[Submitted Question]

What risk is there to the baby during a c section?

[WombToBloom]

There is very little risk to the baby during a cesarean section. The problems that come out of a cesarean section usually are things that occur because the baby needed a cesarean section in the first place, such as fetal distress, abruption of the placenta, cephalopelvic disproportion. In the absence of risk factors necessitating the surgery in the first place, the cesarean section is a very safe surgery for the baby. The anesthesia is usually a spinal or epidural anesthesia which does no harm to the baby and the surgery itself doesn’t harm the baby.

Every so often, the doctor can nick the skin of the baby when going through the uterus to get the baby out but it is very rare. Every so often a cesarean is done because the labor isn’t happening, only to find out that the baby was not ready to come out and is somewhat premature. There can be bleeding during the cesarean which can harm the baby but this is rare and usually happens after the baby is born. The baby comes out after only about four to five minutes and it takes about half an hour to an hour to repair the mom afterward. That is when extra bleeding can occur and not before the baby is born.

[Catmuse33]

Just wanted to note, there are actually some (some would say minor) risks to the baby. In the case when a c-section is medically warranted, these risks outweigh the benefits. But mothers planning a c-section for any reason other than the health and safety of the baby should consider these facts, too...

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/240_1031.asp (please scroll midway down the page for the info, under the heading Other Risks for Baby)

Here's an excerpt:

* Anesthesia: Some babies are affected by the drugs given to the mother ... they may cause the baby to be inactive or sluggish.

* Breathing problems: Even if they are full-term, babies born by c-section are more likely to have breathing problems than are babies who are delivered vaginally. (I know I recently saw a study on this one... it's something to do with the act of passing through the vagina that helps clear a baby's lungs, I think).

* Women who deliver by c-section are statistically less likely to breastfeed, so the baby may miss out on all the health benefits of breastfeeding, too.

[journeybirth]

The movie Pregnant in America has a bit about the risks to a baby iirc. I also found the following from here: Risks of Cesarean Section - Childbirth.org

In cesarean birth, the possible risks to the baby include the following:

* Premature birth. If the due date was not accurately calculated, the baby could be delivered too early.
* Breathing problems. Babies born by cesarean are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth).
* Low Apgar scores. Babies born by cesarean sometimes have low Apgar scores. The low score can be an effect of the anesthesia and cesarean birth, or the baby may have been in distress to begin with. Or perhaps the baby was not stimulated as he or she would have been by vaginal birth.
* Fetal injury. Although rare, the surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the uterine incision.

[Nicolexx]

Originally Posted by WombToBloom

There is very little risk to the baby during a cesarean section. The problems that come out of a cesarean section usually are things that occur because the baby needed a cesarean section in the first place, such as fetal distress, abruption of the placenta, cephalopelvic disproportion. In the absence of risk factors necessitating the surgery in the first place, the cesarean section is a very safe surgery for the baby. The anesthesia is usually a spinal or epidural anesthesia which does no harm to the baby and the surgery itself doesn’t harm the baby.

Every so often, the doctor can nick the skin of the baby when going through the uterus to get the baby out but it is very rare. Every so often a cesarean is done because the labor isn’t happening, only to find out that the baby was not ready to come out and is somewhat premature. There can be bleeding during the cesarean which can harm the baby but this is rare and usually happens after the baby is born. The baby comes out after only about four to five minutes and it takes about half an hour to an hour to repair the mom afterward. That is when extra bleeding can occur and not before the baby is born.

I really don't know about this much information about C-Section.... Thanks!