Why a C-Section?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hi everyone, I was just wondering why so many women are choosing to undergo ceasarean delivery without even a trial of labor? Don't they realize it is a major abdominal surgery and they will be in severe pain for several weeks? I know that it is a very necessary procedure sometimes, but it just seems so overdone and unnecessary sometimes. I'd love to hear from you!

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

If C-sections only affected the mother, I wouldn't really care how she chooses to deliver. But the fact remains that c-sections ultimately affect the baby and generally speaking, c-sections are harder on infants and more times than not, section babies have to stay under an oxy-hood and suffer more breathing difficulties as a result. The birth through the lady partsl canal acts to squeeze that lung fluid out and help the baby adapt to breathing room air.

I am very much pro-woman and honor their bodies and their choices. But when it comes to childbirth, it's not just the woman at stake. I believe the delivery choice should be made with ALL parties in mind ~ meaning, both the mother and the infant's well-being should be taken into consideration.

Having an elective section simply out of the mother's wishes and NOT taking the infant into account is what I don't agree with. Period.

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C-section deliveries come over on a gurney, with a catheter in (18 hrs) bags of fluid running (12 hrs) and are flat on their back for at least 12 hrs, generally vomiting/nauseous/getting IV narcotics for pain. Even if they are feeling ok, they are on clear liquids and fill up with gas - they stay 4 days.

Wow! In my unit c-section deliveries get up and get their foley out in 8 hours and when they are ambulatory and tolerating po then switch to oral meds, very little n/v, not much problem with gas ( we give simethicone w/meals and hs)... they go home in 48 hours and usually have had a BM by then

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Wow! In my unit c-section deliveries get up and get their foley out in 8 hours and when they are ambulatory and tolerating po then switch to oral meds, very little n/v, not much problem with gas ( we give simethicone w/meals and hs)... they go home in 48 hours and usually have had a BM by then

Wow, 48 hour discharges for sections?? That seems a little premature. At 48 hours I still had fluids running because my output was low. I didn't even get my colostrum in yet. Holy crap, that's too early imo.

I got simethicone also but there is always gas; you just opened up their abdomen and shoved their uterus back in; there's always gas. It's just more painful with a section because you just had surgery there.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Janet, it depends where I am. Some do better than others. Generally our MDAs use DURAMORPH in the spinal, which necessitates keeping a foley in for 24 hours (due to affected innervation around the bladder/urethra) and to be on Sat Monitors for just as long. The pain control varies w/Duramorph spinals. I have seen some women need little to no narcotic intervention---others need PCA narcs within a few hours after delivery. It can vary. Of course, such women have to be watched even more closely for over-sedation/and have their repers monitored that much more.

No one on my unit must remain on her back, and when the BP stablizes out, can be in any position she may choose. All are encouraged to ambulate within 12 hours of delivery, as well. Almost all go home in 48 hours or just a bit more.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I, too, have had a delivery of both kinds.

The vag was as easy as they come. The CS was as difficult as they can be (classical, general, infected). I would still choose a CS (provided I had a choice, which I don't due to the classical) over a vag if I were to deliver again. Why? Many reasons...all important to me and none of anyone else's business.

I've been in OB all my nursing career. Many posters have made statements about how "vag deliveries get up right away" or "CS's include weeks of pain and recovery time". None of those kind of blanket statements are true. I've seen vag's try to lay in bed for days, and CS's get up as soon as possible.

Ultimately, it should be the woman's choice about how to deliver (barring emergencies, etc) and she should not be criticized or denigrated for her choice.

I swear, some of these discussions remind me of men comparing member size. A woman is not more womanly for having delivered lady partslly or unmedicated.

Excellent post! It should be completely up to the MOTHER since it is HER body and HER baby...only SHE will have to suffer the after effects of the type of labor she chooses, not the health care workers passing judgement based on their personal feelings.

To the poster who stated that the baby is as much involved as the mom, you do make a good point. However, as long as women are allowed to CHOOSE abortion, then those of us who LOVE our babies should be allowed to CHOOSE an elective c/s. I'll be darned if others are allowed to kill their babies, but I am not allowed to chose my method of delivery because someone else thinks it wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Most do quite well after 48 hours. I have most of my moms MORE than ready to go by then. Early ambulation, scrupulous bowel assessment and hygiene, and solid pain control are the keys, I think.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Excellent post! It should be completely up to the MOTHER since it is HER body and HER baby...only SHE will have to suffer the after effects of the type of labor she chooses, not the health care workers passing judgement based on their personal feelings.

To the poster who stated that the baby is as much involved as the mom, you do make a good point. However, as long as women are allowed to CHOSE abortion, then those of us who LOVE our babies should be allowed to CHOSE an elective c/s. I'll be darned if others are allowed to kill their babies, but I am not allowed to chose my method of delivery because someone else thinks it wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH please---- for the love of respectful debate, do not drag the abortion issues into this discussion. Choice, I support---INFORMED and RESPONSIBLE choices.

Abortion is an entirely separate issue; please keep that in mind. Thank you.

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Specializes in cardiology, oncology, telephone triage.
We live in a society where we get ticked off if we have to wait in line at the drive up for more than three minuets, where air popped pop corn machines look alien to us since were are so use to the microwave. Before we know it we will have drive up widows for our elective surgery's.

I think it is wrong,(You would have to have a darned to reason to get me to have a c-section...I have heard of plenty of story's of them being preformed when they did not need to be...like the doctor that needs to leave for vacation and labor is not progressing "fast enough") but until we step up and do something about it it is only going to get worse. We have to start with educating people. I have a friend that tells me all the time that I am crazy for being so gun-hoe about natural birth for myself. She told me, "I am going to have a C-section when I have children... C-section baby's are prettier, their heads are not all squished.":uhoh3:

I think this post pretty much hits the nail on the head. Americans are impatient and lazy. It is unfortunate that we carry this over from our mundane lives into an area so unique and special as childbirth. We want to schedule everything! Let's look at next Tuesday's schedule: 10am shopping, 1pm nails, 3pm delivery baby, 7pm out for dinner. I don't think it has anything to do with vanity, it's pure selfishness (and obviously i'm not speaking in regard to medically necessary procedures). I also have to add that I'm not surprised with Brittney Spears' decision as she has never been a role model for anything in the past ... why should she now. It's too bad her mother is too caught up in being one of her groupies instead of supporting/educating her in making important life decisions.

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Specializes in cardiology, oncology, telephone triage.
I had my 2 lady partsl deliveries,and if ever I will plan to have another baby my DR. told me to have a Csec, got a lot of probs., met during my past deliveries.Though I prefer to deliver normally in my next one (hope I am not preg this month) Dr. adviced Cssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.:bluecry1:

Jessica

your MD can schedule you into his life instead of waiting on your body... not to mention getting paid more $$$... of course he (yes, i'm stereotyping) wants you to have a c-section...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
OH please---- for the love of respectful debate, do not drag the abortion issues into this discussion. Choice, I support---INFORMED and RESPONSIBLE choices.

Abortion is an entirely separate issue; please keep that in mind. Thank you.

My comparison is not between abortion and elective c/s :lol2: but for the act of CHOICE which many posters during this respectful debate have been against.:idea: I am glad you support choice, and I wish others were more open minded. Thank You!:D

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Wow! In my unit c-section deliveries get up and get their foley out in 8 hours and when they are ambulatory and tolerating po then switch to oral meds, very little n/v, not much problem with gas ( we give simethicone w/meals and hs)... they go home in 48 hours and usually have had a BM by then

YEp, this was my experience! My c-section experience, hospital stay was awesome! I had the greatest nurses. I did not have a lot of pain...no gas probs either! Being a nurse, I followed all the rules to a T! I walked ALOT with the baby in his little bassinet, I used that IS like it was going out of style, did alot of CDB.

My doctor asked me if I wanted to go home early...I said no, so I stayed an extra day by choice.

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If C-sections only affected the mother, I wouldn't really care how she chooses to deliver. But the fact remains that c-sections ultimately affect the baby and generally speaking, c-sections are harder on infants and more times than not, section babies have to stay under an oxy-hood and suffer more breathing difficulties as a result. The birth through the lady partsl canal acts to squeeze that lung fluid out and help the baby adapt to breathing room air.

I am very much pro-woman and honor their bodies and their choices. But when it comes to childbirth, it's not just the woman at stake. I believe the delivery choice should be made with ALL parties in mind ~ meaning, both the mother and the infant's well-being should be taken into consideration.

Having an elective section simply out of the mother's wishes and NOT taking the infant into account is what I don't agree with. Period.

THANK YOU! I thought I was the only one. We get more c-section babies admitted from newborn nursery because they are grunty than I care to mention. Most parents would never associate that with the c-section though.

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