The Pros and Cons of Elective Cesareans

There have been many advances in childbirth over the last 70 years. There is no longer a serious fear of infant death. With the ultrasound, you are able to see and know almost everything about your little bundle of joy.

With every labor (being a miracle and all) problems can and do arise from time to time. Some reasons for a c-section are non-progression, repeat c-sections, breech, and fetal distress. In my case, after being in labor for 26 hours, I was what they call unable to progress. Under the knife I went, with no information about a c-section. I was never even told to consider it. My Mom and sister had left the hospital for a break, and they took me back and cut my 9-pound baby boy out of me. With-in minutes I could hear the cry of my first-born. I did not get to hold my son until after the surgery was over, not what I expected, or wanted.

Some areas in this country are now allowing women to choose to have a c-section when it is not medically necessary. Some of the most popular reasons include, being able to plan the baby's arrival, being scarred of labor, and fear of complications. A cesarean section is a major abdominal surgery, which can be life saving for mother and child when necessary. There is a significant amount of risks involved with having a c-section. The International Cesarean Awareness Network is strongly against elective c-sections. The risks to the mother and the baby are increased. There is a chance of infection, hemorrhage, higher infant mortality rate, damages to internal organs, and scar tissue just to name a few. There is also a chance that the doctor will cut the baby during surgery. Of course, a longer recovery time is to be expected with the c-section. The bonding process can be hurt, and breast-feeding may be hard to establish. There are also risks to the baby, which include, respiratory problems, prematurity from having the baby delivered too soon, and injury during surgery.

This infection you can get is a nasty thing. I was home about a week when I noticed I could not stand up all the way. I had what looked like when of those pool ring floats around my midsection. I called the hospital and asked about if something could be wrong and they kept telling me it would swell and I would hurt (duh). I was rushed to the emergency room with a strep infection that had worked its way up from my incision to right below my breasts. If I had of waited any longer it would have meant death. This kept my newborn and I in the hospital for six days. They had to take my staples out in the middle of this horrid infection and left two spots open to pack with medicine. When I finally got to come home, my husband had to continue this packing for two weeks after. Not what a new parent wants the first few weeks of parenthood. With my second son, I got to experience the respiratory problems caused by c-sections. My baby boy was on breathing treatments 4 times a day. He is allergic to wheat, fish, dogs, and roaches. He has eczema in which he has to have medication put on his skin twice a day and take two different medicines twice a day. My first son had no problems other than stomach. Therefore, it has been hard. In addition, believe it or not, I got that infection again with my second c-section. They caught this one in time so I did not have to go to the hospital. When they removed my staples this time, my incision came back open in the doctor's office. I looked up and said, what is wrong, and the doctor was covered in blood. I am just one person and I am sure most cases are without problems. In the United States c-section, rates are at an all time high. There is not a lot of evidence to compare the benefits and problems between vaginal and c-section births.

If you are thinking about having an elective c-section, it is very important to find out the risks associated with the surgery. You also need to make sure of costs, since c-sections cost twice as much as vaginal deliveries, most insurance companies may not pay for it. The important thing is to make sure you and your baby are safe, healthy, and happy.