How to Prepare for a C-Section During Pregnancy

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How to Prepare for a C-Section: 17 Things Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know

One in three women end up delivering by c-section. Here's what all pregnant women need to know about how to prepare for a cesarean (18 Photos)

Dana Sullivan Kilroy on Mar 1, 2012 at 3:38PM

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17 Ways Every Pregnant Woman Can Prepare for a C-Section

Peter Dazeley/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images

a Dana Sullivan Kilroy on Feb 9, 2012 at 12:57PM

Most moms-to-be don't plan to have a c-section, but nearly a third of all babies born in the U.S. are delivered this way, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. "The odds of having a c-section are pretty high, but most women still don’t think it will happen to them," says Tara Poulin, founder of the childbirth education organization Birthing Gently and a doula who works only with women who have scheduled c-sections. Whether you know you'll be delivering by c-section or you want to be prepared just in case, here's what you can do ahead of time.

Do Your Homework
Even if you’re at low risk for a c-section birth, it's a good idea to know what to expect. "Many childbirth education classes barely touch on c-sections which leaves women unprepared for the experience," says Poulin. It's key to be prepared for this possibility, she says: Women who have an unexpected c-section are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression.