Roughly one-third of all baby deliveries in the United States is done by cesarean section. Over the last ten years, the rate has doubled. Some cesarean sections (or C-sections) are planned in advance, elected by the obstetrician or the mother, or performed unexpectedly during labor to prevent complications in delivery. Over half of all cesarean sections are scheduled in advance for one reason or another (Pros and Cons: Elective C-Section).
Advantages
There are times when scheduling a Cesarean delivery is beneficial to the mom and baby. These elected C-sections are safest for mother and baby when performed between the weeks of 39 and 41. An elected cesarean birth can be more convenient for the mother and keep her stress levels low if she is anticipating labor. It can give her a sense of “control” if she is limited on maternity leave or has another major life event happening around that time. After the scheduled birth, the mother will have a possible less risk of developing incontinence and have less sexual dysfunction when postpartum. For the baby, the advantages are that the risk of being deprived of oxygen are lower and any birth-trauma is less likely to happen (in terms of passing through the birth canal or from extraction via vacuum (Pros and Cons: Elective C-Section).
Disadvantages
An elected cesarean has more disadvantages than benefits. For one, it is major surgery, so the risks that go with any surgery are in place. A woman is at risk of losing blood and needing a blood transfusion, having complications from anesthesia, having damage to the bowels and bladder, and a higher risk of infection and blood clots. For the baby, a cesarean raises the mortality rate to twice as high as a vaginal birth, has a risk of injury when the incision is being made, and can receive a lower Apgar score. Other risks to the mother include a much longer recovery period, difficulty positioning the baby to breastfeed, an increase in scar tissue, and risks for future births. Elective cesareans may not be covered by insurance, and if they are, they are still much more expensive (Pros and Cons: Elective C-Section).
Whether you decide to have an elective cesarean or to wait until the baby decides to make his entrance is up to you and your obstetrician. Once you do the research and learn all you can about birthing your baby, the decision will be easier to come by.
“Pros and Cons: Elective C-Section.” ABC News. ABC News Network. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3291512