Overview
If you are pregnant, you probably would be in a dilemma whether to have a c-section or vaginal birth. Well, it isn′t in your hands because no one has control over the things that can happen in the labour room. C-section is a boon for the women who have a high-risk pregnancy. If there are no complications with the pregnancy or labour, a vaginal birth is safer than a c-section.
It is unfortunate to say that, many women have started to prefer c-sections over normal deliveries because of various reasons. And they don′t think about the complications that arise in future after having a c-section. This doesn′t mean that normal delivery is safe for a woman even if she has complications with her pregnancy. But to opt for a c-section just because some women are afraid of labour pains or the complications that would occur in the labour room is not advisable.
As all surgical procedures carry some risks and complications, so as c-section does. As everyone knows a c-section involves a major incision in the abdomen and pelvic area, some complications are carried with current pregnancies and any future pregnancies as well. Be aware of the possible risks and complications of having a c-section to take care of you in the future.
Risks of Having A Caesarean or C-Section
Pain
Women who have a c-section need pain relief after the operation and need longer time to recover when compared to those who have a vaginal birth. They feel pain in the wound for the first few days and discomfort in the abdomen for at least two weeks after the surgery. It may affect their day-to-day activities at least for few months.
Bleeding
It is common to lose blood during child birth. But this is more in the case of c-section when compared to a vaginal birth. Most of the bleeding will be at the time of the surgery which will be managed by the doctors. Heavy bleeding is uncommon, but it may mean that woman who lost more blood during surgery needs to have a blood transfusion.
Infection
In rare conditions, women may catch up an infection after having a c-section. To reduce the risk, a single dose of antibiotics is given before the surgery. The three main infections are infection in the wound, infection in the lining of the womb and urinary tract infection.
Blood Clot
Similar to other surgeries, even c-section raises the chance of developing a blood clot. This can be serious depending on where the clot occurs. To avoid the formation of blood clots, women are given preventive treatments such as blood-thinning drugs and elastic support stockings to improve the flow of blood in legs. Women are asked to move around as soon as possible after the c-section, which helps the blood circulation and reduce the risk of clot forming.
Adhesions
Adhesions are the bands of scar tissue that can make organs in the abdomen stick to each other or to the inside wall of the abdomen. They can be painful as they limit the movement of internal organs. Adhesions are not so common but the rate of adhesions increases with number of c-sections one may have.
