During a cesarean delivery, or C-section, the doctor will make an incision through your abdominal wall. If a large incision is needed, the doctor might make a vertical incision from just below the navel to just above the pubic bone. Usually, the abdominal incision is made horizontally, near the pubic hairline.

After the abdominal incision, the doctor will make an incision through the abdominal tissues, separate your abdominal wall muscles and make an incision on your uterus. The uterine incision is usually horizontal, across the lower portion of the uterus. You’ll likely feel some movement as the doctor gently removes the baby from your uterus, but you shouldn’t feel pain.

The doctor will clear your baby’s mouth and nose of fluids, then clamp and cut the umbilical cord. The placenta will be removed from your uterus, and the incisions will be closed with sutures.