According to AmericanPregnancy.org, more than one in four American women now give birth by cesarean section. Sometimes, these procedures are pre-planned, and this is particularly common if you have given birth using this method before. Other times, emergency situations lead to C-section deliveries, and this is especially likely if the medical team feels that a regular birth will place you or your baby at risk.
As is the case with any surgery, however, there are risks in delivering a baby via C-section, and both mother and baby can experience complications.
Potential complications for the baby
When you give birth via a C-section, your baby is more likely to experience breathing and respiratory issues than he or she would be if you had a vaginal delivery. Your baby is also more likely to need breathing assistance immediately following delivery because of your procedure. Your surgeon could also cut or nick your baby during the C-section delivery, which happens in one or two out of every 100 C-section births. Furthermore, babies born via C-section sometimes have lower APGAR scores after delivery, which are numbers used to assess your newborn’s overall physical condition.
Potential complications for the mother
When you deliver your baby via a C-section, you are at risk of surgical complications, including infections. Infections might develop where your incision is, or they may affect other exposed or affected parts of your body, such as your bladder. You also run the risk of suffering injury to an internal organ, such as your bowel, which occurs about two times per every 100 C-section deliveries. You are also at a higher risk for substantial blood loss when you give birth using this method, which can lead to additional complications, such as anemia or the need for blood transfusions.
These are just some of the risks you face when delivering a baby through a C-section. If you or your baby suffered injury during the birth process, you may find it beneficial to speak with an attorney.
Services We Offer:
Family Law | Child Custody | Divorce | Personal Injury | Auto Accidents
