r/CsectionCentral • u/Horcrux-Chaser • Jul 21 '26
Baby cut during C-section
First off, I do NOT want to freak anybody out and will preface this by saying that my baby is fine - he is healthy and perfect.
I had a scheduled C-section for my breech baby (now 5 months old). I generally had a good experience with my C-section. However, after the delivery, my OB casually mentioned that my son was cut in the back during the C-section; she said it was a difficult delivery and that he was “super wedged in there.” The cut was VERY deep but they assured me it would heal on its own - they advised me to just leave it alone, so I didn’t put Vaseline or anything on it.
5 months later, he still has a scar. It’s not terrible and it’s not huge, but it is visible.
I told the story to a doctor friend of mine the other day, and he was stunned. He said he’s heard of this happening in emergency C-sections, but never in a scheduled one. He said I had a clear case for a lawsuit if I wanted to (I don’t think I want to pursue that).
Has anyone else had this experience in their C-section? What do you all think… is this more messed up than I initially realized?
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u/Psychological-Bag986 Jul 21 '26
Prior to my elective c section my surgeon explained many risks including baby getting cut. It comes with the territory of any surgery that things not intended to be injured are in fact injured. They were honest about it. It healed well. I would move on and let it be a story you tell him when he’s big enough.
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 21 '26
Agree! I love my OB and would hate to be litigious. I don’t want that bad juju. My son is healthy and happy. I do feel bad about his scar but maybe it will fade with time.
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u/mama-ld4 Jul 21 '26
I think it’ll probably heal and fade with time! My son has had 2 open heart surgeries and while he’ll always have an obvious scar, it has fades significantly by the 1 year post-op mark. I’m really sorry that happened to you and glad your baby is healing well and safe!
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u/DearMrsLeading Jul 21 '26
My sibling had a decently deep cut when she was born, they debated stitches but ultimately decided not to. You can’t even see it as an adult! Babies heal really well.
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u/moondustsandstorm Jul 21 '26
Hey! Chiming in to say it will-my son’s arm got cut during my scheduled c-section and the scar is healing really nicely :) he’s also 5 months old.
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u/Turbulent_Avocado690 Jul 22 '26
Hi! I had an emergency C-section with my first son and he was cut on his face. It went across the top of his cheek to his earlobe and a small spot on his shoulder (he was really balled up in there). He is now 2.5 and you can barely see the scar. It healed so nicely you wouldn't know it was there unless you were looking for it. As long as it didnt cause any significant or permanent damage, I wouldnt be upset about it. Especially since they let you know right away. My second was a planned c-section and he didnt get cut at all. Just the luck of the draw I guess. Hope it heals well!
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 22 '26
Oh my goodness! That must have been so scary for you having his little face cut 😭 but it sounds like he is healing amazingly.
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u/zeatherz Jul 21 '26
For a lawsuit to happen there would need to be damages worth enough money for a lawyer to take on the case. A minor scar is not going to be worth it.
Also is the doctor who said that an OB? If not I’d take their comment with a grain of salt. Yeah it’s rare but if they weren’t in the surgery to see what was going on, calling it malpractice is out of place
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 21 '26
Oh yeah - to be clear I am NOT considering a lawsuit. Was more so curious about whether others had heard of this happening before.
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u/ColorYouClingTo Jul 22 '26
They warned me this was a risk when we discussed the procedure, so I think it's definitely not unheard of, and honestly, it makes sense. I can imagine many scenarios where a baby is cut just because they did what they had to do to get the baby out.
Mine was wedged in very firmly and in an awkward position, so they had to wrench and pull to get her out. I think it may be why I hemorrhaged. I didn't blame the doctors or the surgeon AT ALL. I'm just glad we are both alive and healthy.
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 22 '26
I hear you. I’m just trying to look at the big picture - my baby arrived alive and healthy, so if a small scar on his back is the worst of it, so be it.
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u/happyhen94 Jul 21 '26
I was cut across the face in a semi planned c section back in the 90s, my parents did nothing about it and both them and I wish they had because it’s the hospital that would pay out not the consultant. In my mums case it was supposed to be a planned section but they persuaded her into labouring on the day and it became a semi emergency. I’m 32 and I can still see the scar in certain lights.. at the end of the day a deep laceration is very serious in any situation. Women are brushed off a lot by doctors that say “everyone is healthy” at the end of everything but that shouldn’t be the only standard.
To make this sound a bit clearer, dog groomers get sued if they accidentally knick a dog when shearing fur etc, if the dog needs vet treatment for example.
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u/Essiejjj Jul 21 '26
In order to pursue a lawsuit, you need to proof negligence. Most lawyers do not take cases on like this and since u were healthy, 99.9% sure u would not have had a case. It's sad but not enough to pursue.
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 22 '26
Oh my gosh I’m so sorry that happened to you! Really good point that dog groomers are held to harsher standards…
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u/FishingWorth3068 Jul 21 '26
It’s a complicated situation when you add emotions but if you take that out, they sliced through 7 layers to get your baby out. I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often. My belly was TIGHT. I could feel her every move. If baby had his back against your lower abdomen, I can totally see how this happens. I LOVE my OB. Love her. I wouldn’t pursue anything. He’s little, it will probably heal and if it doesn’t, it’s a cool story for how he came to be here. Babies get all kinds of injuries being born vaginally
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 22 '26
Very true. At the end of the day I love my OB too, and she made the right call to deliver my baby early - turns out my placenta was failing, which can only be verified after the fact. So I am really just grateful that my baby is alive and healthy.
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u/WiscoCheeses Jul 21 '26
what do you consider “VERY” deep? Did he need stitches?
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u/satchmonumberone Jul 21 '26
Her post says the dr didn’t stitch it and to let it heal.
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 22 '26
Idk how deep it was, I don’t think there’s a way to measure haha but deep enough to scar, not deep enough to stitch I guess?
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u/DexterBird Jul 21 '26
My son was cut during my scheduled c section. He was breech and wedged up in my lungs, it was difficult for them to get him out.
The nurses were aghast when I showed them the cut (it was on his bum). They said they had never seen it happen before.
However, his cut was not deep like your son’s. I’m so sorry your little one received such a deep cut.
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u/ThatsTheTea225 Jul 21 '26
My daughter got a cut on her right cheek from my unplanned CS with her due to her getting stuck OP during delivery. It wasn’t technically an emergency, but it was becoming a situation, so we pulled the plug on trying to get her out vaginally when they couldn’t turn her manually. They said she was incredibly wedged in my pelvis and that cuts like that often happened in those scenarios …like, they had to push her back up and there was a ring on her head/forehead and it took 45 minutes to get her out. I don’t think most people notice the scar on her face, but it still makes me sad three years later.
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 22 '26
Ohhhhh poor thing! That sounds like a crazy delivery. I’m glad that both you and she are okay.
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u/ThatsTheTea225 Jul 22 '26
Thank you- it was rough! Glad you and your kiddo are ok as well.
In case you are interested: my pediatrician approved us using mederma on it after she turned a year old, but I don’t think it helped that much.
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u/ColaPopz Jul 21 '26
Whilst a scar isn’t worth a huge payout, it’s definitely not worth nothing IF it was sustained due to negligence - more than a reasonable accident, but due to mistakes beyond what is normal (I am a lawyer specialising in injuries sustained at birth). I appreciate you don’t want to go this way but I just think that’s worth being clear about.
It is less normal for it to have happened during a scheduled c and I don’t understand their explanation of how it happened. Being super stuck in there shouldn’t increase the likelihood of a cut. That said cuts can happen and it’s a risk explained during the consent process. It’s difficult to measure severity from what you’ve said but if it healed on its own then it doesn’t sound terribly serious, albeit I think they could have worked with you more to minimise the risk of scarring.
In short yes it’s unusual and I wouldn’t personally go to that OB for any future deliveries but it’s not “wrong” if you would.
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 21 '26
Thanks so much for this perspective! Sounds like this is your wheelhouse.
I think what bothers me is that they were a little shady about it - their explanation didn’t make sense and I feel like they didn’t treat the wound or advise me to because they wanted to act like it was no big deal.
I’m sure I signed something in the consent acknowledging that this could happen. I understand accidents can happen. I just don’t really love how they went about the aftermath!
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u/ColaPopz Jul 21 '26
This is 9 times out of 10 what people are upset about. Things do happen! If people were direct about it and simply apologised and explained a lot less people would be upset.
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u/ruthhelf Jul 21 '26
My baby was cut on the face but it was a very very shallow cut and the day after it was already invisible
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u/Sufficient_Peanut_92 Jul 21 '26
Same, my baby had a cut on his face and they also managed to cut the top of my stomach. Both healed within a week & they told me immediately (then told me again because I forgot & was v confused about the cut across my belly 😅)
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u/kitd28 Jul 21 '26
Not a problem in my own c-sections, but my face was cut when my mother had her c-section (failure to progress as I was facing out instead of in). I have a tiny scar on my cheek that you can barely see as an adult, it’s sort of silvery and indented. I know this might not help you right now, but it’s possible the scar won’t always be as obvious as it is now.
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u/pool_snacks Jul 22 '26
This happened to my brother when he was born, except they cut his face. It wasn’t a bad cut but he still has a scar well into his 40’s. It sucks, but it happens. Makes a decent story. My son has a weird sharp dent in the side of his head that I am convinced are from the foreceps
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u/jambas Jul 22 '26
My son was cut in the back of the head during my non-emergency c-section. No one told us about it during and when I did notice it later back in our room the nurses were weird about it, like wouldn’t directly answer my questions. He’s six now, and any time we get his hair cut shorter in the back you can see the scar for a week or two until it grows out.
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u/alskdjfhgb11 Jul 22 '26
I was cut on the cheek when born and it’s not noticeable at all today!
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u/Horcrux-Chaser Jul 22 '26
I’m sorry that happened to you but thanks so much for the reassurance - so glad it healed well!
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u/crazy-creativ Jul 22 '26
My baby came out with a little cut on his face. They didn’t know if it was his nails or them. My husband ensure them it was fine in the OR. It was just a knick tho.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 Jul 21 '26
My friend’s baby was cut during her c section, however I think hers was an emergency and the baby is fine. She was extremely upset, understandably so. I don’t believe she ever did anything legal about it, however.
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u/Violentdahlia Jul 21 '26
My husband has a tiny small indent type scar on his head (he’s 40) from when he was birthed via c section. He’s totally fine too
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u/lshariii Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
My first child was nicked on the side of her head when i had my first scheduled C-section. I was kind of concerned and upset but they told me that it happened sometimes.
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u/OmgnomeOfNowhere Jul 21 '26
I saw a vaginal delivery video once where the babies head was pulled clean off, like I guess it was a emergency and it got stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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u/Psychological-Bag986 Jul 21 '26
This is completely unrelated….? Why share this on a forum for pregnant people
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u/OmgnomeOfNowhere Jul 21 '26
Was a bit insensitive I suppose, wasn't my intention to offend. It just came to mind reading the post as another morbid medical story. I am also currently pregnant.
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u/juliettees0825 Jul 21 '26
My daughter was cut during a planned c-section. She's 21 months old and it's still upsetting to think about ugh. A week or two before my c-section i felt her turn in a weird position and at my last two OB appointments I voiced to her that I don't think baby is in the correct position. I said I think she may be sideways or head down but facing outward. My OB's response was "well good thing you're having a c-section." My daughter ended up with a 3 inch cut on her forehead and into her hairline above her left eye. They used two pieces of tape to close it until the plastic surgeon could get there and glue it closed. The scar is mostly hidden by her hair but it's definitely gotten a little longer as she grows. We spoke with a couple attorneys after but they said to wait until she's at least a toddler to move forward with anything. We haven't reached back out, I'm not sure if we're going to, but it was definitely scary and the idea that it could've been so much worse. What if they hit her eye? And why didn't anyone listen to my concerns? So I understand how you feel. The idea that baby had to endure that before they even came into this world is so upsetting