Cesarean Section Awareness Month: What to Know Before Your Cesarean Birth

What is C-Section Awareness Month and Why It Matters?

Each April, Cesarean Section Awareness Month (also known as C-section Awareness Month) invites expectant parents, healthcare providers, and communities to learn more about Cesarean deliveries. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the reasons behind C-sections, the recovery process, and the importance of informed decision-making. Understanding cesarean births can support families in planning safe and positive birth experiences.

By raising awareness, this month also highlights opportunities for families to consider additional steps that could benefit their newborns, such as cord blood banking — a process that can be performed after a cesarean delivery.
 

Understanding C-Sections: Key Facts and What to Expect

A cesarean section, commonly called a C-section, is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. It can often be planned or performed as an emergency when complications arise during labor. ¹
 

C-Section Rates
What the Numbers Tell Us 

Globally, C-section rates have increased over the past decades. Cesarean delivery can be life-saving, and awareness efforts during C-section Awareness Month encourage families to discuss birth options with their healthcare providers. ²

Planning Your C-Section Birth
What to Know About Cord Blood Banking

If you are planning a cesarean delivery, it’s important to know that cord blood and tissue collection can still be part of your birth plan. Cord blood and cord tissue banking, also called newborn stem cell banking or stem cell preservation, is the process of collecting, processing, cryogenically freezing, and storing stem cells from a newborn's umbilical cord for potential future use. It's a convenient option for families looking for ways to plan for their family's future health and an easy way to secure a potential healing resource.

C-Sections & Cord Blood Banking 
Can You Collect Cord Blood During a C-Section?

Yes, cord blood collection during a cesarean section is possible and commonly done. Cord blood and tissue collection during a cesarean section is essentially the same as during a vaginal birth. ViaCord provides an FDA-approved, pre-loaded collection bag for use with sterile C-sections.

Delayed Cord Clamping 
Does a C-Section Impact Delayed Cord Clamping?

Just as in a vaginal delivery, the timing of cord clamping after a c-section is a personal decision that should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Cord blood and tissue collection start after the cord is cut, whenever that is. Delayed clamping does not affect cord tissue collection. 

How to Show Support During C-Section Awareness Month

Supporting families who undergo cesarean deliveries is vital. Here are ways to show your support during C-section Awareness Month:

• EDUCATE yourself and others about the realities of cesarean births.
   
• ENCOURAGE informed conversations between expectant parents and healthcare providers.
   
• SHARE resources like ViaCord’s cord blood banking services and educational materials to help families make empowered decisions.
  
   

Cesarean Section Awareness Month is a time to reflect, learn, and support families through their unique birth journeys. If you’re planning a C-section, consider how cord blood banking can be part of your birth plan to provide potential health benefits for your child’s future.

Visit our Cord Blood Banking Service to learn more about cord blood banking and how it works. You can also discover the benefits of cord blood and tissue banking by visiting our Cord Blood & Tissue 101 resource page.