Compared with vaginal delivery, cesarean section is associated with a three- to sixfold risk of severe complications. Furthermore, it increases also long term gynecological morbidity, including intermenstrual bleeding, chronic pelvic pain and risk of secondary infertility.
Some women do experience symptoms related to their C-section scar long after the operation. Some women feel pain, restriction, or a pulling sensation on or around their scar months or even years after surgery. This is normally due to the build-up of scar tissue which can stick to muscles or even organs and cause pain.
Long-Term Effects of C-Sections
Children born by C-section also suffer increased rates of diseases, including asthma, type I diabetes, allergies, obesity, as well as reduced overall cognitive functioning and lower academic performance.
As women age, the uterine muscle loses its ability to contract efficiently, and this can contribute to heavy bleeding after C-sections among older women, Deneux-Tharaux said. “The physiological stop in bleeding after birth involves a contraction of the uterus; that might be reduced in older women,” Deneux-Tharaux said.
We know that every patient has a different labor and delivery experience, but in general, it takes around six weeks to completely heal from your C-section.
There's usually no limit to the number of caesarean sections that you can have. But the more caesareans you have, the longer each operation will take, and the higher your risk of complications becomes. If you've had a caesarean in the past, it's still possible to give birth to your baby vaginally.
Not all c-sections are traumatic, just as not all vaginal births are joyful. But for those who experience a cesarean and have emotional distress because of it, professional postpartum support and counseling or therapy is critical.
Abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) can occur after procedures such as cesarean section (incidence of 0.03-0.4%) or even less common with hysterectomy, salpingostomy, episiotomy, amniocentesis, and laparoscopy surgeries [1,2].
C-section Incision Pain Years Later
As nerves regrow around your incision site, you might feel cramps and pain. These c section complications can manifest even years later. However, it might be a sign of internal damage or scar tissue growing too thick.
Adhesions that form around or on your intestines can interfere with your digestive system. The adhesions may limit your ability to pass gas, creating abdominal cramps, uncomfortable gas pains, and abdominal bloating.
The cesarean delivery group in cohort 1 showed significantly lower white matter development in widespread brain regions and significantly lower functional connectivity in the brain default mode network, controlled for a number of potential confounders.
After your C-section, you might look like you're still pregnant. This is normal. Most women lose 13 pounds (6 kilograms) during birth, including the weight of the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid. During your recovery, you'll drop more weight as your body gets rid of excess fluids.
Some people do feel pain or numbness (or both) at their C-section scar for months or even years after the surgery.
Increasing number of cesarean deliveries was associated with an increasing risk of small bowel obstruction (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.46-1.78, per additional cesarean delivery).
The article notes that levels of each of the 'birth signaling hormones'—oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and the glucocorticoids—are lower following cesarean delivery compared with vaginal delivery.
The most common symptom of endometriosis and adenomyosis after a cesarean delivery is pelvic pain. Another common symptom is the formation of a mass or lump in the surgical scar. The lump can vary in size and can be painful. Some people may notice that the mass is discolored, and it can even bleed.
C-sections can also cause certain ongoing problems. For example, C-sections can cause chronic pelvic pain in some women, and babies born by C-section are at increased risk of developing chronic childhood diseases like asthma and child- onset diabetes.
However, from the current medical evidence, most medical authorities do state that if multiple C-sections are planned, the expert recommendation is to adhere to the maximum number of three.”
Research shows that birth by cesarean section can influence your baby's microbiome and immune health. New research has found that babies born via cesarean section may have an impaired immune system in later life due to the lack of exposure to maternal bacteria that would occur during the standard birthing process.
Ideally, your doctor will cut through the same scar so that you don't have multiple scars on your abdomen and uterus. Sometimes scar tissue can be difficult to cut through but your doctor should be able to cut through it.
There's usually no limit to the number of caesarean sections you can have. But the more caesareans you have, the longer each operation will take and the higher your risk of serious complications becomes. You will have scar tissue where your wounds have healed after each operation.
Kristina House (USA) has given birth to 11 children (six girls and five boys) all by Caesarean section between 15 May 1979 and 20 November 1998.