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WARNING: Be aware that the following information describes various complications that some readers may find disturbing. You may choose not to read all or parts of this section. |
Possible variations for the woman
The following is a summary of the possible complications or 'variations' that can occur for the woman having a Caesarean birth. Many variations are similar to the possible complications associated with having any major abdominal operation. Some variations are specifically unique to actually having a Caesarean. While both vaginal birth and Caesarean birth carry risks, the overall big picture is that from a statistical perspective, vaginal births tend to be much 'safer' for women, and Caesarean births tend to be marginally 'safer' for babies.
Overall, we do know that the average prevalence of complications for women having a Caesarean birth are significantly higher than for women who have a vaginal birth, especially in regard to infections. The reporting of complications will vary but can be as high as 28% for a Caesarean birth, compared with about 1.6 to 3% following a vaginal birth. These variations can range from being fairly minor to quite severe complications.
Without wanting to alarm women who will ultimately need a Caesarean birth, we feel it is important to be aware of the relationship that exists between having a Caesarean birth, and the extremely rare chance that a woman could die in relation to childbirth.
This knowledge may play a role in your decision making when considering a Caesarean birth for a non-medical reasons, where the risks of the operation do not outwiegh the risks of a vaginal birth.
In the very rare circumstance of death in relation to childbirth, the risk is about 4 to 6 times higher for women having a Caesarean, when compared to a vaginal birth. This is either due to the operation itself, or the anaesthetic being used.