Health encyclopaedia

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Risks of Caesarean section

There are health risks associated with caesarean section.  Although a common procedure, it still represents major abdominal surgery, and any operation carries a certain amount of risk.

The main risks include:

• infection of the wound
• thrombosis (clot) formation in the legs, which can be dangerous if part of the clot breaks off and lodges in the lungs
• excess bleeding
• temporary problems with bladder control, and
• temporary breathing difficulties for the baby.

There is a very small risk of death during delivery for mother or baby.  This risk is three times greater for caesarean section than for vaginal delivery, and the recovery period is generally longer.

It is important to remember that this procedure has saved the lives of many women and babies over the years.  Where a danger to health has been identified, the risks of the caesarean section are usually far outweighed by the risks of not doing it, particularly in an emergency situation.

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