C-section - benefits and risks

On this page:

Having a c-section

Benefits of having a c-section

Risks of having a c-section 

C-sections and links to long-term conditions

Future pregnancies

Having a c-section

Like any surgery, there are benefits and risks to having a c-section (caesarean). Here we explain more about what these are. Your healthcare professional will be able to tell you more about what these mean for you, depending on your circumstances.  

Knowing the possible benefits and risks of having a c-section can help you decide how you would like to give birth. What this means for you will depend on a few things, such as if you’re having a planned or emergency c-section, your general health and your baby’s wellbeing. 

During your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will talk to you about the benefits and risks of both caesarean and vaginal birth. They will help you think about your birth options by asking about your preferences concerns and plans for future pregnancies.  

Find out more about making decisions in pregnancy. 

Benefits of having a c-section

Having a c –section may be the safest option for you if you or your baby have certain health issues.   

You may be anxious about having a vaginal birth and decide that a c-section is a way for you to feel more comfortable about giving birth.

Speak to your health care team about your thoughts and feelings. You can get a second opinion if your doctor is unwilling to offer a c-section without a medical reason.

A planned c-section might also reduce the risk of:  

• pain during the birth
• injury to the vagina
• loss of bladder control
• the womb, vagina, bowel or bladder pushing against the wall of the vagina (pelvic organ prolapse).
• needing an assisted vaginal birth or an emergency caesarean birth.

These may still happen but your risk is lower than if you had a vaginal birth.

Your risk of bowel problems, pain during sex, depression and breastfeeding problems after birth is not increased after having a c-section. 

Risks of having a c-section

Having a c-section can increase some risks to you and your baby. This does not mean that these things will happen to you, but there may be a higher chance of them happening than if you had a vaginal birth. Speak to your midwife or doctor about how these risks may affect you and your baby.

Possible risks to you include:  

• urine, womb or wound infection – your doctor will offer you antibiotics before your c-section to help prevent infection
• needing to stay in hospital for longer after the birth – the average hospital stay is 2.5 days after a vaginal birth and 4 days after a c-section
• taking longer to recover from the birth
• bleeding that leads to a blood transfusion (in severe cases)  
• needing to have your womb removed (hysterectomy) – this is uncommon and may be more likely if you had problems with the placenta or bleeding during pregnancy
• blood clots
• problems in future pregnancies, such as low-lying placenta, placenta accreta and damage to the wall of the womb
• in rare cases there may be a chance of some damage to your bladder or other internal organs.

Read more about what to expect after a c-section.

Possible risks to your baby include:  

• a cut to the skin caused during surgery – this is usually minor and heals quickly
• breathing problems – these might be more common if your baby is born before 39 weeks of pregnancy. Most breathing problems get better after a few days, but some babies need support in the neonatal unit. When you’ve left hospital call 999 if your baby is struggling to breathe or their skin turns very pale or blue.

Giving birth in the UK is extremely safe whichever way your baby is born.

Babies born by c-section and babies born vaginally have similar risks of needing care from a neonatal unit, being born with a severe infection or having long term speech problems.

C-sections and links to long-term conditions

There has been some research into how c-sections affect the long-term health of children.  

There is a very small increased chance of babies born by caesarean developing asthma later on in life.

There is currently not enough evidence to be able to say for certain if either a caesarean or a vaginal birth is more associated with babies developing obesity in childhood.

Future pregnancies

Most women and birthing people who have had a c-section have no problems in future pregnancies.  

There is an increased risk of problems such as the scar in your womb opening up, and difficulties delivering the placenta, but this is uncommon.

If you become pregnant again, you can usually choose whether to give birth vaginally or have another c-section. If you’re fit and healthy, the risks involved are very low.  

If you would like to talk to a doctor or midwife about your birth options in future pregnancies, you can ask for a birth planning appointment. This will give you the chance to talk about your medical and pregnancy history to help you decide what’s best for you and your baby.

Read more about pregnancy and giving birth after a c-section.