A surgical procedure to deliver a baby by cutting through the mother's abdomen and uterus instead of natural childbirth.
Named after Julius Caesar, though likely not because he was delivered this way. The term comes from the Latin 'caesus' meaning 'cut,' combined with Caesar's name, possibly because Roman emperors were historically associated with the procedure.
Despite the legend, Julius Caesar probably wasn't born this way—his mother lived after his birth, but cesarean mothers nearly always died in ancient times due to infection, so the story doesn't make medical sense!
Historically medicalized as 'caesarean section'—a term applied almost exclusively to women's bodies. The procedure itself is gender-neutral in principle, but language often feminizes medical procedures while depersonalizing women as subjects.
Use 'caesarean section' or 'caesarean delivery' with attention to person-first language: 'a person undergoing a caesarean' rather than 'a caesarean patient'.
["caesarean delivery","surgical birth","abdominal birth"]
Women obstetricians and surgeons pioneered refinements in caesarean safety; recognize Dr. Virginia Apgar (Apgar score) and others who improved maternal and fetal outcomes.
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