C section by maternal requests

parsaamin · November 2014

I'm a doctor specializing in internal medicine and pregnant with my first child.
I've been through obstetrics and gynae as a medical student and I'm well aware of risks vs. benefits of caesarean vs. NVD (normal vaginal delivery)

C section pros- planned delivery, no risk of 1st, 2nd or 3rd deg vaginal tear, reduced risk of future uterine prolapse and stress incontinence, haha no uncertainty regarding when you will deliver. I've seen primips be in and out of labor ward ... taking hours to reach 10cm then only to realize there is cephalopelvic disproportion needing c section anyway.

c section cons - well I am subjecting used to anaesthesia, spinal now a days still. Includes intra op and post op risks not all inclusive but includes things like infection, haemmorhage, pulmonary embolism, longer hospital stay (only by 1 or 2 days) and then there are risks in of placenta previa / percreta / accreta in future pregnancy possibly requiring a hysterectomy (I've seen this in people without hx of c section too though)

So anyone here ever consider caesarean by maternal request ??? I know my mother had 3 LSCS with no issues at all. I'm considering NVD but ...... I'm just thinking what y'all ladies are thinking.

love
Parsa

jennypolkadots · November 2014

I can't imagine considering electing surgery over doing what your body is made to do. I've never known anyone IRL that chose a cesarean. The only person in my family that has had one is SIL and 7 years later she still has pain at the incision site. She also has pain at the anesthetic site and other weird symptoms that she never had before the birth. I've also known women who had close to no side effects other than just a longer healing process, but who knows what a vaginal birth would have been like for them.

I plan to go as natural as possible, God willing. It seems the safest choice for me and the baby.

CandaceC1020 · November 2014

Sorry - if I can help it I won't have a C Section. It's major surgery and the recovery time alone sucks. I'd rather risk a tear and have a swollen vagina with a vaginal birth.

sschwege · November 2014

In your post you mention the risk/benefits to mother, but what about baby? There are benefits to baby being vaginally delivered as well, lower risk of respiratory problems and beneficial bacteria gained passing through the birth canal.

With DS I had what they called a 'precipitous birth', he was taken almost immediately from my arms to the Special Care Nursery for breathing problems. I couldn't hold him for the first 12 hours and when I could he was hooked up to wires. In the end, it all turned out fine and we were both released 48 hours later. They told me that because of his speedy entrance into the world he did not have the benefit of being squeezed through the birth canal and that his problems were more consistently seen with c/s babies. One nurse said how perfectly shaped his head was (he had no coning) and I said, "He looks like a c/s baby" and the nurse said, "He pretty much was." You still blame yourself, but at least when DS when in the Special Care Nursery I had the benefit of knowing that nothing could have been done to prevent it, I went into spontaneous labor and just delivered very fast, but imagine how I would have felt had I chosen a c/s for no medical reason?

Maebb · November 2014

I will say that I had a really easy vaginal delivery with DS. My mom's deliveries were easy and complication-free as well. So maybe if I had a long, awful labor with complications, I would feel differently, but with things as they are, I absolutely would not choose a CS unless medically necessary. I would not choose major surgery and a painful recovery unless there are major benefits to me and baby, which there aren't at this point.

jennypolkadots · November 2014

Joy2611 said:

Kids don't give a crap about schedules so you might as well get used to it.

THIS! I can't imagine a mother who is too busy to give birth on the baby's schedule as being able to roll with the punches of having a newborn who makes their own rules. Parenthood isn't supposed to be convenient.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

FemShep · November 2014

I had 2 CSs for medical reasons, and I think you're overestimating the benefits of the surgery and underestimating the challenges. Especially for the child, a vaginal birth is significantly better (if there are no other complications). My second had breathing issues largely because of the CS, which was terrifying. Also, just because you're scheduled for a CS on a certain day doesn't mean LO will cooperate. With my first, my water broke 6 days before my scheduled CS date, so all of the scheduling "advantages" you listed flew out the window.

parsaamin · November 2014

NVD > LSCS is pretty obvious.

Yet women here where I am from do it all the time. It's not a good thing, it can cause havoc for your next pregnancy (which I see as the biggest turn off...uterine rupture, placenta previa)
(although I've seen nvds go terribly wrong, maybe asian women > smaller > higher chance of cephalopelvic disproportion ? haha just a theory
I've just seen too many brutal instrumental deliveries and conversion to LSCS during my 4 months as a student

I am from Singapore where "LSCS by maternal request" is a lot more common than in United States / UK (a lot of my relatives had it) I just wanted to know why they made this choice.

Haha I know my mom made this choice as she was scared of labor.

But how about the rest.

parsaamin · November 2014

I'm a doctor specializing in internal medicine (2nd year resident)... graduated 2 years ago. haha did 4 months of obs and gynae rotation as a part of medical school (everyone has to do that).

No doctor recommends LSCS in Sg unless you have pre eclampsia, large baby, gestational DM or another proper indication. However there is a growing trend of "maternal request LSCS", I'm guessing that's not happening in United States

or within ladies in the forum. that's good!

Surgeons can be too knife happy sometimes

ESP in 3rd world countries I can imagine doctors recommending it as you earn x3 from it. Dunno about o&g but I've seen people get unnecessary surgeries in private sector even in Sg esp in orthopedics. Haha that's another story.

CNYBride05 · November 2014

Didn't read all the responses, but I had to push for a vaginally delivery and I'm so glad I did! Sure, I was sore afterwards, but I birthed 2 gorgeous babies so it was totally worth it. I'd avoid cs if at all possible.

parsaamin · November 2014

I'm not asking for medical advice!!! haha I'm asking for WHY someone would choose LSCS over NVD.

RayRay007 · November 2014

Your random use of "haha" is really throwing me here.

BAM61 · November 2014

This is just my personal opinion but I just had an elective csection and have to say it was not as traumatic as I was preparing myself for. There are risks no matter how you give birth and vaginal delivery isn't a breeze either. Every recovery is different as is each experience. I can only speak for myself but my experience was fairly easy. Yes it's painful as it's major surgery but it was not terrible by any means. I spoke with my doctor about the pros and cons of my situation and felt comfortable with my decision. It does seem there is a lot of fear mongering that goes on with csections. Even as I was laying in the hosptial some nurses were saying how unfortunate it was that I needed a csection and I was thinking "I'm not in much pain, I've showered, I'm eating, and most importantly I am able to take care of all my baby's needs. What is so terrible about this?" The procedure itself was quick and seeing my baby for the first time was amazing just as I'm sure it is for women who deliver vaginally. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Amstreagle · November 2014

Being a doctor, wouldn't you know a c-section is way more recovery time and has way more risks than having a vaginal birth the way your body was meant to deliver a child?

jess9802 · November 2014

The judging of women considering a C-section drives me absolutely batty. Personally, the thought of surgery made me very anxious, and I was glad to have had a vaginal delivery. But it was not easy or problem free. I have some issues that I fear will get worse with subsequent pregnancies and deliveries (namely, mild stress incontinence and occasional uncomfortable twinges in my perineum during sex), and it took well over a month before I could sit upright without pain. I didn't even tear that badly and I otherwise healed very quickly! Meanwhile, my ex-SIL opted for a C-section instead of an induction when she was diagnosed with pre-e, and she sure bounced back a lot faster than I did.

The risks of a C-section accrue almost entirely to the mother. There are risks to baby from being delivered vaginally - ask the women who have shoulder dystocia. Women have the right to make informed medical decisions about method of birth, and IMO it's telling that so many OB-GYNS and urogynecologists support elective C-sections. They treat women with prolapse and incontinence decades after pregnancy and childbirth, so they understand that vaginal deliveries carry certain risks and long-lasting negative effects that some women might prefer to avoid.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

allrightmeow · November 2014

aditigirl said:

You wanna get cut open to have a baby pulled out of you? Knock yourself out.

I'm calling bullshit on you being a doctor.

+1

WHOOP! Missed you!

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

schnitz9 · November 2014

I am always confused with women who say they are terrified of going into labor but not scared of getting their stomach cut open. I would think having surgery is more scary. This is my first child, but I had surgery years ago on my bladder and kidneys and the incision and surgery is exactly the same as a c-section. I can tell you that over 20 years later and my scar still hurts. It was not in anyway a pleasant experience. My mother had 3 vaginal births and 2 c-sections. She said her c-section were much worse. If c-sections were so great why are there so many women trying for VBACs. There's a whole board on TB dedicated to it!

OP you say you are an internal medicine dr. What would you say to a patient who came in and had a sore throat and they told you to unnecessarily take out their tonsil?

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

TheOrneryMama said:
Personally, I don't think elective c-sections should be allowed at all. To have voluntary surgery just to avoid giving birth just seems insane to me. I know women who have had necessary c-sections and I totally get why they had to do it. But to have major surgery just to avoid giving birth.....it seems like cheating to me, or a cop out. Just my personal opinion.

This totally pisses me off. You have no idea why someone may choose to have a c-section. To say that it's a cop out, or cheating is ridiculous. How another woman chooses to deliver her baby isn't your concern. You have no idea what their fears are so quit with the judgemental sanctimommy crap.

One of my best friends died trying to give birth to her daughter vaginally. I was due 2 days before the 1 yr anniversary of her death. The thought of dying the same way she did was more terrifying than I can express. Wanting a c-section was my choice. And I'm thankful my OB understood and supported my decision.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

TheOrneryMama said:

merc5411 said:

TheOrneryMama said:
Personally, I don't think elective c-sections should be allowed at all. To have voluntary surgery just to avoid giving birth just seems insane to me. I know women who have had necessary c-sections and I totally get why they had to do it. But to have major surgery just to avoid giving birth.....it seems like cheating to me, or a cop out. Just my personal opinion.
This totally pisses me off. You have no idea why someone may choose to have a c-section. To say that it's a cop out, or cheating is ridiculous. How another woman chooses to deliver her baby isn't your concern. You have no idea what their fears are so quit with the judgemental sanctimommy crap.

One of my best friends died trying to give birth to her daughter vaginally. I was due 2 days before the 1 yr anniversary of her death. The thought of dying the same way she did was more terrifying than I can express. Wanting a c-section was my choice. And I'm thankful my OB understood and supported my decision.
Excuse you. I stated that this was MY opinion on the matter. Your OB basically let you make a huge decision based on someone else's situation. That's the choice you made but in that case, no one should ever do anything in life because of the potential risks, including driving in a car, crossing the street, or not getting vaccines because you once knew someone who had an allergic reaction. I'm sorry you lost your friend but I still don't see that as a good reason to get elective surgery. Maybe you should've spoken to a therapist instead of your OB.

But whatever, it's your body that you choose to cut open for no medical reason, not mine. I still stand by my opinion.

Way to miss the point.

But if you want to continue to be arrogant and judgemental, then nothing anyone says will makes you stop and consider someone else's point of view.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

@TheOrneryMama‌ You're still missing my point. YOU don't know why someone may choose a c-section, and unless you've been in their situation you can't judge what they choose. I'm not trying to change your opinion that no one should choose a c-section. I'm only trying to get you to see that you don't know what someone else is dealing with and a little compassion would go a long way. Especially regarding a decision that doesn't affect your body at all.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

TheOrneryMama said:

merc5411 said:
@TheOrneryMama‌ You're still missing my point. YOU don't know why someone may choose a c-section, and unless you've been in their situation you can't judge what they choose. I'm not trying to change your opinion that no one should choose a c-section. I'm only trying to get you to see that you don't know what someone else is dealing with and a little compassion would go a long way. Especially regarding a decision that doesn't affect your body at all.
It's not like I walk around my OB's office telling women what they should and shouldn't be doing. I didn't tell you what you should or shouldn't do. However.......this is the topic of this thread. And I responded accordingly.

Compassion is all well and good but I'd be damned if I had a doctor that allowed his compassion to influence major medical decisions. Like "Hey I feel so bad for you that I'll put you at extra risk for no reason, just to be nice." I don't believe in coddling or enabling people, especially with medical decisions.

And seriously, be real. Everyone judges. That's how opinions are formed.

My opinions are based on research and experience, not judging others. But, hey, to each their own.

I don't believe in coddling or enabling people either, but I do believe in allowing them to make their own informed decisions.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

schnitz9 · November 2014

@merc5411 I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend, but I kind of have to agree with @theornerymama. In my opinion if it was not medically necessary your friends death shouldn't be the reason to have a c-section. Again this is my opinion. I look at it this way. My uncle (fathers brother) needed an angioplasty for heart congestion. He died having it done. A few years ago my father needed the same surgery. He didn't go to his cardiologist and say "well because my brother died having the same surgery I want to have a more risky bypass surgery because I'm scared of the same this happening to me." I 150% support PP who had to have a c-section after her labor didn't progress. And RCS are very common as well. These women had previous c-sections and vaginal delivery is in fact more risky. What I have a hard time wrapping my head around is women who have a perfectly healthy pregnancy choosing to have medically unnecessary surgery because they are scared or because they want to know when their baby is coming. If it isn't medically necessary why risk it. When I asked my OB if they would ever do a not medical elective C-section he laughed at me and said absolutely not. If he had a patient who was scared he would talk them through it and recommend a therapist.

ETA: @merc5411 please show me the research you have done in that a doc giving and medically unnecessary c-section is healthy and a wise decision. For some reason I'm not finding that anywhere.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

@TheOrneryMama‌ and @schnitz9‌
I should have been more clear. I was trying to say that my opinions, not just on childbirth, are made from research and experience. I, personally, don't form opinions by judging others, which is what was said.

My entire point was that no one knows the reasons someone else chooses a c-sections, and the risks that come along with it, and we shouldn't be so quick to judge them. I gave my situation as an example only. I am very comfortable with the fact that I had a c-section. I'm not seeking anyone's approval. I could have used different examples (sexual abuse for instance) but since I haven't been in that situation, I don't think it's right for me to speculate.

My point, which is clearly being missed, is that YOU don't know why someone chooses a c-section and it is completely arrogant to think that you know what is best for someone else.

merc5411 · November 2014

And @TheOrneryMama‌ , you previously said that opinions come from judging others. So, sweetie, own what you said.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

@TheOrneryMama‌ Once again you are focusing on my example and not the larger point at hand. I was unaware that you apparently have extensive knowledge on everyone and their medical needs, and what is best for them. I never said that a c-section doesn't have risks. It absolutely does. But what is superficial to you may not be to someone else.

schnitz9 · November 2014

@merc5411 I think you are the one missing the point. We are not judging all women who have csections. @danipg stated her labor was long and she ended up needing a c-section. That is perfectly justifiable. An RCS is perfectly justifiable. Women with larger babies or who have GD. Babies that are breech pefectly justified. Its when they are medically unnecessary that is when I have a problem. If I am speaking with a new mother and she were to say she had a c-section I would never as her why she had would never judge off the bat. But if she told me I scheduled a c-sec because she was scared of labor or because it was more convenient I would totally side eye that. Everyone has your reasons for what they do. You had you're own reasons. I just know that if I was in your situation I would not have made the same. I

merc5411 · November 2014

Why do you care how someone else delivers their baby? Do you reserve your judgement for delivery methods, or do you side eye FF, extended BF, circumcision, co-sleeping, CIO? I really fail to see why so many people care HOW a baby exits another person.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

TheOrneryMama said:

merc5411 said:
Why do you care how someone else delivers their baby? Do you reserve your judgement for delivery methods, or do you side eye FF, extended BF, circumcision, co-sleeping, CIO? I really fail to see why so many people care HOW a baby exits another person.
You don't seem to get that csections are the topic of this thread. Welcome to the internet, where you'll run across all types of opinions. And welcome to forums, where you comment on the topic at hand.

Never did I once say that all csections are unnecessary. ELECTIVE csections are unnecessary. That is a fact, hence the word "elective". There are no GOOD reasons for an elective csection. There are only excuses that serve as reasons. Sorry if that offends you but not really. Your reason totally gets a side eye.

YOU don't believe that there are reasons for elective csections. And it's fine with me if you want to side eye any of my parenting decisions. I'm side eyeing you too. What pissed me off was you saying that something YOU don't agree with is insane.

Unknown · November 2014

This content has been removed.

merc5411 · November 2014

@TheOrneryMama‌ There are reasons for any elective surgeries. Otherwise they wouldn't exist. They clearly don't matter to you. I just don't get why you care so much what another person does. I understand why you're expressing your opinions here, but I don't get why you have such strong feelings about another person choosing to cut their abdomen.

This has clearly dissolved from a constructive discussion into a childish argument ( I'm at fault too), so we should probably stop.

Want a personalized experience?

C section by maternal requests

Re: C section by maternal requests

Choose Another Board

Search Boards