Analysing the risks and benefits of caesarean section is the first crucial step before giving consent to the doctor. Currently, all hospitals opt for a Caesarean section with the consent of the couple to avoid labour pain. Caesarean section is usually hassle free and does not take more than two to three hours to get over. A screen is usually hung on top of the abdomen for the mother to see the birthing process so that she does not miss out on those priceless moments!

Risks

1. It is best to avoid a caesarean section if you have had a major operation before getting pregnant for any problem. This is because the body takes a lot of time to revert to a state of normalcy and bear the brunt of pregnancy.
2. A caesarean section gives no guarantee of a safe delivery. This is because one cannot estimate the impending complications that might occur while the surgery is on especially for women who have irregular menstruation cycle or have a tendency of developing fibroids in the uterus.
3. Most women have to have a mandatory hospitalisation post-caesarean section. This is because one is never certain of the post natal complications that develop in the later stages of the delivery. Usually, the slit made in the lower abdominal area takes a lot of time to heal.
4. It is a surgical way of giving birth to the child, which is visibly the unnatural way of delivery. The incision usually is made through the skin of the abdomen muscle reaching further down to the uterus. Due to the cut, at times, the surrounding internal organs are also put at stake. A minor scarring in the surrounding organs can lead to heavy blood loss and complications.
5. Caesarean section cannot be had more than once or twice. This increases the risk involved when getting the baby out.
6. In case of an unsuccessful caesarean section, there can be legal hassles as well.

Benefits

1. Despite all the risks, the rate of women opting for caesarean section is visibly rising.
2. A woman can easily choose the date of delivery in case of a caesarean section. This especially helps women, who have a steady career and want to calculate their date of joining work. Women opting for such a delivery must also realise that not all caesarean section deliveries go bad.
3. Cases where it becomes difficult to save the foetus and the mother’s condition turns out to be at risk, caesarean section often happens to be a great saviour of lives. There are millions of cases that one can find in the internet or in books where women talk about how a C-section actually helped them and how they are living happily and seeing their child grow!

A caesarean section and a normal vaginal delivery are safe. It might sound intimidating, but many women opting for it show a growing trust medically.