Risks of C-section

A c-section is major abdominal surgery. It is the most common surgery performed in the United States today. The cesarean section rate in the U.S. as of 2006, is 31.1%--the highest rate ever. This is 1 out of every 3 women having a baby by major surgery.

Two-thirds of the c-sections that are done today, are done for the following reasons:

1. What doctors call "failure to progress". This is simply not giving birth within the time limit that the doctor and/or hospital have set for you (usually between 12-24 hours).

The cesarean births that I attended as doula were done for "failure to progress" which could also be termed "failure to be patient".

Our bodies and our babies are not machines and they do not conform to arbitrary time limits!

2. Having had a prior cesarean.

"Once a cesarean always a cesarean" is not the best policy.

Elective repeat cesarean section poses greater risks than a vaginal birth after cesarean(VBAC).

3. One other reason that doctors commonly give for performing cesarean sections is CPD (cephalo-pelvic disproportion). CPD is also known as "your pelvis is just too small for this big baby". Unless you have a deformed pelvis due to injury or illness--it is highly unlikely. True CPD is very rare.

Your body will not grow a baby that is too big for it to birth.

The World Health Organization has found that countries with the best perinatal mortality rates (deaths of babies at or around the time of birth), have cesarean section rates of 10% or less. It is estimated that the rate of Cesarean births should be within a few percentage points of this 10% mark for the best outcomes.

This means two-thirds of the c-sections in the U.S. are unnecessary!

A higher c-section rate of above 10% has not reduced the overall rate of infant and maternal mortality. In other words, c-sections do not improve overall birth outcomes.

Risks To The Mother

An elective cesarean DOUBLES the maternal death rate. Unplanned cesareans have FOUR TIMES the maternal death rate.

2. Increases risk of injury to the mother.

Accidental injury to bowels, bladder, uterus, or uterine blood vessels occurs 2-10% of the time.

3. It carries the risk of anesthesia complications.

Women may have breathing difficulties if the anesthesia affects the breathing muscles. Some areas of the body may be unaffected by the anesthesia, so the woman can still feel pain.

4. It carries an 8-27% risk of infection.

The uterus, bladder, and surgical wound may become infected.

5. 1-6% of women lose enough blood during the surgery to require a blood transfusion.

6. A woman giving birth by cesarean section increases her risk of having an emergency hysterectomy.

7. 6-18 women per 1000 experience blood clots in their legs and 1-2% have blood clots in their lungs.

8. Women who have c-sections experience more pain post-partum than women who give birth vaginally.

One study showed 25% of women still having pain 2 weeks after the birth and 15% had pain at 8 weeks. This makes it difficult to hold, breastfeed, and care for your baby.

9. Women who have c-sections tend to rate their birth experience as less positive than women who give birth vaginally.

10. It increases the risk for psychological trauma such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder if the cesarean was unplanned.

11. 1% of women experience a paralyzed bowel due to scar tissue adhesions from the surgery.

12. It increases post-partum recovery time.

13. Depression after a cesarean birth is more likely.

This is no small concern for those of us with a history of depression.

14. It is more difficult to make the transition into motherhood while also recovering from major abdominal surgery.

15. It costs 76% higher than a vaginal birth.

Risks To The Baby

Accidental cuts to the baby occur 1-6% of the time.

2. Babies tend to be in poorer condition following a surgical birth.

Babies born by cesarean section are 3 times more likely to be admitted to intermediate or intensive care.

3. It increases jaundice in newborn babies.

4. Mothers tend to have less early contact with their babies.

Babies are often whisked away for a period of observation after c-section deliveries. In the 2 cesarean deliveries that I attended as doula, it was at least 30 minutes before baby and mother were reunited.

5. Babies are 5 times more likely to have breathing difficulties when they are delivered via c-section.

6. Babies have more problems breastfeeding after being born by c-section.

7. Babies have a higher incidence of asthma after being born by c-section.

Risks To Future Pregnancies and Future Babies

3. It increases the risk of placenta complications in future pregnancies.

Placental rupture (placenta abruptio), placenta growing over the cervix (placenta previa), or the placenta growing into the wall of the uterus,(placenta accreta or percreta). The more c-sections a woman has the more her risk increases for placental problems.

4. It increases the risk of uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies and labors.

5. Babies in future pregnancies are at a higher risk of being stillborn or of dying shortly after birth than are babies that grow in a uterus without a scar.

6. Babies in future pregnancies are at a higher risk of being born premature and low birth weight.

When A C-Section Is Truly Necessary

Umbilical cord prolapse--when the cord is coming out ahead of the baby. This cuts off the baby's oxygen supply.

Placental abruption--this occurs when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall before the baby is born.

Placenta previa--when the placenta is covering the cervix, the opening to the uterus.

True fetal distress--if fetal heart rate is consistently below 120 beats per minute, above 170 beats per minute, or does not change in response to contractions, it means that the baby is having trouble and needs to be born quickly. This should be confirmed by a fetal scalp sample or a biophysical profile before a cesarean is performed.

Transverse Lie--the baby is lying sideways in the womb and cannot be turned.

Uterine Rupture

Active outbreak of herpes at the time of labor

Eclampsia or toxemia when induction fails

The above situations are relatively rare and several of them can be spotted before labor begins. Most cesarean sections performed in this country are NOT done for these reasons.

Most cesareans are done for reasons which benefit the doctor or other caregiver and the hospital in which a woman gives birth--NOT for the benefit of the woman and her baby.

Question any caregiver who has a high c-section rate and/or a cavalier attitude toward cesarean sections.

It is simply not true that such a large number of women in this country need to have major abdominal surgery to have their babies.

Return from Cesarean Section Risks to Natural Birth
Return from C-section Risks to Dare to Give Birth Naturally Home