Did anyone read the People story about Christina Aguilera?

Published

The story said that she underwent a scheduled c-section at 37 weeks, because she didn't want to experience labor ("and have an emergency c-section anyway") or have her lady parts get stretched out.

Isn't this extremely unethical?

I'm just saying that I've heard many women say they don't like to think about what they'll do or say while in the throes of labor....I personally didn't care who saw what, or what I did. (I threw up while contracting and pooped while pushing, and didn't give a rat's rear end.)

Women are different - not monolithic (I know, I know - I say it all the time).;);)

I've had some of the younger, drug users stand up on the bed and yell the "F" word. As in pull this $%*# baby out.

Other women are picture perfect - sort of what you think labor was meant to be before Eve and Adam messed up in the Garden. ;);)

Some women are appalled at their discharge during labor. Can't stand to be at all wet. Want to be cleaned up continuously. Kind of hard to keep up with labor fluids. :smokin:

I'm sure we all have many stories about women and labor. :D

Me, myself and I . . . . thought the cesarean was not a big deal.

And you are right - the point is to get the baby out safely. Whatever it takes. That is hard to get across to women when they have this image in their heads of a lady partsl delivery with no interventions. Better education prior to labor would be nice. :icon_roll

steph

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
Better education prior to labor would be nice. :icon_roll

:yeahthat: :w00t:

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Specializes in OB.
We dont know her history, there may be a reason for having to have a C-section. She also is a very small woman, not sure if that had anything to do with it or not but she appears much larger in photos than she actually is.

Except that she said she has one because she didnt want any surprises, and because she didnt want any lady partsl tearing. If she had a problem, why wouldnt she just say that?

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I disagree with people who say that ultimately all that matters is a healthy baby. It does seem to be said mostly by people who have no idea what a good birth experience can be like. It's almost like a kind of consolation which prevents women from taking some responsibility for their own birth experiences and demanding some kind of accountability from their providers.

First, it sets up a false dichotomy between a safe and satisfying birth experience and a healthy baby- as if the two were mutually exclusive. Our section rates are much, much higher than they were 30 years ago, but birth outcomes have not improved. The American system of active management (interference) and intervention does not produce better outcomes than places such as the Netherlands.

Second, at least for me, a good birth experience mattered a whole lot. It wasn't simply a means to an end any more than an athlete runs simply to get from one place to another. After having four natural births, I can look back with a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and pride. I'm proud of what my body did. I'm proud that I had the strength and courage to birth my babies naturally. (And no, I did not have "easy" labors as people are often so quick to say dismissively). That is not a comment on other people's choices or constitution. It is pride in *my* accomplishment.

Not every woman cares about a good birth experience, but I suspect a lot of women have no idea that it *can* be good. And for women who did not have a good experience- I'm very sorry. You should have.

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Specializes in OB.

This IS an ethical issue. And this is sooo why I am becoming a CNM!

It is a symptom of our society today that "elective" CS and inductions are becoming common-place.

First of all, we have a generation of women who are all about me, me, me. "I want what I want, when and how I want it." They don't want to be bothered with the discomforts of late pregnancy, they want to have their baby on the day and time of their choosing, they don't want to feel any pain (from labor or from the CS), they don't want their bodies to "change". Second, we have a nation full of OB/GYNs who are also all about me, me, me, and are more than happy to schedule inductions and sections when it is convenient for them, so as to avoid being up at night or missing a tee time. Some are even known to make up indications for inductions or sections to justify them.

I know I probably sound harsh, but I'm not saying half what I want to! This is a major hot-button issue with me!

I believe the only solution is to EDUCATE women! They have to know what they and their bodies are capable of! I'm not sure though, how to fix the self-centeredness of our society today. I actually know of one woman who is an educated, professional woman and was advised by her physician to go on bedrest to avoid labor at around 30 weeks, but she declined because it would be too difficult for her and inconvenient for her life to be on bedrest!

Only God can create the kind of heart-change necessary for women who refuse to put their babies' well-being before their own.

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Specializes in NICU.

Whenever it's your own body, do whatever the heck you want to it. But when another life is involved (a baby in this case), then have some sense and think before you endanger the other life.

God help this poor baby.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I read the article while standing in line @ w/ my groceries the other day (thinking of this thread) and in reading what Christina said, she did come across as someone whose doctor didn't take the time to educate her on risks and alternatives. That's a real shame.

We overmedicalize a normal, natural process.

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I actually know of one woman who is an educated, professional woman and was advised by her physician to go on bedrest to avoid labor at around 30 weeks, but she declined because it would be too difficult for her and inconvenient for her life to be on bedrest!

And raising a child isn't difficult and inconvenient?

That said, I've heard that bedrest does not significantly affect pregnancy outcome. Is that true?

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

That said, I've heard that bedrest does not significantly affect pregnancy outcome. Is that true?

Not in a normal, healthy pregnancy, no. Bedrest doesn't really make a difference.

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Specializes in Midwifery.
we need to educate women about their bodies more. the pelvic floor gets stretched carrying around a pregnant uterus anyway. sheesh are people stupid enough to really believe that a c section is any less painful than a lady partsl delievery????:angryfire:flmngmd:

:yeah::bowingpur Exactly! Maybe those who think that should go and watch a few!!!!

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Specializes in OB L&D Mother/Baby.

I know I'm late here but I did read it, like some of you in the line at the grocery store. I was annoyed at the very least. Not that she chose a c-section necessarily because that seems to be the hollywood trend... very rarely anymore do we hear of a celebrity that actually delivers their baby lady partslly. But the fact that she CHOSE to deliver her baby at 37 wks... NOT at 38 or 39 or 40 wks but 37! I cannot put my head around being so selfish or so vain that you put your own body and lady partsl integrity over the health of your preterm baby... I"m not sure that we really KNOW either that this baby did not suffer in the beginning, did they specifically say that the baby did not need medical intervention at birth.

These girls (Christina, Britney) are whether we want them to be or not role models for young girls. I don't want my daughter to be told that there are even doctors out there that will preform an elective c-sections at 37 wks for the prevention of going into labor and avoidance of "lady partsl stretching" But I guess if you pay someone enough they will do anything. Including a mini tummy tuck during the procedure which I have to guess is partially why all of these young actress/singer/famous types opts for the surgery rather than a vag delivery... Why did she have to even bother saying 37 wks was the gest age... and why didn't she just say the kid was breech like other celeb moms that may or may not have had a medical reason for a c-section.

Anyway it frustrates me. :twocents:

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Funny thing is, I have heard that J.Lo's twins were born 15 minutes apart, which implies strongly that she DID NOT have a c-section.

Now, if she (or anyone else) had needed one, that's another story.

:) :)

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