Is a Planned C-Section Right for Me?
There are two ways in which a woman can deliver a baby – naturally (vaginally) or through a cesarean section also called c-section. Statistics show that the number of c-section cases has risen dramatically in recent years. In the US, this method is used in one out of four births. The question is whether this method is suitable for you.
The cesarean section involves the making of incision across the mother’s belly and uterus. The baby is delivered through the cut. Since this method is not natural and involves certain risks, doctors recommend that it is used only when there are medical reasons for this. Consider these reasons as well as the risk involved.
The Benefits of C-Section
The benefits of a cesarean section (c-section) are:
- No fear of perineal tears
- Bleeding is steady in the first few days after Caesarean section compared to a standard delivery
- No loss of urine when suddenly coughing, laughing or sneezing
- Less chance of pelvic floor damage
- The baby does not suffer any trauma during cesarean section, because a pair of tweezers can be used to treat the baby during vaginal delivery.
- Caesareans are often planned before the birth.
- Very small cosmetic impact with the modern cesarean which all happens below the bikini line.
The Purpose of Cesarean Section
There are some cases in which doctors recommend c-section before the delivery date due to medical reasons similar to the health of the mother or the baby. If the baby is not in the natural position for birth with its head down, in case of breech baby position, and the due date is approaching, this method will be suggested to the pregnant woman. This method is often recommended in the case of multiple pregnancies (with more than one baby).
Related: HOW TO TURN A BREECH BABY
If the mother has heart disease or can pass an infection to the baby when it is going through the vaginal canal, then this childbirth method will be used. Women who have had a c-section before will most likely have to rely on the same technique for delivery in the future. This is because there may be a risk of uterine scarring and rupture during natural childbirth.
In some cases, c-section may be necessary due to problems that arise during labor. The main reasons for going for this procedure include slow and painful labor, labor which has stopped completely, the baby being in distress, the risk for the life of the baby due to problems with the placenta and the baby being too big to be delivered vaginally.
Cesarean Section Risks
Thanks to the advancement in modern medicine the level of risk for the mother and the baby during a c-section has been reduced to the possible minimum. However, it has not been eliminated. That is why it is essential to be aware of the main dangers.
Some of the significant risks for the mother include anesthesia-related problems such as nausea and vomiting, heavy bleeding, blood clots in the legs and/or lungs, injury and infection of the incision and/or the uterus. The main risks for the baby are injury and breathing problems if the childbirth has occurred before the due date.
A cesarean delivery comes with risks, as with any dangerous procedure.
Potential problems that can be experienced include:
The risks during a c-section include:
- Bleeding as a result of cutting blood vessels
- Surgical injury to other organs
- Respiratory problems in the baby in cesarean sections that were performed before 39 weeks of gestation or without evidence of the baby’s pulmonary adulthood, increased risk in future pregnancies
- Unintended cuts and cuts to the baby during the operation
Risks after cesarean section include:
- Smelly vaginal discharge or vaginal bleeding with large blood clots
- Pain during urination
- Infection
- Longer recovery time compared with vaginal administration
- Risk Of Endometritis
- The risk of hysterectomy during or after cesarean section is more significant than vaginal delivery
- Reactions related to anesthesia
Precautions
It is better to avoid any complication before it attains a severe level to prevent C-section as much as possible. The chances of death are one in every 2,500 women as compared to one in every 10,000 in standard delivery. Despite that one in every four pregnant women in the US gets the baby delivered through C-section.
Cesarean section is a major surgical procedure, so most doctors do not practice an option without an important reason. They need more time to recover and have more complications than vaginal delivery. If you have questions about cesarean sections, ask your doctor.
