What Are the Risks of Cesarean Surgery?

3.10.2010 | By: JP

In some countries, women can choose whether they want to undergo cesarean surgery, but there are certain risks involved. First, let’s take a look at the procedure itself.

Cesarean section saves lives, but both mother and baby are still two to four times more likely to risk their lives. (Photoxpress)

What’s cesarean surgery?

Cesarean surgery or c-section (Lat. sectio caesarea) is a surgical procedure in which incisions are made into the walls of the abdomen and womb. So, a c-section is actually an operation in which a mother’s abdomen and womb is cut and she delivers her baby through these incisions. The placenta and fetal membranes are also removed through these incisions. The term cesarean section refers to a legend about the birth of Gaius Julius Caesar, who was born by a c-section according to the records of Pliny the Elder from 1st century B.C., but there’s no hard evidence that proves this story. In the past, cesarean surgery was performed almost exclusively in emergency medical cases, but today a c-section is often performed at the request of the pregnant woman herself, although the new mother is four times more likely to risk her health and life because of a number of complications, from bleeding to infections and problems with anesthesia, compared to a natural delivery. New figures show that cesarean surgery is on the rise. It’s become a real fashion trend because mothers are allowed to opt for a c-section.

When is cesarean surgery performed?

Cesarean surgery is considered in the event that a normal vaginal delivery threatens the life of mother and baby or it’s necessary to end the pregnancy immediately because there’s not enough time to deliver the baby in the natural way. We distinguish between emergency and elective c-section. Elective c-section means that you decide during your pregnancy to undergo cesarean surgery. In that case, you’re given drugs to induce delivery 1-2 hours before the c-section is performed, because of which you bleed less during the surgery and your baby can adapt more easily to the new environment. In general, the surgery is performed under local anesthesia and a transverse incision is made just above the pubic hair, so it’s less visible after healing. Another cause of the elective c-section is the state of the mother’s health. For instance, if she’s infected with the herpes virus, has hypertension (increased blood pressure), diabetes and so on. But these medical conditions don’t always result in cesarean surgery. The emergency c-section is performed in the event that something goes wrong during vaginal delivery. In that case, general anesthesia is normally used and a vertical incision is made into the abdominal wall to save some time.

What are the common causes of cesarean surgery?

The common causes of cesarean surgery are: cord prolapse (the umbilical cord slips through the cervix and protrudes from the vagina before the baby is born), placental abruption (the separation of the placenta from the uterine lining that usually occurs in the third trimester), placenta previa (the placenta lies low in the uterus and partially or completely covers the cervix, so the baby can’t enter the birth canal), breech position (the baby is in transverse position, i.e. lying sideways in the womb), cephalopelvic disproportion or CPD (the baby’s head is too large or the mother’s pelvis is too small to allow the baby to pass through), fetal distress (the baby is showing signs of problems during delivery, such as heart rate changes), birth defects (abnormalities of structure, function, or body metabolism that are present at birth), dystocia (abnormal or difficult delivery), bleeding in the third trimester, mother’s exhaustion, repeated c-section (with no indication for a vaginal birth) and previous operations of the womb (the wall of the womb is weakened).