Factsheet based on governement statistics and clinical reseach

Caesarean Section

• Just 25 years ago only one in 20 pregnant women had a caesarean birth
• For first time mothers CSR was 24% in 2002[1]
• A CS birth costs the NHS in the region of £100 more than a natural birth.
• A 1% annual rise in caesarean births costs the NHS £5 million each year.[2]
• The most common indications for a CS are failure to progress, presumed foetal compromise and breech presentation[3],[4]
• 81% of women who had a ceasarean in their first pregnancy had artificial oxytocin (a hormone to speed up labour) prior to their CS
• Only 2% of births (16% of CS) are categorized as having immediate threat to mother or baby [5]
• Electronic Foetal monitoring has been shown to have no additional benefits. The only major influence has been on the increase of cesareans sections[6]
• Mothers who have CS are more likely to have problems conceiving, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa in subsequent pregnancies.2,[7]

The risks / drawbacks associated with caesareans[8]:-

• Maternal death (risk rates for a woman associated with a caesarean section are, on average, around six times higher than with a vaginal birth. Even an elective caesarean carries a three-fold greater risk of death than a vaginal birth)

• Higher risk of haemorrhage

• Higher risk of urinary infections

• Higher risk of post-operative wound infection

• Higher risk of inflammation of the womb (endometritis)

• Poor psychological outcomes particularly if emergency/unexpected.

• Longer post-operative recovery

• Longer stay in hospital

• More reported pain after the birth

• Less able to look after the new baby

• Increases need to break wind more often

• Increased chance of being readmitted to hospital

• Increased chance of a hysterectomy

• Itchy and painful scar (especially as pubic hair grows back)

• Not able to drive for up to 6 weeks after the birth

• Hard to carry out basic household activities eg vacuuming, lifting

• Scar tissue or adhesions may cause long-term pain, bowel obstruction, infertility or miscarriage

• The baby is more likely to be cut by the surgeon's scalpel.

• A higher incidence of respiratory in the baby problems both at birth an in adult life