Question about elective c-sections

bellaciao

Okay, I'm very uneducated on this subject...a friend of mine mentioned in an email a while ago that she will be having her baby by elective c-section on March 2.  If I remember correctly, her due date is a week or so later than that date.  This is her first child, first pregnancy.

Why would she be having an elective c-section?

TheButlers:)

From what I know...some doctors are actually pretty open to elective c-sections (basically the patient just wanting one) because it can make their scheduling much easier.  Maybe they just considered her full term at that point and so they picked a date that worked well for all of them.  My ob only does c-sections when necessary and I really like that philosophy but it is a totally personal choice I guess!

mrsladd

I guess there could be a ton of reasons for an "elective" c-section.  Technically, I suppose mine was elective...I had an u/s two days before ds's edd that put him at an enormous size, and I was given the option of being admitted immediately that day for either an induction or a c-section, but since I had zero progress, and there were several extra risk factors to the baby for a vaginal vs cesarian birth, I didn't really feel I had a choice.

This time, since I had a c-section last time, I HAVE to have one this time.  But, having experienced both, I cannot, for the life of me, imagine wanting a c-section over a vaginal birth, ahhhhhhhhhh!  (Although I do know people who feel otherwise, lucky them!)

cluiss1

Most drs nowadays are completely fine with doing an elective c-section as long as mother and baby are doing fine.  Scheduling a c-section works out well for both mother and doctor, and this ensures that your dr will be there for the delivery.  My dr on the other hand only does c-sections if it's necessary or you had one previously.  He believes that surgery is the treatment of last resort.  Of course, this also means that he may not be on call when I go into labor with my vaginal birth, but I'm willing to take that chance and have the baby with one of his partners.

bellaciao

Interesting.  I guess I always thought that c-sections were a "last resort", scheduled because of a previous c-section, or chosen because it's the "safer" option for the baby in some cases (like some of you mentioned above).  I'm just trying to understand why my friend is electing to have one months in advance of her due date when there aren't any known reasons for her needing to have one.  I mean, it IS a serious procedure after all!

CaseBride

Hopefully she and her doctor have both considered the medical risks before they made the decision. (As a side note, you would think that at least of course the doctor has, but I personally know doctors who really like to be able to schedule births such as via c/s, even if there is no medical reason.)

Babies born via c/section are much more likely to have respiratory problems than vaginally born ones, as well as iatrogenic ("doctor-caused") prematurity due to not being absolutely certain about due dates.

Moms are FOUR TIMES more likely to die in a c/s versus a vaginal birth (a woman in MA just died in a c/s two months ago)... as well as more likely to suffer more serious or lasting complications like bladder or bowel perforation, infection, etc. The recovery time is much longer.

I could go on about these risks, but you get the point.

I just pray that she has considered all of this and made a truly informed decision about the matter.

Piad1

She could be terrified of labor.  That's the only reason I can think of as to why someone would opt to have a c-section that was not medically indicated.  I just spent the entire day in the hospital yesterday to get my baby turned from the breech position so that I could avoid a possible c-section.  I would have one if it became necessary but the idea of recovering from major surgery while trying to take care of a newborn just doesn't sound appealing. 

Piad1

But, I meant to add: to each his own.  If she wants to have one and the doctor feels that it's safe for the baby and her, then hey.  I'm not sure how different insurance companies would treat that though.  I'm pretty sure they will have a problem getting approval for that.

Piad1

Here I am again.  I need to finish my thought before I hit "post" lol, but just to clarify, when you say elective do you mean that there is absolutely no medical reason to have the section?  That's what I'm thinking.  I saw Mrsladd opted to have one due to the size of her baby, but I wouldn't consider that an elective c-section, since there are medical risks to having a vaginal delivery with a large baby.  I would assume that if there are any risks to having a vaginal delivery over a c-section, then it wouldn't really be elective.  I have a friend whose sister was scared to go through labor, so she searched for a doctor who would do a c-section.  I would consider that elective.

dr.girlfriend

I also wonder if she just means "planned c-section" rather than "emergency c-section." ?My cousin knew months in advance that she would need a c-section because of the placement of fibroids in her uterus. ?I had a couple of weeks warning that I might be heading toward a c-section, even though the ultimate decision was done in one day quite suddenly thanks to no fluid and other risk factors for the baby that made induction potentially harmful.