Childbirth is always an important and sensitive step in a woman's life. But it happens, following complications related to the state of health of the mother or the baby, that the delivery does not take place in a natural way. And that's where a cesarean is needed. The latter must be done under the supervision of a qualified medical team to preserve the health of the mother and the newborn.
What is a cesarean section?
Caesarean section is a surgical procedure performed after general or locoregional anesthesia. This surgery consists of an incision in the uterus of the mother after which it becomes possible to extract the baby. Statistics indicate that 1/3 of these interventions are decided during delivery while 2/3 of the cesareans are scheduled well before the work. The surgeon then makes an incision in the abdomen to break the water pocket and isolate the amniotic fluid before proceeding to the extraction of the baby. The stitches resulting from cesarean section are usually removed about 10 days after the caesarean section.
According to the New York Times, in just 15 years, the rate of cesarean section has increased by 50%. So if you are about to have a baby, chances are higher than ever that it ends with a caesarean section. But the problem with these surgeries is that once a woman has had one, there is a 90% chance that the next baby will be born by the same method. It is not a bad practice or discouraged, because in the end, it saves many lives but a certain limit is necessary.
What is the caesarean section too?
In fact, science does not have a clear answer about how many caesareans a woman can support, although it is generally proven that the more a woman has cesarean section, the greater the risk to her health. .
Dr. Marra Francis, Gynecologist-Obstetrician, explains: "As a rule, one or two caesarean sections do not pose significantly increased health risks for either the mother or the baby. But once women start having three or more caesareans, there is a significant risk of complications. "
According to Mayo Health Clinic, studies show that after your third cesarean section, your risk of complications increases, but there is no predefined number of "safe" Caesareans. These complications include:
Uterus and scar tissue
A scar is visible every time you have abdominal surgery. However, an accumulation of scars makes future caesareans more difficult and healing will also be more complicated given the scar tissue already present.
Problems of placenta
Sometimes, with multiple cesareans, your placenta may start acting differently. It can cling to the uterine wall, clog the openings in the cervix, or not fit properly into the uterine cavity. The latter pathology is called placenta previa and requires increased medical follow-up during pregnancy.
Injuries to the bladder or bowel
Although this risk is not common, it is quite possible that at the time of a caesarean, an injury is visible in the bladder or bowel. Indeed, in case of cesarean section, the risk of injury of the bladder or intestine is higher.
Intense bleeding
With multiple cesarean sections, the risk of bleeding and bleeding is very high. Indeed, lochia are more important after cesarean delivery than low birth delivery. Moreover, as is the case for other risks, the probability increases with the increase in the number of caesareans performed.
Note that the cesarean is done for very specific reasons and should be discussed with her gynecologist. In addition, be sure to ask your maternity hospital about Caesarean section practice, as some health professionals and facilities perform "comfort" Caesareans while delivery is safe for both the baby and the mother.