Occasionally it is done at a doctor’s request. He may tell the mother he will be out of town during the week of her due date and Dr. X will cover him and if she prefers he will do a c-section before he leaves.
Women may want to have a scheduled surgical delivery so she can correctly schedule her return to work or to go on a vacation. There are of course valid medical reasons that would indicate a c-section should be performed.
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Risk of rupture to a previous incision
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A baby with and extremely large head
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Baby in a horizontal position and can’t be turned
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The baby’s heart rate drops significantly
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Mother has genital herpes
Having a c-section for a valid medical reason does not make you a failure. Neither does an elective procedure. However remember that a c-section is major surgery with risks to both you and your baby. However, in some cases it can save your life and that of your baby.
Risks to the mother:
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Injuries to organs such as the bowel, bladder and blood vessels
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The uterus can be perforated
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Increased risk of infection
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Phlebitis - blood clots in the leg which could break loose and travel to the heart, brain, etc.
Risks to baby:
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Increased risk of respiratory distress
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Increased need for resuscitation
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High rate of neonatal intensive care unit
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Lack of bonding with mother due to no immediate contact
Obstetricians are being sued because they didn’t do c-sections earlier when baby or mother was in distress. In states that have no caps on personal injury judgments, the doctors are paying literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for malpractice insurance.
Approximately 25% of c-sections are elective. Some people are afraid of pain or decreased sexual functioning after a vaginal birth. Many of the reasons that women are choosing to have this surgery comes from folklore myths that have been passed down from one generation to another as mentioned above.
Before you make a decision about having an elective c-section, do the research about the pros and cons of the c-section. Talk to your doctor and to women on both sides of the issue. Then make the decision about what is best for you and your baby. Whichever you choose you will know that your choice was based on solid evidence and not on Aunt Susie’s horror stories about her delivery by a c-section operation.
C-sections will cost you more because you will have to pay the surgeon, anesthesiologist, lab and x-ray fees, recovery room charges, supply fees, nursery and your room fees for three to five days and other incidental charges. Insurance companies pay only a portion of that cost and you have to come up with the rest.
As you can see, there are many answers to the question “Why do women get c-section surgery?” Not all due to clear cut medical conditions. Many “on demand” or elective c-sections are done so women can tell their jobs when they can return to work or to fit a doctor or patient’s vacation plans, or to ease a woman’s fear of labor pains.
Whatever your reason make sure you choose a competent compassionate physician who won’t judge your choice, but won’t hesitate to disagree with you if she thinks it may put you or your baby in a high risk situation.
If you have made up your mind for a c-section don’t listen to naysayers except of course your doctor. Just smile and say thanks for that information and do what you think if right.
Do yourself a favor before you decide on the c-section go over your reasons and be sure this is what you want. After all this is major surgery and has inherent risks. Are you really willing to be pretty much out of commission for a month or more? Your reasons should not be frivolous but well thought out. The recovery time can be six to eight weeks.
There are some post-op side effects of a c-section.
- It seems to take longer to get pregnant afterwards, however this may be voluntary.
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There is an increased risk of stillbirths after a c-section.
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Increased occurrences of placenta previa
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Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
I personally could not have an elective c-section. I’m not comfortable about the risks and potential post-op problems for me and the baby. Hey I’d get gas for a teeth cleaning if I could. I’m not joking I get nauseous when I get a flu shot.
Ok, my hang-ups don’t matter. Seriously I just want you to spend some time going over the pros and cons of a c-section and that when you do decide it is because you educated yourself and are making an informed decision with full knowledge of what you are doing.As we mentioned earlier a cesarean section can be a life saver for both you and your unborn child, but should not be entered into lightly.
Physicians, home birth advocates and midwives have to drop rigid attitudes about why do women have c-sections and do what is best for each individual mother and child.
