C-Section Recovery & Support Blog

I can’t help but notice lately how many women are choosing to have a c-section instead of a vaginal birth.

When I was pregnant with my children, having a c-section never crossed my mind, yet today we are seeing more and more women choosing to have a c-section   I’ve often asked myself,  “Why would a woman choose having surgery over a vaginal birth”? Here’s what I’ve found learned…

Many women today are looking for alternatives to the pain of childbirth and finding ways to stay on schedule with careers or other personal schedules.

While I’m not comfortable with  ‘choosing‘ to have a c-section over a vaginal birth for sake of convenience or fear of pain,  I am learning to understand that there are women who feel they have a right to decide what is right for them.  I also empathize with a woman who suffer with severe Tokophobia or  fear childbirth.

Having said that, I still have my reservations on whether making the c-section decision this is the best option.  Having had 2 c-sections myself and understanding what a woman goes through (so much so I wrote a book about it ) it’s often difficult for me to feel good about someone opting for surgery.

If you need a c-section, you’re likely in good hands and will get through it just fine, however if you think you simply might want a c-section without medical reasons, then I’ve found it helpful to get out a piece of paper and write down the pros and cons. 

Here’s what I came up with:

Pros of a C-Section:

• No labor pain.
• Alleviation of fear and anxiety related to childbirth and health of baby.
• Possible reduced risk of urinary incontinence, which is a common postpartum problem.
• Possible reduced risk of fecal incontinence, which is not as common as urinary incontinence in postpartum, but happens to about four per cent of women giving birth.
• No tearing of the anal sphincter, which can cause fecal incontinence.
• Control over delivery date.
• For women with a small or immature baby, C-section delivery might reduce the chance of fetal or neonatal death, but it might also increase the risk of maternal morbidity.
• Possible reduced unexplained or unexpected stillbirth.
• Possible reduced complications in labor.

Cons of having C-Section:

• Maternal mortality is higher than with vaginal birth.
• There is a longer hospital stay and longer recovery time.
• Vaginal deliveries provide a benefit to the baby by allowing fluids in the baby’s lungs to be squeezed out as the baby passes through the birth canal, however with the c-section procedure this does not happen and babies born by cesarean section are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth).
• Baby may experience lower “APGAR* scores caused by the effect of the anesthesia or lack of stimulation.
• The mother’s health could be endangered by unexpected responses (such as blood pressure that drops quickly) to anesthesia or other medications during the surgery.
• Risk of additional surgeries such as hysterectomy, bladder repair, etc.
• For term babies, the risk of neonatal respiratory distress requiring oxygen therapy is higher.
• The c-section procedure can create complications such as bladder, bowel, or blood vessel injury and infection.
• Multiple c-section deliveries can increase scar tissue and adhesions.
• Increased blood loss, which can be twice as much than with a vaginal birth however, blood transfusions are rare during a cesarean.
• If you have a general anesthesia, it can sometimes lead to pneumonia or other respiratory complications.
• The surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the uterine incision. This is rare but it has happened.

In summary…

C-sections have long been a life saving procedure and for the majority of women that have them. The cesarean section is also a very necessary and safe procedure, however if there is no true medical reason for having a c-section I want you to remember that it is major abdominal surgery and as with any surgery there are risks.  I don’t like to see anyone expose themselves to any more risk than is necessary.

If a c-section is recommended by your physician by all means don’t stress over it.  Take the time to research the procedure, prepare yourself physically and mentally and work towards a fast and speedy c-section recovery.

If you choose to have a c-section for personal or non-medical reasons, the choice is yours, however consider carefully the pros and cons both mentally and physically.