Elective C-Section

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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I've been told that there are advantages to planning a C-section instead of having a "natural" birth. Did anyone do that for his/her kid? Why did you choose it?
 

anno

Golden Member
May 1, 2003
1,907
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gosh, I didn't know you could just decide you preferred to have a c-section.. I wouldn't think your insurance would cover it if it wasn't deemed medically necessary.

edit: for the record I had both of mine the old fashioned way.. on their on schedule, unmedicated.. it was the fashion at the time. it certainly wasn't the most fun I ever had but I'm thinkin' it was preferable to unnecessary surgery.. I mean.. if it was all that unfun, I wouldn't have done it again. :)


 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
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Why would you go through major abdominal surgery if you didn't absolutely need to? That's nuts.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
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fobot.com
my wife had 2 , but they were not "elective" , she/the babies had medical conditions that required it
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
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my ex-wife had to have an emergency c-section. not sure what the advantages of elective would be would be other than the baby not having the cone-shaped head and scheduling.....
 

Anonemous

Diamond Member
May 19, 2003
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Never heard of elective C-section unless it was necessary for the mother/baby's welfare. Scarring/cost of operation would definitely be major cons.

edit: Doctors want to bill insurance for unnecessary operations?
 

yobarman

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
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I don't see how a C-section could have any advantage over a NATURAL BIRTH in a normal heathly mother.
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
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Originally posted by: yobarman
I don't see how a C-section could have any advantage over a NATURAL BIRTH in a normal heathly mother.

Apparently, a C-section isn't considered major surgery, can prevent erosion of the pelvic floor, prevent later incontenence, and insurrance companies don't care much. Apparently, it's a growing trend in obstetrics.
 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
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a large proportion of csections are elective, and the number is growing. it's actually a concern among doctors that more and more women are opting for this.

disadvantages include: difficulties with further vaginal births including possible uterine rupture, more bleeding, increased recovery time, increase rate of infection, possible respiratory difficulties in the neonate.


that being said, the final choice should be between you, your wife(assuming you have one), and your OB/GYN.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Have you ever seen a c-section done or talked to someone who has had it done to them? It *is* major invasive surgery. It takes a long time to recover from it. It adds complications for women trying to breastfeed. And if you don't think that insurance companies care much, think again. It's much more expensive for them than vaginal birth.
 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
advantages mainly include convenience (timing), and less pain involved than labor.

it's a growing trend. i read in a journal 31% of female OB/GYNs would have an elective cesarean for themselves if they were pregnant.
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
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Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Have you ever seen a c-section done or talked to someone who has had it done to them? It *is* major invasive surgery. It takes a long time to recover from it. It adds complications for women trying to breastfeed. And if you don't think that insurance companies care much, think again. It's much more expensive for them than vaginal birth.

Actually, my dad is an OB/GYN. He said that breastfeeding isn't more difficult and that insurrance companies don't care much. I'm just trying to get some "end user" feedback.
 

bleeb

Lifer
Feb 3, 2000
10,868
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Originally posted by: dethman
advantages mainly include convenience (timing), and less pain involved than labor.

it's a growing trend. i read in a journal 31% of female OB/GYNs would have an elective cesarean for themselves if they were pregnant.

 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Have you ever seen a c-section done or talked to someone who has had it done to them? It *is* major invasive surgery. It takes a long time to recover from it. It adds complications for women trying to breastfeed. And if you don't think that insurance companies care much, think again. It's much more expensive for them than vaginal birth.

i've participated in at least 10 csections. it is a very quick, noncomplicated surgery. it is not considered "major" abdominal surgery. patients are usually awake the entire time and usually lasts <30 minutes.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
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I've had some large poops I'd rather been anesthetized for... I cannot blame anyone for a planned c-section.
 

aplefka

Lifer
Feb 29, 2004
12,014
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That's why I'm a male member of the human race. I don't even want to have to think about this being done to me.
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
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my mom had to do c-section for both me and my brother. my mom's water broke at 7th month w/ me inside.
She's a frail 4'11'' @ 95 pounds right now.

for my little brother, since my mom already had a csection, docs said once u do a c-section, u have to do c-sections for every child afterwards (is this true? or was she just too weak to handle a natural birth?)


when i was born at 7 months, i was 4 pounds. I hear that's a bit huge for 7 months, since i've heard that other people that were born @ 7 months were around 1.5-3 pounds.
 

SearchMaster

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2002
7,791
114
106
My wife has had three. The first was because they attempted to induce too early (IMHO), just a few days after the due date. The second was because he was upside down and his nose got him stuck in the birth canal. The third was because they rarely do VBAC after two C-sections. One of my friends had six!

The first one was an absolute breeze. Other than a complication with the epidural, my wife recovered incredibly quick. She was up and moving with very little ab. pain the next day. The second one was a little worse (probably more typical), and the third was pretty bad with pain for several months.

After the first one, I thought it was something everyone should do. Now I think it should be a last resort.
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
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Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
for my little brother, since my mom already had a csection, docs said once u do a c-section, u have to do c-sections for every child afterwards (is this true? or was she just too weak to handle a natural birth?)

Depends on the woman. Back when you were born, that was likely true. These days, vaginal after cesarian is not that uncommon.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Originally posted by: dethman
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Have you ever seen a c-section done or talked to someone who has had it done to them? It *is* major invasive surgery. It takes a long time to recover from it. It adds complications for women trying to breastfeed. And if you don't think that insurance companies care much, think again. It's much more expensive for them than vaginal birth.

i've participated in at least 10 csections. it is a very quick, noncomplicated surgery. it is not considered "major" abdominal surgery. patients are usually awake the entire time and usually lasts <30 minutes.

*shrug* I would consider it major surgery if someone cut open my stomach, pulled my uterus out, cut it open, rearranged my internal organs a bit in the process, and sewed my uterus and stomach back up. It boggles my mind that a woman would want to go through that in an uncomplicated pregnancy. I can understand it if it's necessary to protect the health of the infant or mother, but I can't wrap my mind around doing it for no good reason. And just to clarify, I'm not afraid of pain, I've given birth twice unmedicated (to an almost-9 pounder and an almost-8 pounder.) As far as complicating breastfeeding, the meds and the incision pain probably do impact it at least somewhat.
 

midwestfisherman

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2003
3,564
8
81
My wife had two. The first one with our twin girls and the second one with our son. Both were needed due to complications.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
i had a spleenectomy that left a still-visible (after 5 years) 6-in vertical scar down the center of my stomach down to the abs. I dont' know why anyone would elect to do that to themselves if they didn't have to.
 

Ogg

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2003
4,829
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Originally posted by: dethman
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Have you ever seen a c-section done or talked to someone who has had it done to them? It *is* major invasive surgery. It takes a long time to recover from it. It adds complications for women trying to breastfeed. And if you don't think that insurance companies care much, think again. It's much more expensive for them than vaginal birth.

i've participated in at least 10 csections. it is a very quick, noncomplicated surgery. it is not considered "major" abdominal surgery. patients are usually awake the entire time and usually lasts <30 minutes.

well it sure as hell looked liked major surgery to me when all my wifes parts were taken out of her body and strewn across her midsection ..........:shocked:

It was cool, glad I saw it :cool: