Cesarean sections have become increasingly common over the years. As an expectant mother, you stand what AmericanPregnancy.org notes is a more than one in four chance of delivering your baby through this method. Sometimes, C-sections are completely unplanned and necessary because the birth process does not progress normally, among other reasons.
Other times, you may have a C-section because you had one in the past, and physicians often recommend that you continue to have them for any subsequent births. Regardless of the reason behind your C-section, it is important to understand the risks this surgery poses to you and your baby.
C-section risks for the mother
All surgeries have some degree of risk involved, and C-sections are no exception. You are likelier to die during childbirth if you have a C-section as opposed to a vaginal birth, and you also are likelier to need additional surgeries in the future, such as hysterectomies and further C-sections.
You also run the risk of an infection because of your surgery, which may develop in your incision area or in another part of your body that the surgery affects, such as your bladder. Furthermore, a physician can nick your bladder or other organs during the procedure, and you have a higher chance of experiencing significant blood loss when you give birth through this method, as opposed to having a regular, vaginal delivery.
C-section risks for the baby
Just as your organs are at risk for cuts and nicks during a C-section, so is your baby. Surgeons cut about one or two out of every 100 babies born via C-section. Additionally, your baby may be underweight or premature at the time of birth if your physician did not accurately determine your baby’s gestational age.
Your baby is also about 50 percent likelier to have a low APGAR score because you had a C-section as opposed to a vaginal birth. Medical professionals assign these scores, which assess your child’s physical well-being, shortly after birth.
These are just some of the issues you or your baby may experience during or following a C-section birth. If you or your baby suffered injury in such a procedure, consider contacting an attorney.