The emergency cesarean delivery of a baby endanged during child labor or unsuccessful vaginal birth: Indications for the need of an abdominal rescue include fetal distress (fetal hypoxia or low oxygen levels in the fetus) associated with dystocia (difficult or painful childbirth labor or delivery), arrested descent (interruption in the labor process), abruptio placentae (placenta prematurely separating from the wall of the uterus), or umbilical cord prolapse (slipping or falling out of place).