Elective C-Section??

Just curious, are their people who elect to have C-sections even if they dont necessarily need it or have a medical reason for it?? I know some women are scared of natural labor and I was wondering if people actually do this and if doctor's even allow it?

TIA!

Message edited 2/4/2009 10:59:14 PM.

Re: Elective C-Section??

i am VERY curious about this as well...

Re: Elective C-Section??

Ok, just be forewarned that this topic has turned ugly before, so hopefully it will not.

Generally, most doctors will not just perform a c-section just b/c the mother wants one. And that is for a lot of reasons, one of the biggest being that insurance may not cover it. Also, a c-section is major abdominal surgery.

ETA: Honestly, I can understand why people would be afraid of natural labor, but as a btdt, it isn't that bad. And my recovery was awesome and I even had a second degree tear

Message edited 2/4/2009 11:04:30 PM.

Re: Elective C-Section??

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Re: Elective C-Section??

Oh my goodness, people got ugly about it, thats just horrible.

I am genuinely interested in the topic b/c for example, I have suffered from Panic Disorder and Aniexty attacks since I was a child, and although this is not necessarily a PHYSICAL reason to get a C-section, some women will find it harder then others to get thru the pain of a usual labor and delivery.

On another note, I have read about celebrities getting C-sections by choice and I was so curious if that also happens in real life and how often.

Re: Elective C-Section??

Message edited 2/4/2009 11:10:34 PM.

Re: Elective C-Section??

i kinda have the feeling i won't have much choice - but we shall see.....

i have GD...though when i asked the OB she said that did NOT guarantee me a c-section... i do want to talk to her in more detail about it - see about this exact topic title...and with her - weigh the risks, benefits of each way...etc. In the end - what i want as far as this - will not be what matters...it will be what the DOC feels is best for me...but i would like to know my options...

my SIL just gave birth - she was pushing for 19 hours and had to have a c-section - she was DEVESTATED that she and i'm quoting here, 'got all stretched out and didn't even have the baby that way'. I could relate to her honesty....i really could...i would feel frustrated if that happened as well..

Re: Elective C-Section??

Re: Elective C-Section??

Posted by KateDevine

Posted by SecretlyPlanning4Baby

Oh my goodness, people got ugly about it, thats just horrible.

I am genuinely interested in the topic b/c for example, I have suffered from Panic Disorder and Aniexty attacks since I was a child, and although this is not necessarily a PHYSICAL reason to get a C-section, some women will find it harder then others to get thru the pain of a usual labor and delivery.

On another note, I have read about celebrities getting C-sections by choice and I was so curious if that also happens in real life and how often.

Well, here's why sometimes it gets heated. A c-section isn't less painful then going through labor....

Discuss it with your OB and see what they say, bring up your concerns and they will be able to help you

ETA: The celebs get the sections so they can have tummy tucks at the same time

Re: Elective C-Section??

Posted by KateDevine

Posted by davenjess

i kinda have the feeling i won't have much choice - but we shall see.....

i have GD...though when i asked the OB she said that did NOT guarantee me a c-section... i do want to talk to her in more detail about it - see about this exact topic title...and with her - weigh the risks, benefits of each way...etc. In the end - what i want as far as this - will not be what matters...it will be what the DOC feels is best for me...but i would like to know my options...

my SIL just gave birth - she was pushing for 19 hours and had to have a c-section - she was DEVESTATED that she and i'm quoting here, 'got all stretched out and didn't even have the baby that way'. I could relate to her honesty....i really could...i would feel frustrated if that happened as well..

She was pushing for 19 hours?!? You mean she was in labor for 19 hours?

As for the "stretched out" again, I think that is an unfounded concern, at least it was for me, and I even tore

Re: Elective C-Section??

Most doctors won't do a c-section just because. And while it is totally normal to be nervous about a vaginal delivery, it is so so easy to recover from.

And c-section can have bad results. It is a major surgery, and apart from the inherent risks of surgery, it can have a negative impact of subsequent pregnancies as well (higher rates of placenta previa, placenta accreta, etc.) Also, studies have shown babies born by c-section have a higher rate of breathing problems and low Apgar scores.

Re: Elective C-Section??

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Re: Elective C-Section??

C-sections are wonderful, life-saving procedures when medically indicated, but, like all surgeries carry risks.

Babies born via C-section are more likely to suffer respiratory distress. For a normal, healthy baby the process of going through the birth canal is the best thing for them. So, unless it's medically indicated, you are putting your baby at risk and you are putting yourself at risk. You're more likely to have placenta previa and placenta accretia with future pregnancies with a C, among other risk factors. I personally know 2 people in different hospitals who contracted infections as a result of their C's.

It's OK to be afraid of labor. Learn more about it and hopefully you will feel better. Many people have epis and feel very little pain. Keep a positive attitude!

Re: Elective C-Section??

Posted by davenjess

Posted by neenie

Posted by SecretlyPlanning4Baby
I just think you know, some women have it in their head that the labor pains and contractions they can avoid at least THAT part of the pain if they plan ahead for a C-section.

C-sections aren't that cut and dry (excuse the pun) and i think part of the problem (and reason it can get heated) is that some people really just don't get that. It's major abdominal surgery. Abdominal surgery is the HIGHEST risk of all surgeries. Blood clots, pulmonary emboli, hemmorhage, etc are all very common- more than most are aware of. Also, you may think that you can avoid "that part of the pain", but you have no idea what you're in store for during recovery. My SIL's incision never closed correctly, she almost became septic, they had to reopen her, have a nurse come to her house to repack the wound everyday for over 3 weeks and it took months after that before it completely healed correctly.

I think it's great that c-sections exist for emergency (and certain other) situations, but it's so hard for me to comprehend some people's casual views of it.

thank you for this info - sincerely. I knew there were risks, but i had no idea to the extreme that they COULD go...

Re: Elective C-Section??

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by davenjess

Posted by neenie

Posted by SecretlyPlanning4Baby
I just think you know, some women have it in their head that the labor pains and contractions they can avoid at least THAT part of the pain if they plan ahead for a C-section.

C-sections aren't that cut and dry (excuse the pun) and i think part of the problem (and reason it can get heated) is that some people really just don't get that. It's major abdominal surgery. Abdominal surgery is the HIGHEST risk of all surgeries. Blood clots, pulmonary emboli, hemmorhage, etc are all very common- more than most are aware of. Also, you may think that you can avoid "that part of the pain", but you have no idea what you're in store for during recovery. My SIL's incision never closed correctly, she almost became septic, they had to reopen her, have a nurse come to her house to repack the wound everyday for over 3 weeks and it took months after that before it completely healed correctly.

I think it's great that c-sections exist for emergency (and certain other) situations, but it's so hard for me to comprehend some people's casual views of it.

thank you for this info - sincerely. I knew there were risks, but i had no idea to the extreme that they COULD go...

Yes Csections are major surgery - but they are not quite as dramatic as the above - those risks - btw are common risks of any surgery - anytime you have surgery you risk blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and hemmorhage which is why you should never take any surgery lightly including plastic surgery (those were the same risks btw that I encountered when I had sinus surgery several years ago as well as brain infections etc). So in general no surgery should be taken lightly. If you follow your OB's orders tearing of stitches isn't all that common but it can happen - but infections of incisions can happen with any surgery. The problem is that many people forget and do things out of habit or push themselves too soon and then tearing can easily happen. There is a reason they say no lifting, bending, driving, etc for several weeks.

This gets to be a heated topic. In general I think there are "some" OB's out there who will do sections for convenience - but for the most part I think most people who choose to have one - do so b.c they are not candidates for VBACs, have severe health issues, or issues that do not permit for a vaginal birth. Most cases tend to be on a case by case basis. The healthiest delivery (barring complications) is generally vaginal deliveries for both mommy and baby. Not to say that there aren't complications from Vbirths either (urinary incontenency, tearing, infections, for baby - shoulder dystocia, brain damage, shoulder breaks, erbs palsy etc).

I could be wrong - but I think most of the moms on here have sections scheduled for medical reasons not personal ones.

Re: Elective C-Section??

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by davenjess

Posted by neenie

Posted by SecretlyPlanning4Baby
I just think you know, some women have it in their head that the labor pains and contractions they can avoid at least THAT part of the pain if they plan ahead for a C-section.

C-sections aren't that cut and dry (excuse the pun) and i think part of the problem (and reason it can get heated) is that some people really just don't get that. It's major abdominal surgery. Abdominal surgery is the HIGHEST risk of all surgeries. Blood clots, pulmonary emboli, hemmorhage, etc are all very common- more than most are aware of. Also, you may think that you can avoid "that part of the pain", but you have no idea what you're in store for during recovery. My SIL's incision never closed correctly, she almost became septic, they had to reopen her, have a nurse come to her house to repack the wound everyday for over 3 weeks and it took months after that before it completely healed correctly.

I think it's great that c-sections exist for emergency (and certain other) situations, but it's so hard for me to comprehend some people's casual views of it.

thank you for this info - sincerely. I knew there were risks, but i had no idea to the extreme that they COULD go...

Yes Csections are major surgery - but they are not quite as dramatic as the above - those risks - btw are common risks of any surgery - anytime you have surgery you risk blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and hemmorhage which is why you should never take any surgery lightly including plastic surgery (those were the same risks btw that I encountered when I had sinus surgery several years ago as well as brain infections etc). So in general no surgery should be taken lightly. If you follow your OB's orders tearing of stitches isn't all that common but it can happen - but infections of incisions can happen with any surgery. The problem is that many people forget and do things out of habit or push themselves too soon and then tearing can easily happen. There is a reason they say no lifting, bending, driving, etc for several weeks.

This gets to be a heated topic. In general I think there are "some" OB's out there who will do sections for convenience - but for the most part I think most people who choose to have one - do so b.c they are not candidates for VBACs, have severe health issues, or issues that do not permit for a vaginal birth. Most cases tend to be on a case by case basis. The healthiest delivery (barring complications) is generally vaginal deliveries for both mommy and baby. Not to say that there aren't complications from Vbirths either (urinary incontenency, tearing, infections, for baby - shoulder dystocia, brain damage, shoulder breaks, erbs palsy etc).

I could be wrong - but I think most of the moms on here have sections scheduled for medical reasons not personal ones.

Re: Elective C-Section??

I had a v-delivery with an epidural and honestly, it was not bad at all. My DH and sister had to really help with the "pushing" because I was pretty much in la-la land from the drugs and didn't feel much.

I was uncomfortable the next day but the pain subsides pretty quickly. I was up and around within a couple of hours.

Now, a little more than a month later I am completely back to normal. You can even have sex at this point and it's like nothing happened LOL. I even had an episiotomy (spell?) as well.......

If I do this again, I definitely want a V delivery. I think at this point, I am more terrified of the c-section!!!

Re: Elective C-Section??

The fact of the matter is that everyone's experiences are going to be different. Some vaginal births are "not that bad" while others are horrible. Some c-sections have complications and are painful others are not.

MY experience after being in labor for 16 hours and pushing for 1 (and ending up with a Section) was that labor was absolutely horrendous. I had back labor. My epidural wore off and they could not get it to come back on. The pain was excruciating and I started throwing up from it. Meanwhile I have friends whose labor lasted 2 hours and was not a big deal.

My c-section was wonderful. I had very little pain afterwards and in fact, never even had to take the pain killers.

But again, this was MY experience and ll experiences are different so it is impossible to generalize about vaginal births or c-sections.

Re: Elective C-Section??

PP summed it up perfectly!!

Some people have terrific c-sections with beautiful recoveries while some vaginal births are really tough recoveries.

I think the majority of c-sections are generally a rougher recovery BUT not always. My friend delivered vaginally and had a terrible tear that took her months to recover from. For ME however, I had the easiest vaginal birth you could ever ask for.

5 minutes of pushing and 3 stitches. I recovered so quickly and was walking around right after birth.

Everyone is different. Would I ever elect a csection "just because"? Absolutely not. It is major surgery and if I could avoid that of course I would. But I do understand the fear of labor...I had it myself but was so so surprised at how great it all went.

Re: Elective C-Section??

i can only give my own experience.

i had an "elective" c-section because there was a possibility that DS was too big (measured 8 lbs. 12 oz. at 38.5 weeks).

my doctor was torn, and left the decision to me.

i chose to have the c-section and i am so glad i did. although DS was only 7 lbs. 10 oz. he had a very large head and i am glad i did not have to push that out

i had an amazing experience (except for the shaking) and my recovery was very fast. i will have a c-section if/when i get PG again.

Re: Elective C-Section??

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It is great to hear both sides of this. I am a little afraid of vaginal birth, but I have a bigger fear of surgery. Thank you to everyone for sharing their sides!

Re: Elective C-Section??

Posted by headoverheels

i can only give my own experience.

i had an "elective" c-section because there was a possibility that DS was too big (measured 8 lbs. 12 oz. at 38.5 weeks).

my doctor was torn, and left the decision to me.

i chose to have the c-section and i am so glad i did. although DS was only 7 lbs. 10 oz. he had a very large head and i am glad i did not have to push that out

i had an amazing experience (except for the shaking) and my recovery was very fast. i will have a c-section if/when i get PG again.