C-Sections by Choice

Hey ladies,

I was wondering if, from your experience, you could list the PROS and CONS of electing to have a cesarian section. My doctor asked me if I wanted to have one, and I didn't know how to answer. I never knew that it was an option, but only thought it was something that women had for specific medical reasons.

I'm 10 weeks, and I have a while to decide, but wanted to know your opinions.

Thank you!!!

T

Message edited 7/1/2008 7:25:29 PM.

Re: C-Sections by Choice

I'm choosing to have one bc I am having twins....I have been getting lots of heat from people when I tell them this. It's a personal choice, and your doctor should talk with you to let you know the good and bad

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I hate the fact that it is an option. I mean it is MAJOR surgery. It is risky. I just can't imagine a dr asking if you WANT one. I mean if you are having twins or it's life or death, (God Forbid) OK but to have just because makes me .

Re: C-Sections by Choice

Posted by JennZ

I hate the fact that it is an option. I mean it is MAJOR surgery. It is risky. I just can't imagine a dr asking if you WANT one. I mean if you are having twins or it's life or death, (God Forbid) OK but to have just because makes me .

Re: C-Sections by Choice

I think it's our bodies, we should be able to choose.

Message edited 7/5/2008 2:52:59 AM.

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A friend of mine just told me non chalantly the other day, yah I had a scheduled c section and it was a cinch, I was like are you out of your mind, why would you do that?????? It is a choice, and everyone is allowed to, but the fact that dr's are throwing around surgery so easily makes me angry, bc it gets their schedules less hectic!!!!

Re: C-Sections by Choice

you have FM
XOXO
BOTB

Re: C-Sections by Choice

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Message edited 7/1/2008 7:58:59 PM.

Re: C-Sections by Choice

Mine was not elective, but I wouldn't have chosen one had I known about the recovery.

It was painful. I had pains up under my chest and when I asked the dr about it the next day she told me it was my uterus contracting back down to where it belongs.

That went on for a few more days. Not fun.

I'm sure you know this, but it's major surgery.

If you can avoid it, I would.

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Re: C-Sections by Choice

I had abdominal surgery years ago to remove an ovarian cyst. The scar is exactly that of a C/S- in fact, my doctor had said, "this is what we do for a c/s, except your uterus isn't being cut." I also had a vaginal delivery last year.

Hands down- I would NEVER choose to have a c/s unless medically necessary. I didn't feel "right" for 2 weeks after my surgery. With my delivery, I felt totally normal (albeit a bit yucky and tired) by the time I went home.

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I've been told a lot of doctors do this because it frees up their schedule to see their other patients and increase profits, and also I have heard because of all the malpractice lawsuits going on that many doctors feel this is the "less riskier" birthing option. In the beginning and mostly long before I became pregnant, and because most of my friends had c-sections (not by choice but due to breech birth) and said it was great, I was planning to go that route. Now that I am actually experiencing being a mother for the first time, I am going to go with whatever is intended for me and my baby to ensure a healthy delivery.

Re: C-Sections by Choice

I had an unplanned c-section with my DD 4 years ago. I was induced at a week late, in labor for 2 days and then had to have a c-section. I am having a planned section for #2 in September.

Before have DD, I had my appendix out- the old fashioned way. It was a painful abdominal surgery and about 1-2 weeks of discomfort. It sort of prepared me for the pain of a c-section. You don't realize how you really need your stomach muscles for basically every move you make until you have had abdominal surgery.

There are definate pros and cons for each. Me personally, I would have like to have had DD vaginally, but you can't always control every situation. As long as you research all of your options, and prepare yourself, you will be fine.

Good Luck!

Re: C-Sections by Choice

Posted by nyteacher13

Posted by JennZ

I hate the fact that it is an option. I mean it is MAJOR surgery. It is risky. I just can't imagine a dr asking if you WANT one. I mean if you are having twins or it's life or death, (God Forbid) OK but to have just because makes me .

I agree. I was confused why the doctor asked me that because it is such a major surgery. I always thought that c-sections should be reserved for women that NEED them for some reason or another, not just like, "hey, how about a c-section?"

Re: C-Sections by Choice

Posted by nyteacher13

Posted by JennZ

I hate the fact that it is an option. I mean it is MAJOR surgery. It is risky. I just can't imagine a dr asking if you WANT one. I mean if you are having twins or it's life or death, (God Forbid) OK but to have just because makes me .

I agree. I was confused why the doctor asked me that because it is such a major surgery. I always thought that c-sections should be reserved for women that NEED them for some reason or another, not just like, "hey, how about a c-section?"

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I would never elect to have one. People underestimate surgery and a c/s is major abdominal surgery. I suppose if you and set on having it that way, then it could be an option. But again, I think those people who *elect* to have one with no underlying conditions don't know enough about the risks

Re: C-Sections by Choice

Mine was considered elective but it was due to DS's size (he was 9lb 14oz on his due date) and the fact I was not progressing at all.

Anyway, I am very much for scheduled c-sections based on my wonderful experience.
As my Dr said in the last 2 years she has had more and more women requesting them for a variety of reasons and at first she wasnt sure how she felt but now she is more in favor of it. With that said I will say my Dr does not perform c-sections so she makes minimal money off of one so there is no benefit to her pushing it (as many people will say dr do for their own schedules)

Anyway here are my pros: there is less trauma to your baby. (not to say they are no risks but I know a couple who lost a baby during v-births so there are risks there too) They dont have to deal wtih contractions or getting squeezed down the birth canal.
It predictable,for you and the Drs, you know what is going to happen and really my body didnt go through a lot of trauma prior to my surgery.
My recovery was so easy and I will say the 3 other people who I know who had scheduled c-sections agree. I think because we didnt labor and then have surgery our body just focused on one thing. I recovered MUCH quicker than quite a few of my friends who had v-births

Cons: there is no way around it, it is major surgery and it is scary.
DH was the first to hold DS as I was still being closed up (silly but this upset me at first)
You are 100% confined to the bed for 24 hours so you cant get up and do stuff, not to say I didnt hold my baby or BF because I did but I couldnt really be alone with him because I couldnt get out of bed
The recovery could go either way not everyone has an easy recovery.
I do feel a little twinge that I never had a contraction and didnt even try to deliever DS vaginally.

DH says that by having a c-section I took the easy route But I was lucky I came home on Day 3 (which was 1 day early) I never needed any assistance in fact both my MIL and DH slept through DS waking up the first night and I got up and took care of him.

Although I am for c-sections in the right circumstance, I wouldnt decide to have one at 10 weeks pregnant. I didnt decide until 2 days before hand and it was a hard decision to make.

I would keep an open mind and decide later for your own reasons.

Message edited 7/2/2008 3:24:20 PM.

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Message edited 7/1/2008 9:50:45 PM.

Re: C-Sections by Choice

I wouldn't elect to have a c-section. It is major surgery with major recovery time.

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I honestly think it is awful that Dr's are giving the choice to patients. It is major surgery and just because you may know some people who had a great recovery there are many more who didn't.

You may not be able to walk for weeks after or hold your baby. Or worse things can happen.

Why would someone elect without medical reason to major surgery just because!!!

Re: C-Sections by Choice

My doctor and I discussed it, but only when I was well into the pregnancy. Every sono I had from 20 weeks on was showing a large baby. They were estimating that if I went to term, DS would be over 10 lbs. After giving this a LOT of thought, what I decided was that if I didn't go into labor by my due date, I would have a c-section, because honestly, I was afraid of delivering such a big baby.

As it turned out, I went into labor on my own and had DS 2 1/2 weeks early. I ended up having the c-section anyway because I was having contractions for almost 4 days before having him. I went to labor and delivery twice and was sent home twice before they admitted me because I wasn't dialated enough. I barely slept in all that time and by the time they called my doctor in, I was completely exhausted and had been in pain for several days. At 37 weeks, DS was over 9 lbs, so it is likely that he would have been at least 10 lbs if I went to term, my sonos were pretty accurate.

Everyone has to make the decision that is best for them. For me, I felt the c-section was the best decision and I would do it again. My recovery wasn't as bad as some I have read about. I didn't have any complications or long term side effects that I have noticed to date (7 months PP).

Message edited 7/1/2008 10:15:39 PM.

Re: C-Sections by Choice

I'm surprised your doctor would give you a choice. Elective c-sections aren't covered by insurance though so that could be a hefty bill!!