★ A Major New Work by a Leading Expert, Empowered by 50 Years of Clinical Experience
The latest book from renowned medical expert and preeminent obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Caroline de Costa—the first female professor of obstetrics and gynecology in Australia and recipient of the Medical Association’s Gold Medal and Member of the Order of Australia (AM)—brings together her dual roles as a clinician and science communicator to transform complex knowledge about cesarean sections into a comprehensive, accessible guide for the general public.

★ A Comprehensive Exploration of Hot Topics, From Historical Evolution to Future Trends
This book not only traces the evolution of cesarean section—from an emergency procedure to a common mode of delivery—but also delves into cutting-edge areas such as emerging research on the maternal-infant microbiome, the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes during pregnancy, and a deeper understanding of birth trauma. It systematically examines the rationale behind cesarean delivery, its advantages and disadvantages, and alternative options, helping readers move beyond black-and-white thinking to develop a scientifically informed perspective on birth decisions, empowering expectant parents to make choices based on full transparency.

★ Breaking Through with Q&A: Addressing Expectant Parents’ Core Concerns
The book tackles the most pressing questions on the minds of expectant parents—such as “Are cesarean sections really performed too often? Should it be scheduled or performed emergently? How should breech presentation or placental issues be managed? What impact does it have on a child’s academic performance and on postpartum depression?”—by dissecting each issue with clinical cases and the latest research data. Balancing deep medical insight with practical, relatable guidance, it transforms the once-foreign term “cesarean section” into a birth option that is understandable, planable, and decision-ready.

★ Connecting Past and Future: Infusing Knowledge with Humanity and Foresight
Starting with the historical link between Julius Caesar and cesarean section, the book retraces the origins of this procedure in medical history, then moves on to modern topics like the Robson classification system, VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and economic considerations. By weaving together historical depth and forward-looking perspectives, it helps readers understand how cesarean section has evolved within the broader context of medical progress.

Here is the latest research on cesarean sections by leading obstetrician and medical school professor of obstetrics, Dr. Caroline de Costa!
High-quality information about cesarean delivery is more important than we might realize.
Around 40 per cent of Australian babies are born by caesarean section - now a common part of childbirth, whether planned ahead or done as an emergency when pregnancy or labour takes an unexpected turn.
This book, written by one of Australia's leading obstetricians, traces how perceptions of caesarean birth have changed, with the focus today on outcomes, informed consent, understanding obstetric trauma and the rising incidence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension in pregnancy. New science about maternal and infant microbiomes adds to the changed birth landscape.
Caroline de Costa delivers answers for expectant parents that covers the latest research, explaining how and why caesareans are performed, their benefits and risks, and what the future holds for caesarean birth.

Caroline de Costa
Caroline de Costa (born 1947) is the first woman to hold a professorship in obstetrics and gynaecology in Australia. She is a distinguished medical expert, a leading obstetrician and gynaecologist, and a pioneering advocate for women’s reproductive health rights and social change. Her contributions span clinical practice and research, with particular emphasis on obstetric epidemiology and the reproductive health of Indigenous women.
Currently, she is a professor at the Cairns Institute of James Cook University (JCU). Over nearly five decades, she has been actively engaged in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology as well as academic teaching, mentoring numerous medical students and junior doctors.
Born in Sydney, Australia, Caroline entered the University of Sydney to study medicine in 1964. She later pursued further medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin, earning an MB BS from the University of London and Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of Ireland and England (LRCP&SI) in 1973. Following her graduation, she completed residency training at Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea before returning to Ireland, where she undertook specialist training in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. In 1978, she obtained a diploma from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in the UK; in 1980, she became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; in 1981, she was admitted as a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; and in 1990, she re-qualified as a fellow of the RCOG. She earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Sydney in 1995 and a PhD from the same institution in 2010. From 1980 to 1994, she practiced obstetrics and gynaecology first in Port Moresby and later in Sydney.
Caroline serves as an editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and is the author or co-author of more than 160 peer-reviewed papers in the field, as well as several textbooks, including “The Penis: A User’s Guide” (Allen & Unwin), “Pregnancy and Parenting After 35: Midlife and New Life” (Johns Hopkins University Press), and “Clinical Cases in Obstetrics and Women’s Health” (McGraw-Hill).
In addition, she has written non-fiction medical works and crime novels, such as “The Cloned Child: A Fable,” “Beneath the Skin,” “The Opera Diva and the Miracle Doctor,” “A Woman’s Doctor: More Than Fifty Years of Delivering Babies and Making History” (Allen & Unwin), and “Sarah Bernhardt and Dr. Pozi.”
Selected awards and honors:
2010: President’s Medal of the Australian Medical Association;
2014: President’s Medal of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists;
2014: Appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her significant contributions to medicine, particularly to the reproductive health of Indigenous populations and migrant women;
2024: Gold Medal of the Australian Medical Association.