Cesarean Section Complications

When a cesarean is done, the risks and benefits of the procedure need to be weighed. This includes looking at the added benefits and risks of doing a cesarean or of birthing the child vaginally. Sometimes the benefits of the cesarean will outweigh the risks and sometime the vaginal birth benefits will outweigh the risks of the cesarean.

Cesarean birth is major surgery, and, as with other surgical procedures, risks are involved. The estimated risk of a woman dying after a cesarean birth is less than one in 2,500 (the risk of death after a vaginal birth is less than one in 10,000). These are estimated risks for a large population of women. Individual medical conditions, such as some heart problems, may make the risk of vaginal birth higher than cesarean birth.

Risks for the Baby

Premature birth. If the due date was not accurately calculated, the baby could be delivered too early.

Breathing problems. Babies born by cesarean are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth).

Low Apgar scores. Babies born by cesarean sometimes have low Apgar scores. The low score can be an effect of the anesthesia and cesarean birth, or the baby may have been in distress to begin with. Or perhaps the baby was not stimulated as he or she would have been by vaginal birth.

Fetal injury. Although rare, the surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the uterine incision.

Risks for the Mother

Infection. The uterus or nearby pelvic organs, such as the bladder or kidneys, can become infected.

Increased blood loss. Blood loss on the average is about twice as much with cesarean birth as with vaginal birth. However, blood transfusions are rarely needed during a cesarean.

Decreased bowel function. The bowel sometimes slows down for several days after surgery, resulting in distention, bloating, and discomfort.

Respiratory complications. General anesthesia can sometimes lead to pneumonia.

Longer hospital stay and recovery time. Three to five days in the hospital is the common length of stay, whereas it is less than one to three days for a vaginal birth.

Reactions to anesthesia. The mother's health could be endangered by unexpected responses (such as blood pressure that drops quickly) to anesthesia or other medications during the surgery.

Risk of additional surgeries. For example, hysterectomy, bladder repair, etc.

You can get blood clots in the legs, pelvic organs, or lungs.

Your bowel or bladder can be injured.

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