Today in France, 1 child out of 5 is born by cesarean section. In 35 years, in France as in Belgium, the frequency of this operation has doubled. In the 1980s, it was used in 10% of cases. In 2003, the frequency of cesarean sections increased to 20%. Since then, the numbers seem to have stabilized at around 21%.

Even if the scars and after-effects are almost minimal at this time, it is important to be aware that this is a surgical operation and that any operation carries risks. Cesarean section is a different delivery method than natural vaginal delivery. Whether considered out of fear on the part of the mother or out of comfort for the doctor or the mother, a C-section influences the intrauterine processes related to birth, the hormonal processes related to delivery and breastfeeding, as well as your baby's first few minutes of life, as well as the future mother-child and father-child relationships.

Caesarean section risks for mom

Caesarean section, which may be presented as a simple, quick and easy way to deliver a child, is not a natural process. It should only be performed when there is a real problem at the end of the pregnancy (pelvis really too narrow which is rare, baby very badly positioned also rare or mother exhausted) or directly during a delivery that starts quite normally and is hindered by a difficulty.

This surgical procedure under general or local anesthesia (epidural) involves risks and short- and long-term consequences for both the mother and the baby.

Let's see what the possible risks are?

• Post-operative infection (nosocomial infections): as with any operation, the risk of infection contracted at the surgical site is increasingly frequent. In fact, due to asepsis that was far too rigorous and the excessive use of antibiotics for several decades, bacteria have developed antibiotic resistance and have become much more virulent (see staphylococcus aureus).
• Adhesions: result from a defect of cicatrization with as a consequence different tissues which stick to each other. This can cause discomfort or go completely unnoticed.
• Fewer children afterwards
• Increased frequency of cesarean delivery in subsequent pregnancies: after a first cesarean delivery, the risk of cesarean delivery in a subsequent pregnancy increases. Studies show that about two-thirds (61.8%) of women who have had a first cesarean section have another one in subsequent deliveries.
• Increased risk of placenta previa in subsequent pregnancies: Placenta previa is when the placenta is located too close to the cervix. The latter can go as far as covering the cervix and making it impossible for the baby to pass. This is why the location of the placenta is systematically checked during the follow-up ultrasound and especially during the third ultrasound, because the placenta rises during the pregnancy.
• Postpartum difficulty for the mother due to the absence of the labor phase during delivery. This work allows, among other things, to trigger the secretion of certain hormones that are very useful for breastfeeding and for the restoration of all the tissues and the physiological and emotional functions of the mother.
• Weakening of the mother's vital energy since any anesthetic substance reaches the thyroid gland, the gland of life and vital energy.
• However, anesthetics remain toxic substances that impact the liver, hence the vomiting and possible discomfort that may persist in sensitive women during the few days following the procedure.

For information, doing sports during pregnancy divides by two the risk of having a caesarean section. The practice of sports would also help to deliver smaller babies, therefore easier to expel.