big
- Your baby is in the wrong position
- Your baby's health is in danger
- Labor is not moving along as it should
- There are problems with your placenta (the organ that brings oxygen and nutrients to your baby)
Not everyone who has had a cesarean delivery before will need another one next time. You may be able to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Talk to your health care provider about what is right for you.
How is a cesarean delivery done?
Before the surgery, you will be given pain medicine. Depending on your circumstances, you might get:
- An epidural block, which numbs the lower part of the body through an injection in the spine.
- A spinal block, which numbs the lower part of the body through an injection directly into the spinal fluid.
- General anesthesia, which makes you unconscious during the surgery. This is often used during emergency cesarean deliveries.
During the surgery, the surgeon will:
- Make a cut in your abdomen and uterus. The cut is usually horizontal, but in some cases it may be vertical.
- Open the amniotic sac and take out your baby.
- Cut the umbilical cord and the placenta.
- Close the uterus and abdomen with stitches that will later dissolve.
What are the risks of a cesarean delivery?
A cesarean delivery is relatively safe for you and your baby. But it is still a major surgery, and it carries risks. They may include:
- Infection
- Blood loss
- Blood clots in the legs, pelvic organs, or lungs
- Injury to surrounding structures, such as the bowel or bladder
- A reaction to the medicines or anesthesia used
Some of these risks do also apply to a vaginal birth. But it does take longer to recover from a cesarean delivery than from a vaginal birth. And having a cesarean delivery can raise the risk of having difficulties with future pregnancies. The more cesarean deliveries you have, the more the risk goes up.
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Next to it in ICD-10
- O47False labour (Braxton Hicks contractions)
- O60Preterm labour and birth
- O80Normal vaginal delivery (single baby)
- P00Baby affected by the mother's health conditions
- P05Slow fetal growth
- P07Premature birth and low birth weight
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Caesarean delivery (single baby)?
O82 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Caesarean delivery (single baby)?
JB22.Z: Single delivery by caesarean section, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
About this page. This page brings together public information from official sources, each cited where it is used. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it does not tell you which treatment to take.
Treatments. Indications are quoted unchanged from official product information (European Medicines Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). They describe what a medicine is approved for, not whether it is right for you. Approved uses can differ between countries. Always read the package leaflet and follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice.
What people report. Figures marked "reported by Anpheros users" are anonymous counts from at least 20 people who agreed to share them. They show what people report, not what works, and they are not clinical evidence.
Links between terms. "May be associated with" means the link appears in a cited source. It does not mean you have that condition.
In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number). Do not delay seeking medical help because of something you read here.