Uterine incision to delivery interval has been suggested as a critical determinant of neonatal outcome; however, studies of skin incision and uterine incision to delivery intervals have usually not analyzed the contribution of obstetric factors relative to time factors in determining outcome. A group of 204 patients undergoing cesarean delivery were studied. Stepwise multivariate regression was used to examine the relative contribution of obstetric and anesthetic factors to Apgar scores and umbilical cord blood gases. Apgar scores and umbilical cord blood gases were significantly influenced by labor complications (fetal distress, meconium, and pre-eclampsia), infant weight, type of cesarean delivery (primary vs. repeat), and type of anesthesia. Skin incision and uterine incision to delivery intervals did not significantly contribute to Apgar scores nor umbilical cord blood gases when corrected for these factors. We conclude that careful attention to maternal status prior to cesarean delivery and optimal anesthetic management appear to be the most important factors for good neonatal outcome. Surgical techniques should be directed at gentle, atraumatic delivery of the fetus for the good of the fetus and the mother.