Cesarean sections have become increasingly commonplace in recent years, with Americanpregnancy.org reporting that nearly 30 percent of all mothers now give birth through this method. While the planning of some C-sections occurs beforehand because, among other reasons, the mother had C-sections in the past, other C-sections happen under emergency circumstances.
Regardless of your reasoning for having a C-section, it is important that you understand the inherent risks involved in the procedure. While some of these risks apply to you directly, others concern your baby.
Risks for the mother
If you give birth via a C-section as opposed to a regular, vaginal delivery, you face a heightened risk of suffering blood loss. Furthermore, somewhere between one and six out of every 100 women who deliver babies via C-section experience blood loss to the point that they require a blood transfusion after the initial surgery.
As is the case with virtually any type of surgery, you also run the risk of developing an infection. Some mothers develop infections directly within their incision sites, while others develop them in their pelvic organs, including the bladder. You may, too, suffer injury to your bowel after undergoing a C-section.
Risks for the baby
If you deliver your baby via a C-section, your baby may have lower APGAR scores than he or she would if you delivered vaginally. APGAR scores give medical professionals an idea of your baby’s overall physical condition at the time of birth. Babies birthed via C-section may also be underweight, and if yours is at the time of his or her birth, it may be because your physician miscalculated your infant’s gestational age. Babies delivered via this method are also more likely to have respiratory problems, and they may also suffer nicks and cuts during the birthing process.
While this information gives you an idea of some of the complications associated with C-sections, please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all possible difficulties. It is also possible to have a safe and healthy birth via C-section; it is just important for every mother to understand the potential risks involved.
