The Truth About Cesarean Deliveries (C-sections)

Doctors and TV shows will tell you that C-sections are completely safe these days, but that is untrue. A C-section now is much safer than the old version of the C-section, a classical T-cut, but it still has many risks. Maternal and infant death are more likely with C-sections; higher C-section rates have always been associated with higher death rates. There are a wide variety of risks for the mother and baby that doctors often fail to mention to parents who are being advised to consider a Cesarean delivery. One third of all babies are born vaginally, and if that number were smaller, the death rates associated with birth would be lower.

A C-section requires anesthesia, which in and of itself affects the mother and child. That alone can cause breathing problems for the baby and cause the baby to be inactive or sluggish. It can interfere with the bonding process and cause problems with breastfeeding; lower nursing rates are associated with higher C-section rates. C-section babies are more likely to have breathing problems that can be severe.

Many scheduled C-sections take place at 37 weeks, which puts the child at a risk of premature birth and all of the problems associated with that. The mother's due date may be off by as much as a month. Even ultrasound dating can be inaccurate. This means the baby could actually be delivered as early as 33 weeks. Babies aren't universally concerned "full-term" until 38 weeks, as most babies are born between 38-42 weeks.

Scheduling a C-section prior to 40 weeks puts the child at an even higher risk of many problems. Sometimes this is done for a baby that's anticipated to be big, and the child turns out to be very small--and weak. There is no need to do this for a baby that is anticipated to be big anyway, being that you're scheduling a C-section and not a trip down the birth canal, making size irrelevant.

The risks for the mother are even higher, as she is more likely to have post partum-depression. She may have injuries to the bladder or bowel, reactions to the medications used, or an infection in the incision, uterus, or nearby organs. She is more likely to hemorrhage and to have blood clots in her legs, pelvic organs, or lungs. Many of these complications can be severe and even result in death. Women usually have a longer recovery time and hospital stay after a C-section delivery.

Once a mother has a C-section she is more likely to need another, as some hospitals don't allow VBACs due to the risks. A mother who has had a C-section is at greater risk of placenta previa and placenta accreta. Her uterus is more likely to rupture. This all increases her chances of needing a repeat C-section, which means these risks must be faced all over again. Maybe that explains why the number of women who electively have a C-section is so low, and the number of women attempting VBACs is so high!

C-sections are necessary in a number of situations. Cord prolapse, placenta accreta, placenta previa, certain birth defects, and transverse lie are situations when a C-section is unavoidable. When a mother has had a C-section before with a classical T-cut scar or has ruptured before, she should probably have a C-section. Mothers may have serious medical conditions requiring emergency treatment or viruses that make C-section a better option than vaginal delivery. Expecting triplets or more is a good reason to have a C-section. If a woman is past 42 weeks gestation, her baby is at an increased risk of problems, but a C-section should only be an option if labor induction methods have failed.

Half of all C-sections are performed in cases when they are unnecessary. Our country's C-section rate is 30%. Doctors say that our Cesarean rate should be closer to 15%. Many C-sections are performed due to ignorance or convenience, and these are not good reasons to take on such risks. A well-trained doctor can handle shoulder dystocia, twin delivery, and breech births without resorting immediately to C-section. Moreover, many doctors will resort to C-section simply because the birth is taking too long. This isn't dangerous; it's just inconvenient. Another issue is that C-sections are more expensive, and hospitals make more money from them than vaginal deliveries.

Many C-sections are performed when a baby is breech, but that is not necessary. Breech babies can be delivered vaginally quite safely. There are increased risks with breech babies, but C-section is not a necessity simply because a baby is breech. When and if a true complication occurs, then a C-section should be performed. The same is true of twins, because twins are more likely to be in the breech position. Doctors are afraid that complications requiring C-section will occur, so instead of trying, they go right to the C-section. They should at least give vaginal delivery a chance, given the risks of C-section.

Sometimes they will do it if labor is too slow or stops, but all labors are different. It is normal for labor to quicken, slow, stop, and start again. Doctors like routine, and they also don't want your labor to keep them in the maternity ward for 3 days. They want you in and out. There is no danger in having a long labor. It's also normal for a baby's heartbeat to slow down and quicken during labor. If the baby is truly in distress, his heart rate will dip QUITE a bit for quite a while; only then should C-section be done for that.

The number one reason for C-section is that the baby is considered to be too big to pass through the birth canal. The doctor determines that the baby weighs too much, has too big of a head, or that the mother's pelvis is too small. Ultrasound weight & size estimates are very inaccurate, and the size of a mother's pelvis is no indication of how far it can expand. Therefore there is no reason to schedule a C-section for a baby that seems big or a mommy that is built small.

C-sections are not completely safe, though they are safer than they once more. They carry many risks for mother and child, especially when scheduled at 37 weeks. Most are done out of ignorance or convenience, not medical necessity. Nearly half of all C-sections are unnecessary. Mothers and children are more likely to developed a host of problems and even die after C-section deliveries. There are times when C-section is indeed safer than vaginal delivery, but only about 15% of the time. If your doctor has recommended a C-section, do your research, and think hard before going along with it. And if you're thinking of having one to avoid the pain of labor, think again. It's not worth it.