Why a C-Section?

edj02 · Nov 1, 2005

Isn't parenting supposed to be all about making sacrifices? If you are not willing to even sacrifice your lady parts's elasticity for your child, what does that say about you?

mstigerlily · Nov 1, 2005

Well I think that's a little harsh. I know some women that have incontinence afterward, also loss of sensation from tearing and need A&P repairs so this is a valid fear.

I had a small episiotomy with my first which I didn't need, I was numb down there for months and had stress incontinence for a few months which thankfully resolved. With my second and third, I had a small tear and didn't tear at all and both healed easily and quickly with no loss of sensation. I believe that a lot of the complications from lady partsl births are due to very long labors, long pushing stage, vacuum and forceps use, inductions on non-ripe cervixes and boluses on the epidurals during pushing stage (which leads long labors, ineffective pushing, prolonged 2nd stage and vacuums).

Isn't parenting supposed to be all about making sacrifices? If you are not willing to even sacrifice your lady parts's elasticity for your child, what does that say about you?

live4today, RN · Nov 1, 2005

I think we in the USA have a rather cavalier way of looking at csection birth. Look at Britney Spears, had a csection due to "fear of childbirth". Did NO ONE even ATTEMPT to educate her? Of course not, she is a American pop princess and demanded and got what she wanted.
I think it's a shame it (csection delivery) is being lumped in there with elective surgeries and the like---- maybe because of its inherent risks, not only to mom, but her baby. There are TWO patients involved, here, not just one. I would rue the day when csection on demand becomes the standard of care here in the USA; sadly, I see it coming in my lifetime. Too bad, if you ask me. It's just another indicator of our self-centered desire to have what we want when we want---now.
I agree w/Altalorraine. Make THEM pay out of pocket for elective surgeries that have no medical necessity, including elective primary csection.

I agree with you Deb. I am surprised to learn that "elective c-sections" are permitted today. :eek: How long has this been going on? :confused: My my my!!! Are other countries practicing this "elective" surgery for moms who do not wish to labor? Oh well....as long as those choosing the elective route pay for it out of their own pocket. :uhoh3:

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 1, 2005

Do not quote me, but I believe in Brazil, among the those with any real means or well-to-do, elective csection rates exceed 85%. I read that statistic someplace, but like I said, do not quote me. Even if it were only 50-60% that is ridiculous to me. Very indicative of our trends, which do concern me greatly.

Q. · Nov 1, 2005

I'm really not in favor of elective c-sections simply because of reasons that I hear ie: section babies are "prettier." Of course my opinion is that, that kind of statement indicates their maturity level for parenting in general and already at that point we're well past the point of no return here.

C-sections are a tad riskier simply because they are major abdominal surgery. And, c-sections don't allow the babies to have that lady partsl canal "squeeze" which helps their lungs. However, there are also cases where sections are better due to the indications. I had a c-section; I was in pre-term labor at 32 weeks; after being on Magnesium for 3 days still dilated to 5cm; problem was my daughter Sofia (twin B) was breech. My OB was comfortable with a breech extraction because my son Ian (twin A) was vertex but being only 32 weeks, Sofia's head was much larger than her body and were were fearful of cervical entrapment. The decision for a section was ultimately mine but it was made collarboratively with my OB, my perinatologist and the neonatologist.

I do regret that I missed out on a lady partsl birth though. I think it would have been absolutely awesome to experience pushing my babies out.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 1, 2005

Here is a link to an article discussing increased elective csection rates in the USA, from a British perspective, published Nov 2004:

Study: U.S. women increasingly choosing C-sections without medical need

LONDON - New research bolsters a growing body of evidence that an increasing proportion of women in the industrialized world are choosing to give birth by Caesarean section when there is no clear medical need.

rest of article:

http://www.azcentral.com/health/women/articles/1119Csections19-ON.html

(in this article, a quote exceeding 90% elective csections is cited for Brazil)

mstigerlily · Nov 1, 2005

Some more interesting articles (this subject is of interest to me!)

http://www.birthlink.com/birthstories_set.html

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/03/19/colb.csection/

http://www.stjohn.org/HealthInfoLib/HGArticle.aspx?ArticleID=84008

http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/HealthDay/2005/09/12/1000768

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2004/07/09/optional_c_sections/

Letters re: Salon article

I think if I had a bad lady partsl delivery experience, or a previous 10 lb baby that I wasn't able to get out the lady partsl route, I might want a csection too. But to want one right off the bat to me is strange.

That said, I've taken care of many primips who got a csection for "macrosomia" and the baby was 7-8 lbs, a completely normal size. One was even 6 lbs 8 oz but she was sectioned because baby was "too big" on the ultrasound (mom was a normal size)

Here is a link to an article discussing increased elective csection rates in the USA, from a British perspective, published Nov 2004:
Study: U.S. women increasingly choosing C-sections without medical need
LONDON - New research bolsters a growing body of evidence that an increasing proportion of women in the industrialized world are choosing to give birth by Caesarean section when there is no clear medical need.
rest of article:
http://www.azcentral.com/health/women/articles/1119Csections19-ON.html
(in this article, a quote exceeding 90% elective csections is cited for Brazil)

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 1, 2005

I'm really not in favor of elective c-sections simply because of reasons that I hear ie: section babies are "prettier." Of course my opinion is that, that kind of statement indicates their maturity level for parenting in general and already at that point we're well past the point of no return here.
.

So well-said, Suzy. Congratulations ( a little late) on the births of your babies.:balloons:

chuckc, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2005

I am kind of speechless reading this thread:stone It seems as we have become distrusting and disconnected from our bodies. I know that C-sections are sometimes necessary, I have had 2 C-sec and 1 VBAC. Sorry to see so many are fearful of childbirth. I think the medical community is responsible for generating this fear, it's all in the presentation. Just my opinion, no offense to anyone.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 1, 2005

Chuckc I am sorry; but I feel that is a very simplistic view. The sense of entitlement on the part of our "customer" (read: patient) and excessive litigation, and many other factors contribute.

Plus: The fears of permanent physical changes are real, too. Please re-read this thread before automatically assigning blame to the medical community alone. It's a bit more complicated than that.

TweetiePieRN · Nov 1, 2005

Isn't parenting supposed to be all about making sacrifices? If you are not willing to even sacrifice your lady parts's elasticity for your child, what does that say about you?

Who is this question directed at? I hope not at me. Yes, parenting is about sacrifices, definitely. For some women (not me here, okay) its not just the elasticity they lose, they lose their bladder control, some women lose bowel control thanks to tearing down to and thru the orifice.

Why would you even link a person deciding to have a c-section for the elasticity reason and parenting? Two different concepts.

Just out of curiosity, do you have any children?

fergus51 · Nov 1, 2005

I had a patient in Canada given a section for "maternal anxiety".... She was scheduled for a section on the Friday, but came in Thursday night in labor. By the time they had her in the OR with the epidural in place, she was fully dilated and the baby was right down. We couldn't even get a cath in her because the baby was so low. Did we try to deliver lady partslly? Nope. Pulled the baby back up for the section. It was hands down, the stupidest thing I have ever seen. That night we had to divert a high risk patient to another hospital much farther away because we wouldn't have enough post partum rooms available. The fact that this woman was going to take up an extra 2-3 days on post partum really steams me. Elective surgeries sometimes affect a lot of other people, and especially in Canada where we all pay for healthcare it does upset me to see people waste resources.

I think it's interesting that the notion of "controlled risk" is also one reason women choose elective c-sections with no medical indications. People don't trust women's bodies anymore. They overestimate the amount of control the doctor has in an operating room too imo. They obviously haven't experienced some of the emergencies in the OR that I have.