Cesarean birth, commonly referred to as a C-section, is the process of using surgery to deliver one or more babies. A C-section is used when complications that could harm both the mother and the child arise during a normal vaginal delivery. Cesarean birth can be either recommended by a doctor or requested by the mother, but experts advise that it be done only if absolutely necessary. The surgery can take place while the mother is awake, or it can be performed while the mother is under anesthesia. First, a six-inch incision is made in the lower abdomen of the mother. A second incision is then cut into the uterus to safely deliver the baby. Afterward, both incisions are stitched back up and allowed to heal. The whole procedure usually takes between forty-five minutes to one hour. Recovery may take up to six weeks. Close monitoring by a doctor until the incisions are fully healed is highly recommended.