Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Cost

• Heartburn: hormonal imbalances during pregnancy can potentially relax the boundary between stomach and esophagus. It leads to leakage of stomach acids into the esophagus causing heartburn.
• Constipation: Women experience plenty of hormonal changes during pregnancy. These changes slow down the digestive system, leading to constipation.
• Cramps: During pregnancy, the woman's uterus begins to stretch and expand, which feels like a pulling sensation resembling menstrual cramps. If the woman experiences spotting and bleeding along with cramps, it may indicate ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
• Back pain: Hormonal chances and increased stress on the muscles leads to back pain in most of the women in early pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, increased body weight and shift in center of gravity may enhance your back pain. About half of the pregnant women experience back pain during pregnancy.
• Anemia: A lot of pregnant women suffer from anemia, which shows symptoms like dizziness and lightheadedness. This can cause low birth weight and even premature birth.
• Depression: According to research, about 14-23 percent of pregnant women come under the influence of depression. It usually occurs because of the innumerable physical and emotional transformations a woman experiences during the nine months.
• Insomnia: It is also a very common early pregnancy symptom. It may be the result of stress, depression, discomfort and hormonal changes.
• Acne: Because of an increased quantity of androgen hormones in the body, many pregnant women have acne in the early days of pregnancy. It makes your skin more oilier, clogging the pores. This type of acne usually goes away after the birth of the baby.
• Vomiting: Vomiting or the feeling of vomiting is caused due to morning sickness which usually bothers pregnant women during the first four months of pregnancy.

For a medically unaware person, pregnancy is the outcome of unprotected intercourse between a male and a female. Although it is true, there are several other factors that play a crucial role in the multi-step process.

Sperm is made in the testicals. It combines with other fluids to prepare semen that releases from the penis when men ejaculate. In every ejaculation, men release millions of sperms, but only one of them meets with the egg released from the ovaries of a woman to impregnate her.

The hormones in women's bodies that are responsible for controlling the menstrual cycle mature a few eggs every month. Once the egg gets matured, it becomes ready for being fertilised by a sperm cell. These hormones are also responsible for creating a thick and spongy lining of your uterus, which prepares the woman's body for pregnancy.

About midway through the menstrual cycle of a woman, one mature egg leaves the ovary and reaches to the uterus coming through a fallopian tube.

The mature egg slowly moves through the fallopian tube, hanging out for about 12-24 hours to check for the availability of any sperm cells.

Once the semen gets inside the vagina of a woman, sperm cells swim through the cervix. Then, the sperm and the uterus work in collaboration to ensure sperm reaches the fallopian tubes. When an egg moves through the fallopian tubes during the same period, the sperm fertilises the egg. Sperm lives up to six days inside the woman's body to join with an egg before dying.

Meeting of a sperm cell and an egg is known as fertilisation. It, however, does not happen immediately. As the sperm has a lifespan of six days in the conducive environment of uterus and fallopian tubes, the fertilisation can occur in up to six days after intercourse.

Once the sperm cell and egg combine together, the fertilised egg travels via fallopian tube and reaches the uterus. The fertilised egg starts to divide into more cells creating a ball as it grows. The ball of cells, also called blastocyst, reaches the uterus in about 3 to 4 days after fertilisation. The blastocyst keeps floating inside the uterus for another two to three days. Once this ball attaches to the wall of the uterus, it is known as implantation. This is the time when the pregnancy starts officially.

The inside of the blastocyst starts developing the embryo, while the outside of the ball develops the placenta.

Once the implantation is complete, the uterus releases pregnancy hormones preventing the uterus lining from falling off. This is the reason women stop getting periods once they get pregnant.

If the egg fails to meet the sperm, or after fertilisation, the egg does not implant in the uterus, the thick lining of the uterus is no longer required and it leaves the body during the period. About half of the fertilised eggs fail to implant in the uterus and get flushed out when the woman has her periods.

There are certain conditions which can affect the health or can pass on to the developing baby during pregnancy. Have a look:

• HIV
• High Blood Pressure
• Taking Medications
• Depression
• Environmental and Workplace Exposures
• Diabetes
• Being in Presence of Radiation
• Rapid Weight Gain During Pregnancy
• Bleeding and Clotting Disorders

If you are pregnant and in the influence of any of the above-mentioned factors, you should immediately see your doctor to know the measures you can take to safeguard your baby.

• Genetics: It is extremely critical to understand genetic factors and genetic disorders to eliminate the possibility of preventive birth defects, unique conditions and developmental disabilities.
• Family History: Family members grow up in almost similar environments, follow similar lifestyles, and have similar habits. Hence, knowing about the family history of the pregnant woman can help you prepare for possible disease risks and deformities in the baby.
• Genetic Counselor: If the pregnant woman has a history of a genetic condition, your doctor may also suggest you to see a genetic counselor to prevent possible miscarriage or infact death.

Accumulation of big or small quantities of amniotic acid in the sac around the fetus is considered a serious complication. Too much fluid can put a lot of pressure on the uterus, causing preterm labour. It can also put pressure on the woman's diaphragm, causing breathing difficulty.

Excessive fluid accumulation can result from multiple pregnancies, uncontrolled diabetes, birth defects or incompatible blood types. Less fluid accumulation may indicate growth retardation, birth defects or stillbirth.

If a woman experiences bleeding in late pregnancy, it may be the result of vaginal or cervical infections, placental complications, or preterm labour. Women experiencing bleeding in the later stages of the pregnancy are at a bigger risk of losing the fetus and eventually, bleeding too much. Experts recommend women must report bleeding at any stage during the pregnancy to their doctor.

In Ectopic pregnancy, the fetus develops outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes, pelvic, cervical canal or belly. Presence of scar tissue in the fallopian tube owing to some disease of an infection has been found to be the main reason behind an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy risk increases in women who undergo tubal sterilisation procedures. Women who had undergone the procedure before they turned 30, are at even bigger risk.

Almost 1 out of 50 pregnancies turn out to be Ectopic pregnancy. It is very dangerous for the mother. The longer the pregnancy stays, the bigger the chances of a ruptured fallopian tube. Doctors diagnose this condition through an ultrasound or blood tests. Doctors either terminate the pregnancy through medicines or surgery.

Miscarriage is a medical term for pregnancy loss. It usually occurs within 20 weeks of gestation. Mostly, miscarriages happen before the gestation period completes 12 weeks. About 15 percent of all pregnancies end up in miscarriages, and the main causes behind it are genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.

Women usually experience spotting and intense cramping before a miscarriage. To confirm it, doctors carry out blood tests and an ultrasound. The fetus and other contents from inside the uterus drain out naturally, but sometimes, doctors have to carry out a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C) to evacuate the uterus. A few special tools are used in the procedure to remove the abnormal pregnancy.

Some women experience miscarriage in the second trimester. It may happen because of a weak cervix which opens too early. This is known as incompetent cervix. In some cases of incompetent cervix, the doctor may stitch the cervix closed until the day of delivery to prevent fetal loss.

Preeclampsia, earlier known as toxemia, is diagnosed by high blood pressure caused due to pregnancy. In this condition, women also experience protein in the urine. Sometimes, there is swelling owing to fluid accumulation. The more severe form of preeclampsia is called eclampsia. This can cause coma, seizures and in some cases, death.

There is not enough research to ascertain the cause of preeclampsia, but women usually face this condition in their first pregnancy. About 5-8 percent of all pregnant women suffer from this condition. Other risk enhancing factors of preeclampsia are:

• Women having more than one fetus in their womb
• Teenage pregnancy
• Women older than 40 years
• Women with high BP, kidney diseases or diabetes
• Obesity with BMI higher than 30

The symptoms of this condition are severe swelling on the face and hands, high BP, irritability, headache, low urine output, blurred vision, dizziness and belly pain.

The treatment methods for this condition may vary depending upon the condition of the woman and the stage of pregnancy she is in. The patient may have to get hospitalised, take medicines for high blood pressure, bed rest, and close monitoring of both the baby and the mother.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a very dangerous condition. In this condition, a blood clot crops up in a deep vein of the body. It usually happens in the leg of the pregnant woman.

You should immediately call your doctor if you experience any of the following signs:

• Severe pain, tenderness and swelling in one leg, particularly in the calf region. The pin may get worse while walking.
• A severe ache or warmness on the skin of the affected area
• Redness on the skin around the affected area

DVT generally happens in only one leg but it may occur in both legs too.

The situation worsens when the clot bursts into the bloodstream, blocking one blood vessel in the lungs. This condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE), and requires immediate medical intervention. Here are the symptoms to PE:

• Sudden difficulty in breathing
• Tightness in the chest or upper back
• Coughing blood

Pulmonary Embolism is a deadly condition, but the chances of developing this condition are very rare if DVT is diagnosed and treated on time.

DVT is not very common in pregnancy and does not always present symptoms. Pregnant women commonly experience swelling or discomfort in their legs. Hence, it does not always mean that it is a serious problem.

Doctors treat DVT through injections of a medicine which does not let the clot get any bigger so that the patient's body can dissolve it. The medicine, heparin, is known not to affect the unborn baby.

These injections also eliminate the possibility of pulmonary embolism and development of another clot.

You may have to keep taking the injections for the remaining weeks of the pregnancy and up until at least six weeks after giving birth.

Medical treatment of DVT is extremely important but there are some activities you can do to enhance the performance of the injections. Have a look:

• Staying very active - taking advice from your doctor is recommended
• Wear prescribed compression stockings to improve blood circulation in the legs

High blood pressure doesn't always make you feel sick, but in pregnancy, it may cause a lot of complications. This is the reason why your doctor checks your blood pressure on every pregnancy appointment.

Hypertension has three different levels:

• Mild BP: When the BP stays between 140/90 and 149/99mmHg; the patient has to keep a close vigil on her levels, but it does not require treatment
• Moderate BP: When the BP stays between 150/100 and 159/109mmHg
• Severe BP: When the BP goes above 160/110mmHg

If you are planning to have a baby and are always taking medicines to control your blood pressure, you should consult with your doctor first as you may require a change in the medications before getting pregnant.

If you have been taking BP medicines and have gotten pregnant, you should see your doctor immediately to see if any change in the medications is required.

Some BP medicines are not safe for the woman or her fetus. They can potentially reduce the flow of blood to the placenta and the fetus that can affect the pregnancy.

Doctors advise pregnant women to keep a close watch on their blood pressure levels to keep themselves and their baby safe and healthy. The doctor may also prescribe the pregnant woman to the Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) test to see if you are suffering from preeclampsia or not. Meanwhile, the doctor will keep a check on protein in the urine.

• Stay active and indulge in physical activity daily
• Go on walks
• Go swimming
• Eat balanced diet
• Keep your salt intake low

There is not enough evidence to prove that dietary supplements like magnesium, folic acid or fish oils can help the patient in controlling high blood pressure.

Doctors recommend women, who have been taking blood pressure medications throughout pregnancy, should keep taking it during labour too.

Women who suffer from mild to moderate hypertension, are recommended to keep checking their BP every hour during labour. If your blood pressure remains within the safe levels, you should be able to give normal vaginal birth.

In case of severe hypertension, doctors will monitor your blood pressure every 15-30 minutes during labour. The doctor may also recommend delivering the baby through forceps or ventouse or by cesarean section.

Itching is a common condition during pregnancy. It happens due to heightened levels of certain chemicals in the bloodstream, like hormones.

As the baby bump grows, the skin of the abdomen gets stretched which may also cause itching.

Despite usually being a normal condition, sometimes, itching could be the symptom of a liver condition known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). It is also called obstetric cholestasis (OC).

The condition requires immediate medical help, and it affects about 1 out of 140 pregnant women.

The primary symptom of ICP is itching which doesn't leave a rash on the skin. Most of the pregnant women experience the following symptoms:

• Generally, itching on hands and feet, but can happen on the entire body
• The situation worsens at night

Other symptoms may include:

• Dark urine
• Pale stool
• Jaundice; it, however, is less common

Generally, women experience the symptoms of ICP from around the 30th week of pregnancy, but it can also occur within 8 weeks of pregnancy too.

ICP is a very dangerous liver condition that women may develop during pregnancy. In normal condition, bile acids flow from the liver to the gut of the person to digest food. But in ICP, bile acids do not flow as they are supposed to and get accumulated in the body.

There is no particular cure for ICP but in most of the women, the condition goes away as soon as the baby is born.

Women usually inherit ICP, but it can also happen to a woman whose family had no such history. It is found more among south Asian women, with about one in every 70-80 pregnancies being diagnosed with ICP.

Some studies suggest that women who develop ICP have a higher chance of delivering the baby prematurely. ICP patients are mostly advised to deliver the baby in a hospital under the supervision of a medical team.

For the diagnosis of ICP, the doctor first excludes other causes behind the itch. Your doctor may also question you about the medical and family history, and suggest some blood tests too.

These tests will include liver function test (LFT) and the test to ascertain the bile acid levels (BA).

Morning sickness is a very common occurrence among pregnant women. About 8 out of every 10 women feel nausea, vomiting or both during pregnancy. Contrary to its name, morning sickness can occur at any time throughout the day.

Most of the women stop experiencing this problem by week 16 to 20, but for some, it may last longer. Some women experience severe cases of nausea and vomiting. They get sick multiple times a day and find it almost impossible to keep food or drink inside. This completely spoils their daily life.

This severe condition of nausea and vomiting is called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which requires medical intervention.

The exact number of how many women suffer from HG is still not known but it is believed that about one to three in every 100 women suffer from this condition.

If you experience extreme nausea and vomiting and have been unable to keep food in your system for long, you should immediately talk to your doctor. It may lead to dehydration which is harmful for both the mother and the child.

• Persistent and extreme nausea and vomiting
• Feeling dehydrated, thirsty, dizzy, tired and lightheaded all the time
• Unintended weight loss
• Low blood pressure while standing

Less common symptoms of HG include:

• A very heightened sense of smell
• Too much production of saliva
• Persistent and frequent headaches and constipation

HG is not like normal morning sickness which goes away on its own by 16 to 20 weeks. It takes the entire pregnancy to completely clear up. The symptoms, however, subside a little bit after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Hence, you must see your doctor immediately if you are experiencing severe episodes of nausea and vomiting. Your doctor will run some tests to rule out other conditions and then give you a plan to prevent dehydration and unintended weight loss.

The actual cause of HG is still not known but some experts believe that it crops up because of hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy. There is some evidence claiming that this is a hereditary problem, hence, if your mother or sister suffered from HG, you are more prone to suffer from it too.

Moreover, women who suffered from HG in their previous pregnancy are more prone to have this condition again.

There are a few medications which a pregnant woman can take even during the first 12 weeks to alleviate the symptoms of HG. These options include anti-sickness drugs, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 and steroids. Your doctor can also suggest a combination of earlier-discussed medications too.

If none of the medications are working, your doctor may ask you to get admitted at the hospital, so that the doctor can diagnose your problem accurately and prescribe the right treatment for you to protect you and your unborn baby.

HG is not normally harmful for the health of the baby, but if you are losing weight, it may increase the risk of your baby being born with low birth weight.

Morning sickness crops up very early in the pregnancy and completely destroys the first 16 to 20 weeks of the woman's life. It is really hard to alleviate but there are a few steps that can help you. Have a look:

• Ginger: It helps pregnant women in combating nausea.
• Smoothies: Filled with nutrients, smoothies also help pregnant women in getting rid of nausea.
• Vitamin B6: Having vitamin B or Vitamin B complex supplements can greatly help in combating nausea.
• Brewer's Yeast: It also contains vitamin B helping the pregnant women in getting rid of nausea.
• Exercise: It also has its own benefits. It might seem difficult to incorporate exercise in the daily routine in the first trimester but if you can go on a short walk for up to thirty minutes, it can help you combat nausea to a great extent.
• Pleasant Smells: Find a smell that you like during pregnancy and try to keep it on you all the time. It can help you avoid unpleasant smells which may trigger nausea and vomiting.

It is also a very common problem among pregnant women, and everyone gives a different option to prevent this issue. Have a look at some sure shot and safe measures to prevent this problem:

• Apple cider vinegar
• Pickle juice
• Dairy
• Papaya
• Aloe vera

Having these things in moderate quantities during pregnancy can help you prevent heartburn.

Progesterone, a hormone released in the woman's body during pregnancy, slows down digestion, and including iron supplements in the diet only worsens constipation. It should not be avoided as it may lead to more troubling health conditions like piles. Hence, you should make some alterations to your dietary regime. Here are some of the suggestions:

• High-fiber cereals
• Fruit
• Prune juice
• Flaxseeds
• Coffee
• Yoga

Pregnant women must include a nap in their daily schedule and ensure to sleep for at least 8-9 hours at night. This is the amount of sleep every pregnant woman should be having, but it is not possible for all. Keeping your eating habits in check is also a good idea when you can not simply add a couple of more sleeping hours to your schedule. Have a look at some of the options:

• Eat small quantities of food more frequently
• Consume complex carbohydrates
• Do not put too much strain on your body and take breaks whenever you can

These home remedies for pregnancy can help you grow a cute and healthy little human being inside you. Additionally, do not take a lot of stress about anything as nothing can be as important as giving birth to a baby.

Labour is a very straightforward and uncomplicated process but sometimes, it requires the help of medical staff to be induced. The assistance can include use of medication to emergency delivery procedures.

Depending upon the condition of the pregnant woman, the doctor may pick one out of numerous delivery procedures available in the market. Have a look at the options the medical professional chooses from:

In this procedure, the doctor makes an incision on the perineum, the skin between the vagina and the anus to expand the opening for the baby's head to pass more easily and to avoid tearing of the mother's skin. Most pregnant women do not require this procedure but doctors may have to use it under special circumstances.

In amniotomy, the doctor artificially ruptures the amniotic membranes , also known as sac, that consists fluids surrounding the fetus. The doctor can carry out this procedure before or during labour. This procedure is usually done to:

• Induce labour
• Put a monitor inside to figure out the uterine contraction pattern
• Place an internal monitor on the head of the baby to check its overall health
• Check for baby's first stool, known as meconium

The doctor uses an amniohook, resembling crochet hook, to rupture the sac. Once the rupture has been made, the delivery has to be complete within 24 hours to prevent the chances of any infection.

Induced labour means the doctor had to start the labour to avoid some complication. Usually, doctors intravenously give Pitocin, which is a synthetic form of oxytocin drug, to induce labour.

The reasons why doctor may have to induce labour include:

• Diabetes
• High BP
• Small baby
• Ruptured membranes
• Past-due pregnancy

In this procedure, the doctors use external and internal methods to monitor the baby's heart rate.

In the external fetal monitoring, doctors put an ultrasound device on the abdomen of the pregnant woman to gather information about the baby's heart rate and the frequency of the contractions. Sometimes, it is used continuously and sometimes, intermittently.

Internal fetal monitoring is a more accurate way of monitoring the vitals of the baby, but it requires the membranes to be ruptured before the process can begin. Doctors use a small electrode to measure the baby’s heart rate. It is put on the scalp of the baby to obtain accurate information. Doctors may also place a pressure sensor to ascertain the strength of contractions.

Forceps delivery uses a tool called forceps which resembles two conjoined spoons. Doctors insert this tool inside the vagina of the woman to gently extract the head of the baby. The rest of the delivery is done in a normal way.

If you have watched the Bollywood film "3 Idiots", understanding how a vacuum extractor works is going to be a cakewalk for you. Do you remember when Rancho delivered Pia's sister's baby in an engineering lab when the entire city had flooded due to heavy rains? Yes, he had created a vacuum extraction device to pull the baby.

The vacuum extractor looks like a small suction cup which is placed on the head of the baby to pull it out of the birth canal. It creates vacuum using a pump and the pregnant woman's contractions play an important role in the process. This process sometimes leaves a bruise on the head of the baby, but it heals within a couple of days.

Cesarean section, more popularly known as c-section, is without a doubt the most used technique to deliver babies. This procedure is opted when the vaginal delivery becomes impossible. In this procedure, the doctors make surgical incisions on the abdomen and the uterus of the pregnant woman to deliver the baby.

Cesarean section is one of the safest and most advanced ways of delivering a baby in today's age. Some people plan it in advance because of a few medical conditions and others might need it on an urgent basis because of some complications that occurred during the labour.

Here are some of the complications that me force you to go for a cesarean section:

• Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD): This condition means that the baby's body is too large to pass through the pelvis of the mother, or the mother's pelvis is too small to deliver a normal-sized baby.
• Previous cesarean birth: There is a possibility that a woman who gave birth through c-section, can now have a vaginal birth. It, however, is not possible in all cases. The possibility of vaginal delivery is checked after analysing the type of uterine incision made during the previous c-section, and calculating the risk of rupturing the uterus with a vaginal birth.
• Multiple pregnancy: In some cases, women can deliver twins vaginally but in most of the cases, two or more deliveries at the same time require a cesarean section.
• Placenta previa: This condition requires cesarean section as the placenta attaches too low to the uterine wall, blocking the baby's way of exit through the cervix.
• Transverse lie: It means that the baby is either in a horizontal or a sideways position inside the uterus. In some cases, the doctor tries to reposition the baby through abdominal manipulation, but if it is not possible, then the delivery will have to be made through cesarean section.
• Breech presentation: In this condition, the doctor finds out that the baby is either feet or bottom first position towards the cervix. In this case too, if the doctor can not turn the baby through abdominal manipulation, the woman will have to deliver the baby through cesarean section.

• Failure of labor to progress: This condition means that the dilation began but stopped midway, or the baby has stopped moving down the birth canal.
• Cord compression: In this condition, the umbilical cord gets caught around the baby's neck or body, or gets stuck between the baby's head and the mother's pelvis, leading to compression of the cord.
• Prolapsed cord: In this condition, the umbilical cord starts coming out of the cervix before the baby.
• Abruptio placentae: Rarely, the placenta gets separated from the uterus wall before the birth of the baby.

During the course of labour, some babies develop heart rate patterns which may cause a problem. In this situation, the doctor may decide that the baby is incapable of going through the labour and a cesarean section is the only possible way of a successful delivery.

The recovery does not complete within a few days. It may take months for a woman to fully recover from childbirth. Most of the women start feeling fully recovered in about 6-8 weeks, it may take more time for a few women to feel like before.

Sometimes, women feel like their body has turned against them. In such situations, the experts recommend women not to get frustrated and understand that your body is going to take its time to get back to normal. The best practice is to take ample amounts of rest, eat healthy and give yourself a break from all the tension around you.

During this period, your body goes through several hormonal changes. It makes you unable to think clearly and get emotional more frequently. Again, you just have to give yourself some time to adjust to the changes and regain normalcy. In case you feel like hurting yourself or the baby, you should immediately seek medical help.

Once you go home after getting discharged, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Bleeding from the vagina for up to six weeks
• The bleeding gradually becomes less red, pink and then yellow or white colour
• The incision may look a little pinker than the rest of the skin
• The cut may also look a little puffy
• Pain will start decreasing in 2-3 days
• The cut will remain tender for up to three weeks
• You may need pain medications for a few days
• Scar will keep getting thinner and flatter
• Scar will turn into white colour or the colour of your skin
• You will be required to see the doctor in 4-6 weeks

You will be required to change the dressing at least once a day. You may be required to change the dressing more often if it gets wet or dirty. Here are some other ways to take care of the cut:

• You will be asked to stop covering your wound
• Keep the incision area clean with mild soap and water
• Do not scrub the incision area
• Just let the water run over the wound if it has been stitched, stapled or glued
• Do not go in the hot tub or swimming pool before clearing it with your doctor

If the doctor had used Steri-Strips to close the incision:

• You should not wash off the Steri-Strips or glue
• You can take a shower and pat the incision dry with a clean and dry towel
• They should fall off on their own in a week
• If they do not fall off for over 10 days, you can remove them yourself if your doctor has not asked you not to

Walking around the house helps in the healing process and also prevents blood clots from forming. You should be able to start doing the regular activities within the next 4 to 8 weeks. Before that period, you are advised the following activities:

• Do not lift anything that is heavier than your baby for at least 6-8 weeks
• Take short walks to improve your stamina and strength
• You can also do light works at home
• You will get easily tired
• If you start feeling tired, you should stop the activity
• Do not indulge in heavy house cleaning, jogging or exercising
• Do not do sit-ups
• Do not drive a car for at least 2 weeks after delivery

• Breathing Difficulty: Some studies have suggested that the babies who were born out of scheduled C-section were slightly prone to developing breathing problems which causes them to breathe too heavily for a few days after being born.
• Surgical injury: The baby can very rarely and accidently suffer a cut on the skin during the surgery.

• Infection: After undergoing a C-section, the woman may develop an infection of the lining of the uterus, in the urinary tract or at the site of the incision.
• Blood loss: A woman may experience heavy bleeding during and after the procedure.
• Reactions to anesthesia: Some women experience reactions to any type of anesthesia.
• Blood clots: The procedure also increases the risk of developing blood clots in a deep vein, particularly in the legs or pelvis. If a blood clot reaches to the lungs and blocks the blood flow, it may lead to life-threatening situations.
• Surgical injury: Sometimes, women can sustain injuries to the bladder or bowel during the procedure.
• High risk future pregnancies: Cesarean section may increase the risk of complications in later pregnancies or surgeries. Higher the number of C-sections, higher the chances of placenta previa and a condition in which the placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus.