 infection of the wound
inflammation of the membrane lining your uterus known as endometritis, this can cause fever, uterine pain and abnormal vaginal discharge, which can be treated with antibiotics
decreased bowel functions the surgery may mean your waste material moves slowly through your intestines, leading to constipation
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, or damage to your bladder.
The major risk for your baby is that it may be affected by temporary breathing difficulties. Directly after the birth, and in the first few days of your babys life they may breathe abnormally fast; this is called transient tachypnea. See your GP if you believe your baby is experiencing breathing difficulties, as treatment with oxygen may be necessary. Most newborns with transient tachypnea usually recover completely within two or three days.
There is a very small risk of death during a delivery for both you and your baby. This risk is three times greater for a Caesarean section than for a vaginal delivery. 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 a Caesarean section are usually far outweighed by the risks of not doing it, particularly in an emergency situation.
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