Elective C-sections

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hello all,

I'm a first-year nursing student, and I just read an article in the Nov. issue of Vogue on a small but increasing number of women choosing to have elective c-sections for various reasons, including avoiding labor, and decreasing the likelihood of shoulder dystocia for the baby and eventual lady partsl prolapse for the mom.

Vogue doesn't publish their non-beauty/fashion articles online, so I can't provide a link for the whole text of the article. It does point out that, no matter which "ideology" you buy into, "there's only one standard that truly matters: a successful birth is a birth in which mother and child emerge alive and healthy."

I personally was floored that anyone would choose major abdominal surgery when it wasn't absolutely necessary.

I'm just curious what you all think of this.

Thanks.

~Leigh

I've had 2 csections and was very happy with them. The first was an emergency, and my doctor highly recommeded the second because it was only 15 months after my first and becasue I was carrying a 10+ pound baby. If I ever get pregnant again, I will definately choose the csection.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I was glad to have a C-section for my 10-pound, 9-ounce son........I'd planned to have my second VBAC (this was in the days when women were actually encouraged to try a lady partsl delivery even after TWO cesareans, as I did), but when I went in for a non-stress test and the kid's heart rate never went below 200, my doctor determined he was in some distress and decided he needed to be born ASAP.

At first, I was terrified......not because of the post-op pain I knew all too well, but because I'd had sepsis after my second "section" and it had been a year before I felt completely normal again. But this one went well, the baby turned out to be fine once he was freed from his cramped surroundings, and other than a few problems with keeping my blood pressure up for a while after the surgery, I was OK. However.........I can't imagine anyone going through this voluntarily, just to avoid labor or for "convenience".

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Hey Sue,

I know VBAC is kinda out of favor these days (litigation, I think), but I had one and loved it!! It was precipitous labor and I felt like I could do it all over again the next day, as compared to post c/section when I thought I would break in two. Anyway, if you want it, go for it!!

Lisa

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Specializes in ER.
I know VBAC is kinda out of favor these days (litigation, I think), but I had one and loved it!! It was precipitous labor and I felt like I could do it all over again the next day, as compared to post c/section when I thought I would break in two. Anyway, if you want it, go for it!!

I also did VBAC and am now one of those mushy, gushy people who feel that a lady partsl delivery is AWESOME!!!!!! The bonding I felt with my daughter was unbelieveable, as compared to when I had my sons by C-section, with the OR atmosphere, and they wisked them away, just giving me a glimpse at the baby. I didn't get the same feeling I got when my daughter came out and was placed directly on my belly to cuddle. I would have thought the whole "bonding" thing was a crock if I had not experienced it myself. I think people who haven't experienced it may underestimate it. I know people still bond with their kids having a c-section, but having done both i can honestly say, it's just not the same. It's hard to put into words.

I felt SOOOOOOO good after a lady partsl delivery, as compared to after a c-section. A few minutes after the baby was delivered, I was sitting up in the bed, perky as heck, having dinner while they worked on getting her checked out in the bassinet next to me!

Healthy mothers who CHOOSE to have a c-section just don't know what they are missing!

As far as unecessary surgery goes, I have always believed that it is unethical for physicians to perform surgery that they feel is NOT in the best interest of the patient.

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I had one child natural childbirth, the other C-section. The C-section was without a doubt one of the most painful, slow to recover, horrible experiences of my life. Everyones' different and this was just my experience.

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Originally posted by nurstu-mof2

Just wondering, do you all feel this way about mothers who elect to have a repeat c/s vs. VBAC? :confused:

No, VBAC has it's own risks. If a pt is educated about the benefits and risks of both repeat CS and VBAC, and make an informed decision, I don't begrudge them the option to choose a repeat CS. I wish more women were given the opportunity to VBAC though, if that is what they would choose.

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