Risks

Like other types of major surgery, C-sections also carry risks.

Risks to your baby include:

• Breathing problems. Babies born by scheduled C-section are more likely to develop transient tachypnea — a breathing problem marked by abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth.
• Surgical injury. Although rare, accidental nicks to the baby's skin can occur during surgery.

Risks to you include:

• Infection. After a C-section, you might be at risk of developing an infection of the lining of the uterus (endometritis).
• Postpartum hemorrhage. A C-section might cause heavy bleeding during and after delivery.
• Reactions to anesthesia. Adverse reactions to any type of anesthesia are possible.
• Blood clots. A C-section might increase your risk of developing a blood clot inside a deep vein, especially in the legs or pelvic organs (deep vein thrombosis). If a blood clot travels to your lungs and blocks blood flow (pulmonary embolism), the damage can be life-threatening.
• Wound infection. Depending on your risk factors and whether you needed an emergency C-section, you might be at increased risk of an incision infection.
• Surgical injury. Although rare, surgical injuries to the bladder or bowel can occur during a C-section. If there is a surgical injury during your C-section, additional surgery might be needed.
• Increased risks during future pregnancies. After a C-section, you face a higher risk of potentially serious complications in a subsequent pregnancy than you would after a vaginal delivery. The more C-sections you have, the higher your risks of placenta previa and a condition in which the placenta becomes abnormally attached to the wall of the uterus (placenta accreta). The risk of your uterus tearing open along the scar line from a prior C-section (uterine rupture) is also higher if you attempt a VBAC.