Possible benefits & risks
Risks for the baby
At time of operation
A scratch/cut your baby
During caesarean birth, injuries to the baby’s body by a scratch or cut can commonly happen:
These injuries are usually minor and heal well.
Severe injury to the baby during birth
Severe injury to the baby during birth is uncommon: 1 in 1000 caesarean births.
This may include fractures, injuries to nerves bleeds in the brain, and trauma to the spinal cord.
Difficulty delivering your baby
It may be difficult to deliver your baby. This can happen anytime especially if the baby is in a complicated breech position, lying sideways in your womb, their head is very high in your womb or very deeply inside your pelvis. If this is the case, extra things like the use of forceps or a vaginal examination may be needed.
Difficulty delivering baby happens in 10 in 100 unplanned/emergency caesarean births but also happens in planned caesareans.
Breathing Difficulties
Sometimes when baby’s are born they need some help to move from receiving the oxygen from your placenta to breathing on their own.
4 in 100 babies need extra help with breathing when they’re born
Babies born early (before 39 weeks) by a planned caesarean, small babies, babies exposed to infection during labour, and babies of diabetic mothers are more likely to need help breathing.
Chance of death of baby
Neonatal death is rare: 58 in 100,000 babies.
After the operation: short-term
Admission to Neonatal Care Unit
Sometimes when baby’s are born they will need to go to the neonatal unit for specialist care. This could be for breathing difficulties, infection, low blood sugars or more uncommon reasons.
Death of baby (up to 28 days after birth) is rare: 58 in 100,000 babies.
Risk of brain injury due to lack of oxygen during birth (hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy) is very rare.
After the operation: long-term
For women/birthing people that have a caesarean birth, 18 in 1000 children will develop childhood asthma.
References for short-term risks:
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Planned Caesarean Birth: Consent Advice No. 14 August 2022 Minor Update November 2024.
Cornthwaite K, Draycott T, Bahl R, Hotton E, Winter C, Lenguerrand E. Impacted fetal head: A retrospective cohort study of emergency caesarean section. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2021 Jun;261:85-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.04.021. Epub 2021 Apr 21.
Hansen AK, Wisborg K, Uldbjerg N, Henriksen TB. Risk of respiratory morbidity in term infants delivered by elective caesarean section: cohort study. BMJ. 2008 Jan 12;336(7635):85-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39405.539282.BE. Epub 2007 Dec 11
Liston FA, Allen VM, O'Connell CM, Jangaard KA. Neonatal outcomes with caesarean delivery at term. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2008 May;93(3):F176-82. doi: 10.1136/adc.2006.112565. Epub 2007 Oct 17
Herstad, L., Klungsøyr, K., Skjærven, R. et al. Elective caesarean section or not? Maternal age and risk of adverse outcomes at term: a population-based registry study of low-risk primiparous women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 16, 230 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-1028-3
MacDorman MF, Declercq E, Menacker F, Malloy MH. Neonatal mortality for primary cesarean and vaginal births to low-risk women: application of an "intention-to-treat" model. Birth. 2008 Mar;35(1):3-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.2007.00205.x.
References for long-term risks:
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Planned Caesarean Birth: Consent Advice No. 14 August 2022 Minor Update November 2024.
Larsson C, Källen K, Andolf E. Cesarean section and risk of pelvic organ prolapse: a nested case-control study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Mar;200(3):243.e1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.11.028.
Rowlands, I.J., Redshaw, M. Mode of birth and women’s psychological and physical wellbeing in the postnatal period. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 12, 138 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-138.
Reducing the Risk of Thrombosis and Embolism during Pregnancy and the Puerperium (Green-top Guideline No. 37a). Accessed 10/03/2025. Available from: https://www.rcog.org.uk/guidance/browse-all-guidance/greentop-guidelines/reducing-the-risk-of-thrombosis-and-embolismduring-pregnancy-and-the-puerperium-green-top-guideline-no-37a/.
Herstad L, Klungsøyr K, Skjærven R, Tanbo T, Forsén L, Åbyholm T, Vangen S. Elective cesarean section or not? Maternal age and risk of adverse outcomes at term: a population-based registry study of low-risk primiparous women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016 Aug 17;16:230. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-016-1028-3.
