Possible C Section Complications

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While a C-Section is fairly safe, it’s still major surgery and carries a number of risks, especially compared to vaginal delivery. Like all surgeries, complications include infection, hemorrhaging, a painful recovery and even death. Here’s a look at the possible C Section complications you should be aware of.

Possible C Section Complications: Infection
Infection is the most common complication from a C-Section and may be in the uterine tissue, urinary tract or incision. Uterine tissue infection, or postpartum endomyometritis,* occurs in about 40% of women and is 20 times more likely after a C Section than after a vaginal delivery. Incision infection occurs in about 2.5 to 15% of women, while urinary tract infections occur in around 16% of women after a C Section.

Possible C Section Complications: Blood Clots
Blood clots are a serious complication of a C Section, although they are found in 1 out of every 400 pregnancies, regardless of the delivery method. Blood clots are 5 times more likely to occur after a C Section and may lead to death in extreme situations.

Possible C Section Complications: Other Risks

• Heavy blood loss
• Nausea, severe headaches and vomiting due to the procedure and anesthesia
• Bowel problems, including constipation or the intestines failing to remove waste normally
• Maternal death. This is a very rare complication and occurs in 6 out of every 100,000 planned C Section deliveries. Emergency C Sections have a higher rate of death, around 18 per 100,000.

Possible C Section Complications: Risks with Subsequent Births
Having a C Section puts a woman at greater risk for complications during subsequent births as well. These complications include:

• Preterm birth
• Breech presentation
• Low birth weight
• Ruptured uterus. A rupture can happen with a very small tear or a large one that causes the placenta and fetus to enter the abdominal cavity. This occurs when the incision scar from a C Section stretches and tears during pregnancy or labor. It may require a blood transfusion or a hysterectomy and the baby could die from lack of oxygen.* After a low transverse C Section the risk is only 1%, although it jumps to 4-10% after a classic C Section.

Possible C Section Complications: Subsequent C Section Births
Women who have repeated C Sections are also at greater risk for many complications.

• Placenta accreta. This occurs when the placenta is attached too deeply to the uterine wall. The chances of this complication get higher with each C Section as scar tissue builds up.
• Emergency hysterectomy. Women who have repeated C Sections are at greater risk for emergency hysterectomies as well. After the 4th C Section a woman is 5x more likely to require the surgery and the risk is 20x greater after the 6th C Section.
• Placenta previa. This condition occurs when the placenta is too low in the uterus, blocking the cervix. It can create the need for an additional C Section.

Possible C Section Complications: Risks for Baby
Babies born by C Section also face many complications, such as neonatal respiratory distress. This is breathing problems during the child’s first few days that may require oxygen therapy. It occurs in 12-35 per 1,000 C Section births, compared to only 5 per 1,000 vaginal births.