Are Cesarean Sections Safer than Vaginal Birth?
As someone whose life work is evaluating and synthesizing the obstetric research, I can attest that NO data support the contention that cesareans are as safe as vaginal birth for mother or baby. A cesarean section is major abdominal surgery, with all that entails. Compared with vaginal birth, cesarean section causes pain and debility, sometimes for weeks (26). The surgery itself, as opposed to medical problems that might lead to a cesarean, increases the risk of maternal death, hysterectomy, hemorrhage, surgical injury to other organs, infection, blood clots, and rehospitalization for complications (16,24,33-34,39). Potential chronic complications from scar tissue adhesions include pelvic pain, bowel problems, and pain during sexual intercourse. Scar tissue makes subsequent cesareans more difficult to perform, increasing the risk of injury to other organs and the risk of chronic problems from adhesions. The surgery itself also increases the risk of the baby being born in poor condition
