Many women are in favor of C-Sections these days. The statistics are showing that many women have either gotten one or will get one in the future. In the period between 1996 and 2009 C-Sections increased by 60%, but for the first time after many years, the cesarean deliveries have leveled and didn’t increase.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a non-profit women’s health care advocacy group was credited for the curbing of the upward trend. Back in 2009, the group released the public health campaign in order to divert the physicians and expecting mothers from implementing unneeded c-sections.
C-Sections are not that safe as you think and they can be riskier than the traditional vaginal births. During this method you are vulnerable to bacteria which rapidly raise your risk of being affected by an infection. It can also contribute to excessive bleeding, blood lumps and even death.
It is also exhausting process for your body. The body needs one or two weeks for recovery after the traditional vaginal birth, while the c-section recovery can last more than a month. But, what is more important is that the c-section can cause complications in your future pregnancies. According to the latest research conducted by the ACOG, women with a cesarean delivery have a higher risk of placenta implantation issues, uterine rupture, bladder and bowel injuries, a second cesarean delivery and the need for hysterectomy.
The statistics are showing that around 31% of the births in the USA in the period between 2009 and 2012 were cesarean deliveries. There isn’t any information how many of them were medically required, so it is assumed that 8% of them were avoidable.
Why They Became So Popular
It is known that cesarean deliveries come with the complications mentioned above…so what is the main reason for the rapid rise in the period between 1996 and 2009? One reason is that cesarean delivery lead to another cesarean delivery. If a woman already gave birth via cesarean, giving birth to a second child in the traditional vaginal way is riskier. Doctors are very careful when it comes to risky procedures, both out of fear of hurting the mother, and out of fear of lawsuits. The journal Obstetrics and Gynecology released a study which showed that 29% of obstetrician college members noted that they did more cesareans in order to avoid any problems with the law.
Another cause is convenience- for both the mother and the doctor. Women often decide to have c-sections scheduled when their family is around in order to assist them in the first several days. The statistics are showing that the c-sections are usually implemented on Fridays in the period between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. What you need to know is that some doctors recommend inducing labor in order to avoid spending their nights and weekends waiting for the baby to come.
When a C-Section is Your Best Bet
There are some cases when the cesarean delivery is required in order to be avoided any complications that may affect the health of the mother or the baby. This decision is made by you and your doctor. The ACOG notes that you are a true candidate for c-section if:
- You are carrying twins and they’re small or improperly positioned
- You don’t have strong contractions and your baby couldn’t be moved
- The umbilical cord is depleted or compressed
- The baby suffers from an abnormal heart rate
- There is a problem with the placenta
- The baby is too big or breech
- You are infected with an STI that could infect your baby
- You are a diabetic patient, which can result with bigger baby
- You suffer from increased blood pressure, which can result with preeclamsia, a dangerous condition that can harm your organs and can be only healed by childbirth (which is why an early-term c-section may be required)
The Bottom Line
Macrones recommends that you should have a vaginal birth if you can. With this method of birth, you will recover quicker and you will experience lower rate of infection. So, keep in mind that you should consult with your doctor if you can give birth vaginally before any decisions about the c-section. Be careful with the doctors who recommend c-section- particularly if you are young and don’t have any health problems.
Source: http://www.fhfn.org/
The Bottom Line If you can have a vaginal birth safely, you should, says Macrones. When you give birth the natural way, you face a lower rate of infection and will experience a faster recovery—so you can hit the ground running as a new mom. So before you sign off on a c-section, you should ask your doctor if you can give birth vaginally. Be wary of doctors who encourage c-sections right off the bat—especially if you’re young and relatively healthy.
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