Cesarean Section Injuries

The Caesarian Section, often referred to as the C-Section, is the means of delivering or removing the baby from a mother’s womb by surgery. It is a major abdominal surgery wherein incisions are made on the mother’s abdomen and then on the uterus to bring the baby into the world. The C-Section is often resorted to during childbirth emergencies when either the mother or the baby or both their health are compromised as a result of prolonged labor and difficult delivery.

While the C-Section is said to be the safest method of child delivery, just as with any medical surgery, complications can still arise which can result in injuries for both mother and the baby. Minor complications for the mother may include:

• Infections in the mother or baby
• Minor bleeding
• Separation of a scar on the uterus from a previous cesarean delivery
• Hemorrhoids
• Constipation
• Urinary tract infection
• Ileus (a temporary stoppage of bowel activity)
• Abnormal or painful scar
• Allergic skin reaction.

These minor complications are often just temporary and can be easily treated. There are also major complications which can result from factors such as the mother having diabetes; heart, lung or kidney diseases; seizure disorders, sexually transmitted diseases or hepatitis. Also considered at risk for C-Section major complications are overweight mothers who continue using alcohol, tobacco products, or other drugs, such as cocaine during their pregnancy.

Major C-Section complications for the mother include:

• Serious bleeding during or after surgery
• Infection
• Organ damage, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, and/or ureters
• Damage to the intestines, including a perforation or a hole in its lining or a burn injury
• Blood vessel injury
• Blood clots
• Nerve damage
• Rupture of the uterus at the scar from a previous cesarean section or surgery
• Wound breakdown
• Complications from high blood pressure
• Lung or heart problems, including pneumonia
• Lung or heart failure
• Abdominal adhesions
• Reactions to medication or anesthesia

As for the baby, birthing injuries which can result from C-Section complications include fractures to the skull or long bones; scratches, cuts or lacerations; serious brain or nerve damage; infections or even death.

Treatment on both mother and child will depend on the kind of complication that is being suffered. Mother should immediately seek medical intervention if she is having fever with abdominal pain, separation of the wound edges, blood and fluid loss or both, severe increase in vaginal bleeding, inability to keep down fluids, abnormal and foul-smelling vaginal discharge and inability to urinate.