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Cesarean vs natural birth

Cesarean vs natural birth
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Groups » Cesarean vs natural birth » Blog

17
Jul
2006
mrslunar

Should elective c sections be allowed?

by mrslunarComment Published at 07:5907:5949 comments49 comments1057 Visits1057 VisitsReport
With the rise in c sections these days, many women are opting for elective c -sections.....a c section that is planned in advance of the onset of labor to avoid labor all together. Should this even be allowed?

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katierose
5.00 (Excellent) | March 2007 | katierose
Choice
After being pipped at the post ( after nearly 30 hours labour - NO DRUGS and having my daughter to the point of crowning and being very STUCK- posterior) I had to have an emergency C -section. I personally cannot imagine why anyone would voluntarily go through this process. It involves such a long recovery! However everyone is entitled to a choice. My choice would to never have one ever again, but if the next one is distressed or in danger I would do it again in a heartbeat. If it was only for convenience sake, I could never even contemplate the trauma and pain ( Unfortunately the spinal block they administered didn't work and I nearly jumped off the table when they started cutting - I had to be knocked out ) I missed the first few hours of my bub's life, I came around when they bought her in screaming ( she had been doing this since she was delivered) and  asking if I was going to breastfeed I needed to do it NOW! After a week in hospital , I faced an 8 hour drive home and the first time I had any check up was 8 weeks later. As I lived 15 km's from the nearest shop and my husband working 18 hrs a day meant that the no driving rule went straight out the window if I wanted to eat! NO IT IS NOT AN EASY OPTION AND ANYONE THAT IS THINKING IT IS EASIER THAN NATURAL CHILDBIRTH I WOULD ADVISE THEM TO THINK AGAIN!!! Just my opinion however there it is!


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      katierose
5.00 (Excellent) | March 2007 | katierose
Choice
I forgot to add that I had persistant back and stomach pain that I had checked by various doctors - After 5 doctors and pain so severe I was unable to move and ended up a gibbering mess on the floor ( 5 months of it) I was diagnosed as having an infection in th bowel resulting from the caesarian!


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Tadexpress
5.00 (Excellent) | February 2007 | Tadexpress
For goodness sake
I have had 4 c-sections 2 emergency and 2 not for the SAFETY and HEALTH of my babies. They have never had any skin conditions, breathing difficulties or ANYTHING ELSE wrong with them.  At the end of the day why are we battering women who have them by making them feel further like failures.... it happens sometimes by choice and sometimes by not for goodness sake leave us alone, all I wanted was a normal healthy child and thats what I got, if I have persevered with the natural way I or my child would have died and no I dont theink theres anything natural about confusing women and putting their baby;s at risk...we see the Dr's because they are the trained experts and if you dont like what your Dr says you have the choice to leave and find another....Our baby our body our choice!


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      cookclan
5.00 (Excellent) | February 2007 | cookclan
For goodness sake
You go girl.....Bravo........Tell them........Some of the stuff that is said in this forum is so wrong......and I find it kind of funny that people think they can judge other peoples decisions on what they do with their bodies and give them the idea that they have done wrong.....this is my opinion all round You do what you want to do with your body and your birth as I did what I wanted with mine.........Well done tadexpress for wring this it really needed to be said matey.....
Cheers
Angie


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           MummaBear
5.00 (Excellent) | February 2007 | MummaBear
For goodness sake
This forum was not meant to criticize those who have had to have a c-section for the safety of their child, or for that matter the mother! It was intended, I believe, to see how people felt about those healthy women, with no complications, electing to have a c-section for the simple fact that they may avoid having to go through labor.  If my child was not born the day I was induced she would have been a c-section baby for her own health and well-being and nobody is going to say you are a bad person for having a c-section.  I feel that there is not enough education around regarding the matter and one particular person I know elected to have a c-section even though the preganancy was going well and there was no risk in giving birth naturally.  She has regretted that decision as it was made solely on the belief that she wouldn't have to go through the pain of childbirth.  She avoided labor but was laid up for 2 months after having the baby and had it not been for the total luck of her husband being able to take long-service leave for 6 months when the baby came along she would have had a hard time getting everything done.  She regrets this simply because she may not have a choice next time and would have liked to have given birth naturally if she could have.  For that reason I think people need to be correctly informed of everything before being allowed to make the decision.  I apologise to those who have been offended by this forum and hope you can see that my point is not to criticise but to hopefully be able to educate.  I think education is the key to everything, and that's just me.  Have a good day.


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MummaBear
February 2007 | MummaBear
C-section births
I think that if there is a risk to the mother and chid's life (as there was when my mother had my brother) then yes a c-section is to be considered.  But if there is no risk and if it is just to avoid labor then i say no parents shouldn't even have that option.  It is there for an emergency option and has to be used in many cases, i know many many women who have had ceasarians because it was a medical necessity.  I also know that women who give birth naturally, even though they may have gone through 36 hour labors, get over it fairly quickly whereas a c-section birth means you are out of action and even unable to hang the washing on the line for at least 6 weeks.  If this is how a woman wants to avoid pain it should be explained to her that a c-section is MAJOR surgery and it will take even 2 months to recover from it.  All the friends I have who have had c-sections are also afraid to wear a 2-piece swim suit when we take our children swimming even though they are a size 10-12 and very attractive because of the scars from the surgery.  It's something that needs to be explained in full to women when they are pregnant.  I was induced with my daughter on a saturday morning and told if inducing her didn't work I would have to have a ceasarian on the sunday.  This was only at 37 weeks and I was scared and all I could think of was being able to hang the nappies on the line and that I might have to use disposable nappies just to limit what goes on the line.  I was also worried about how I would go about breastfeeding, even though my mother successfully breastfed my brother after a ceasarian.  I know how painful it was for her though to hold him and be comfortable.  I just think that people don't look into it fully or understand that it is major surgery and you wouldn't have a leg amputated to avoid the pain of an ingrown nail would you?


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muller-alicia
5.00 (Excellent) | February 2007 | muller-alicia
Should elective c sections be allowed?

Well after reading some of the opinions on the page I felt a bit hurt.

My first daughter was born naturally, and with many complications, after a extremely severe episiotomy and a blood transfusion my experience wasn't so called natural when i feel pregnant with my second daughter i was diagnosed with antenatal depression as i was severly stressed about the enevitable labour that i ended up asking for a caserean which they aloud me to have very grudgingly and  thankfully as Eboni was born a healthy 4500gms and she was healthier than my first daughter whose apgars were 1 and 8 and Eboni were 9 and 9

So yes i think a mother should should have the right to make an informed decission and without being told that it's the wrong thing to do.

If anyone asks me which was better i tell them a c section is the way to go and i stick to my opinion 



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      kseers
5.00 (Excellent) | February 2007 | kseers
Should elective c sections be allowed?
Firstly, I think that it is a mother's choice so YES it should be allowed.  That said there should be more information about what is involved as some women are not aware of all their choices. 

If you want to book in a caesar because of your own experiences already then I think that is fair.  What I do not think is fair is women being told they have to have one when they don't and being booked in for reasons like "he was going on holidays and I had to have him deliver my baby" (yes, I have heard that one!)

I had a caesarian and a VBAC and I would prefer a 'natural' birth by far.  The things that upset me about a caesar were the feeling of distance between me & my baby - especially not being allowed to nurse him straight away.  Yes, we had issues feeding and this is common (despite what someone further up has written).  There was also a lot longer recovery time and a lot more pain.  This is my personal experience - and I have friends with the same feelings BUT I know this is not for everyone. 

There should be no judgement in what you choose so long as you have made the decision for yourself with all the information.


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jacethisa
February 2007 | jacethisa
more

I had one natural delivery then I had a c/s with my second for various reasons then when that baby was sick we chose a c/s for our 3rd..

My 2nd son was NOT sick from the C/s he was sick from other things and I firmly believe if we hadn't have gone with t he Drs advice of a c/s our son would have died.  so that was our reason for an elective one 3rd time round

 



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jacethisa
February 2007 | jacethisa
Personal choice
I think it is the parents choice


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cookclan
December 2006 | cookclan
weigh it up
I was 17 when I had my first child. I was 2 weeks over due when I was induced. I was 13 hours in labour and could not handle the pain any more so opted for pain relief being epidural at 9 hours. He was a natural birth out came my son weighing a hefty 10 pound 10 ounce 67cm long and 42cm head circumference. It then took my doctor 2 hours to stitch me up as I had 3rd degree tears all the way to my cervix and through to my bowel. I spent 3 weeks in hospital as I also got an infection. When I had my second child I was in the public system I asked about c section etcc.... I was told by doctor that i could try natural if i wanted to. I did not want to. I gave birth to my healty daughter by c section 3 weekes early she was 8 poun 8 59cm long and 39cm around the head. I left hospital 3 days later and was up and about alot quicker than with natural. I was then faced with my third pregnancy she was still born I knew she was dead and they again gave me the option of having natural. I did not want to it was too much to bring home the idea of giving birth to death so again I had a c section. both elective so when I had my fourth pregnancy it was no longer an option.
I was told by the doctors that having a c section is totally up to the mother I dont agree with the whole things being wrong with c section kids thats just rubbish.  Both of my first 2 kids are asthmatic one natural one c section. Now my eldest  no longer gets asthma he gets exzema. I am told by the doctor that these are hereditary because I too was asthmatic and my mum had me natural I think we could go on and on about if you do this then you cause this etc........... I think it is another subject that is a personal thing


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      casabella44
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | casabella44
weigh it up

I also had a 10 pounder by cesar though at 40+ weeks and now I am 36 weeks pregnant again. The doctor wants to either do a caesar at 37 weeks 4 days or 38 weeks 4 days as it is also expected to be quite large. I read that your second baby was delivered at 37 weeks. Did she have any problems (breathing, eating etc.) when she was born and were you able to have her in your room straight away? I am a bit worried about him delivering it so soon. I had a scan at 34 weeks and it said that the baby was already 6 and a half pounds. 



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           muller-alicia
5.00 (Excellent) | February 2007 | muller-alicia
weigh it up
my first daughter was born at 9 pnds 14 onz so i elected a c section second time round and she was 10 pounds 2 weeks early she stayed with my husband while they stiched me up and then she stayed with me in recovery until i was right to go back to the ward and she stayed with me from then on she was born with an apgar of 9 and 9 and much heathier than my first so dont be worried


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           cookclan
5.00 (Excellent) | January 2007 | cookclan
weigh it up
No problems breathing or feeding and the bonus she had a perfectly shaped head too LOL she came straight to me as soon as she was born..... I had no complications at all
Cheers
Angie


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                mandymum3
5.00 (Excellent) | February 2007 | mandymum3
weigh it up
i have always wondered about those two weeks if a bubby is to be born at 38 weeks, my ob told me 40 weeks is the number in the middle, anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks is considered full term as far as doctors say. all 3 of my girls where born prem, 33weeks and 34.5 weeks, they never had any breathing probs all had jaundice my last and incidentally the largest had to go in the special care nursery for a while for her blood sugar levels. and on the subject of elective c sections, my last two where written down as elective but i think that is wrong as i didnt elect them i dont dilate, i have no choice in the matter i think it should be called something else for cases similar. they ended up being emergency as i go in to pre term labor.


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                     kseers
February 2007 | kseers
weigh it up
too true - shouldn't be 'elective' - that can include people who have one for medical reasons but where it is planned as well as people that have chosen to have one for various reasons.  They should be called 'planned' as opposed to 'emergency'.

I have read that the last two weeks can make a big difference in the baby's size & healthy, but I  don't know.  I guess too it all works on the assumption that the doctor's dates are correct.  If they are incorrect and you deliver 2 weeks early you could effectively have a premmie.  This is not unknown.

My son was technically full term and we had an emergency caesar due to distress at just under 38 weeks but at 2.4kg (just over 5lb) he was considered "small for dates" or suffering "IUGR" (intra uterine growth retardation) and we had to treat him as a premmie.


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      breannababy
5.00 (Excellent) | December 2006 | breannababy
weigh it up
After a very scary emergency c-section with my first(he and I nearly died)I was quite turned off natural child birth.Due to my age and high blood pressure as well as gestational diabetes I was booked in for a c-section with my daughter.I recovered quickly from my ceasers,managing a tourist concern full time a week after her birth(I was lucky I was the boss and had her with me 24/7)I feel this is a personal choice.I know people prefer conventional child birth stating it is best........I just don't see where straining and tearing your vagina is very helpful,I have heard of bubs getting overly stressed in the birth canal as well sometimes becoming stuck.......I think if there is a history or suspected complications an elective ceaser sounds smart.At the end of the day it is the choice of the Mums and I don't think any one has the right to judge their decision.


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lizardsmom
December 2006 | lizardsmom
my experience
With my daughter I planned a completely natural birth but as fate would have it a cesarian was medically necessary.  I did not have even the slightest hint of labor, no dialation, she was born 5 days prior to her EDD at 8lbs 1oz 20in, full head of hair, long nails, and large for gestational age.  My OB and her Dr decided due to the fact that the fluid around her was low combined with the other factors she was actually overdue.  Her APGAR scores were 8 and 9.  She latched on and has been nursing with no trouble at all.  Overall she is much healthier than and has been developing leaps and bounds ahead of her cousing who is 20 days older than she even six months later.  Not to mention she had a perfectly round head from the get go.  While it obviously wasn't my first choice the operation saved her life as when they finally got to her they discovered the umbilical cord was wrapped twice around her neck which; given the low fluid, her size, and the fact that she was my first, would have at best caused severe brain damage and at worst killed her.  I feel fortunate to have had the procedure.


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rosrocks
November 2006 | rosrocks
c-sections vs natural birth
i have to agree it is harder to lose the weight after a c-section.i had 5 natural births before having a c section with my sixth due to complications.It was quite traumatising! i would not recomend it to any one and i do not think you should just be able to elect to have major surgery when you are perfectly cabable of giving birth naturally.


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functionmed
1.56 (Poor) | September 2006 | functionmed
Should elective c sections be allowed?
Absolutely NO!
The only person to benefit from a C section is the operating surgeon.

To elect for a C section is irresponsible in that the results for the infant/child/adolescent/adult can be very detrimental
leading to ongoing chronic illness conditions and /or killer diseases. From day one the immune system of the infant is highly compromised. The rationale is explained with limitations hereunder.

More than 90% of the infant atopic eczema I see is a consequence of C section as are many other serious childhood conditions.

The Birthing and bifidobacterium infantis
Let us examine the bifidobacterium pathway. When an infant is born, normally (intravaginally), the infant picks up numerous bacteria including fecal bacteria in the birth process, most of these whilst essential to normal gut function, uncontrolled, can and do create havoc both within the gut and outside the gut. A common example is Candida Albicans  which, in the female, invades the vagina and is commonly known as thrush.  There is one other bacteria among all of these which is the control lactobaccilis. Bifidobacterium Infantis, the friendly Probiotic.

Under the influence of breastfeeding by day seven Bifidobactrium in a healthy infant  comprises 90% of the infants stool.. Now, if the infant is breast-fed for several months the bifidobacteria proliferates with the function of  improving digestion and immune status, manufacturing certain nutrients including, but not confined to:
 Biotin
 Choline
 Folic Acid
 Inositol
 Para Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA)
 Vitamin B2
 Vitamin B5
 Vitamin B6
 Vitamin K)

and importantly controlling the detrimental bacteria, which if uncontrolled, proliferate and in time eat away at the mucosal lining of the gut with the consequence of a hyper-permeable gut lining "Leaky Gut". If an infant is born via caesarian section or  not breast fed there will not be enough friendly bacteria to control the unfriendly bacteria with consequent proliferation and penetration of any body tissue causing inflammation and/or pain.

A common example might be infant eczema. In addition of course antibiotics, the most over-prescribed medication on  this planet, will destroy much of the friendly bacteria, especially acidophilus located in the small intestine.

Interestingly, mothers of today do not have near the amount of bifidobacterium in the birth process that their grandmothers had a few decades ago. A recent Danish study could not find any bifidobacteriun in infants born in a Danish hospital over a twelve month period.  This due no doubt to the modern diet and life-style.

Bifidobaceria thrive on what are called Fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Best sources of FOS are banana, onion, garlic and tomatoes. But easy on th banana which is rich in starch and high on the glycemic index.


Most infants and children's allergic and/or minor infectious episodes respond to intensive probiotic treatment. Bifidobacterium and acidophilus are very potent antibacterial/virus agents to which infectious bacteria cannot become resistant, unlike all antibiotics.

It is important to understand the need to reinnoculate following every antibiotic treatment plus a multivitamin supplement and avoid sugar-rich foods, white bread and other refined carbohydrates.

It is equally as important to use only refrigerated probiotic with billions not millions of bacteria. I recommend "Inner Health" in Australia and not to be taken with chlorinated water, which will destroy probiotics. Yogurt containing fruit is unlikely to contain many viable bacteria because like humans they love sugar and will have have killed themselves by consuming the fruit sugar (fructose). For more info on leaky gut etc:

http://health-care-aus.org



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Jessgore
4.14 (Good) | September 2006 | Jessgore
Should elective c sections be allowed?

I would suspect that anyone opting for a C-section would have one as close to the delivery date as possible... I am sure the doctors would explain all the pro's and con's...  And the mother would have all the infomation given to her by doctors surely...  In the end really it all boils down to the mother gets to make the choice and if a C-section is what she wants then so be it..

 I don't personally agree with doing it this way. But who am I to judge what another person wants to do with their life....



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candie81
September 2006 | candie81
c-sections vs natural birth

I have had three c-sections, my first was due to a breech baby  the others were advised by doctors. I wish i had of gone for a natural labour after the first, but was advised against it, saying i had a high chance of tearing the first wound! I would have liked to give it a go, but to deliver my babies safely was more important, i couldn't risk it.

I'd just like to say, that i got to hold all my babies straight away, they had all their usual things done, like all babies and then they were given to me in recovery and wheeled with me back to my room. They all were breastfed, they were healthy and they were born safely. I recovered very well, never had any complications. I don't think that they are any worse off for it, they are growing into nice young ladies and my 9 month is the sweetest thing possible. It depends on how you bring them up, not how they were delivered!

I don't believe that mothers should go in just to have a c-section for no reason, just because they can't stand the thought of having a long labour. C-sections are very painful, uncomfortable and all over yuck!! And, it takes forvever to lose the weight! Some mums can do it, others can't, and that's all it boils down to!



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Treeny
September 2006 | Treeny
my 2 cents
Ok i had no choice but to have a c-section not only did i go into labour 7 weeks early i was not dialating, my son was fine he had no breathin problems he only had to b tube fed for 2 weeks andddddddd he is now 10 mnths n doin great. I would say its parents choice, I am now almost 7 weeks gone into second pregnancy and i opted for a csection again. And as with the first i will breastfeed :)


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rkcrtbrown
4.57 (Excellent) | September 2006 | rkcrtbrown
Should elective c sections be allowed?
I had the experience of first a vaginal birth with my daughter and a c-section with my boys out of necessity. After having had experienced both, i don't know why anyone would choose a c section. i had no complications either but the recovery time was alot longer and i had twins to take care of. With my daughter, i had her birth was much more natural even though it was not a great experience during the whole labour. As soon as i had her, i was up almost right away and back to my normal self in no time. i didn't hold my boys for what seemed like eternity, not  until they were about an hour old and my daughter i held her right away. If a woman wants to choose a c section, all the power to her. I personally would never choose that method.


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meljellybean
September 2006 | meljellybean
C-Section and Natural Birth

I know this is probably going to sound crazy, but it was something i read in an article a few years ago and it shocked me,  so unfortunately i cant direct anyone to the findings but basically this study was done on criminals/ murderers/ rapists etc etc and they found that a huge majority of them were born c-section and say that natural birth is supposed to cleanse the body and soul as they come into the world!!   After i read that i remember thinking i never want to have kids as i didn't want to run the risk of not being able to have a baby naturally.  Scary !!

On the topic though i think it is a shame when people opt out for having a natural vaginal birth if they can,  it just seems like the easy way out really, and yet it's considered fairly ' major surgery' in terms of stiches, possibility of infection, recovery time etc.   Each to their own i guess !!



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      allyp
4.57 (Excellent) | September 2006 | allyp
C-Section and Natural Birth
That is scary.. Holy cow.. But as for me, I was born by c-section. My mom couldn't deliver naturally at all. My mom's doctor said she had to have a c-section, I dont know the whole reason's behind it because I didn't want to know.


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angelmum
August 2006 | angelmum
c- section

I had two emergency c-sections and with my third I elected to have one on my Doc's advice, it took 6 weeks to get over, so although I really dont think anyone should be told whether they can elect to have one or not, if you can deliver naturally why wouldn't you give it a go.  As for the baby been delivered early I went into hospital on his due date, three of my girlfriends had c-secs and their babies were all born 1 to 2 days before their due date.  Is it worse off for the baby no of course not, its actually a lot less trauma than a lot of natural births.



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allyp
August 2006 | allyp
pay for c-sections???
Holy, you have to pay for c-sections?? not here in canada.. that's just crazy don't you think? $16,000 wow thats a big chunk of money!!! i didnt' have to pay for anything and i had vaginal birth(do you have to pay for vaginal birth in the states to?)


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      Izzy
4.14 (Good) | August 2006 | Izzy
pay for c-sections???
In the States people have to pay for everything especially if they do not have insurance. So my c-section cost me about $400 instead of the $16,000 I mentioned. It also goes the same for vaginal birth.  So, if someone doesn't have insurance the person is responsible for the whole cost. Healthcare in here is really crappy.


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           allyp
2.00 (Poor) | August 2006 | allyp
pay for c-sections???

Wow.. I think that's just crazy!! Now I'm really glad I didn't have to pay for anyhing. At least $400 is better than $16,000!!!



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sars
July 2006 | sars
c- section
The cost of c - sections are unbelievable! What is elective though according to private insurance? If the obgyn says your pelvis will be to small to give birth you need a c - section so you do is that elective? I don't know, there was still a gap of about $400 to my obgyn after the insurance paid the rest, i was peeved about that since I figured not being elective I shouldn't have had to pay a thing! Thats just the start of the costs - bloodwork, special care nursery etc. Thats one good thing about natural it doesn't cost so much!!


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