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Lyndon D Taylor MD LLC |
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The Excellent Care You Need, The Compassion You Deserve |
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Cesarean Section On Demand PATIENT CHOICE ELECTIVE CESAREAN DELIVERY |
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What do Britney Spears, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elizabeth Hurley, Madonna, Celine Dion and former Spice Girl Victoria “Posh” Beckham have in common. Besides being fabulous celebrities, all of them had elective cesarean sections. While their choices may have caused controversy, there are good reasons why elective cesarean sections may be the right choice for some women. Pros and Cons of Cesarean Section On Demand It’s no secret that some physicians openly encourage many of their patients to have a cesarean section. The president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in a leading editorial promoted “patient choice cesarean” as a life-enhancing operation. While some patients may be suspicious of doctors promoting surgery, consider this: in the US, 46.2% of obstetricians choose cesarean for themselves and their partners.
Benefits to the mother 1. Protection of pelvic floor, including reduced risk of prolapse (dropped bladder, bulging rectum, fallen uterus). 2. Reduced risk of urinary stress incontinence. 3. No tearing of the anal sphincter, which can cause fecal incontinence and involuntary loss of gas. 4. No labor pain. 5. Alleviation of fear and anxiety related to childbirth and health of baby. 6. Convenience of control over delivery date and circumstances. 7. Reduced unexplained or unexpected stillbirth. 8. Reduced complications in labor.
Benefits to the baby 1. Reduced pre-labor and labor deaths (1-2/1,000) 2. Reduces cerebral palsy. 3. Reduces fractures & nerve injuries. 4. Reduces intracranial injury (hemorrhage) 5. Reduces meconium aspiration. 6. Reduces mother-to-child infection transmissions (HIV, Herpes) Of course, cesarean section on demand is not for everyone, and it does carry certain risks.
Risks to the mother 1. Recent reports show that elective cesarean delivery has a lower maternal death rate than vaginal birth. 2. Some operative complications such as bleeding (with possible blood transfusion), lacerations of bladder, ureter, broad ligament, or bowel, occurring in 1 out of 1,300 cases, and rarely hysterectomy. 3. Reactions to anesthesia. 4. Thrombo-embolism (blood clots in the leg or lung), or collapsed air sacs in the lung. 5. Infection of the wound, uterus or bladder. 6. Sluggish bowels. 7. Future need for another cesarean section with possible abnormal placental location or growth. 8. Risks when attempting future vaginal birth after cesarean section (uterine rupture). 9. For women planning on having large families, multiple caesarean deliveries increase the risk of surgical complications for future pregnancies. A fourth or fifth cesarean has more risk than the first or second. 10. Two-day hospital stay versus one day for vaginal delivery, a slightly longer recovery time, and the possibility of readmission to the hospital.
Risks to the baby 1. Breathing problems. Babies born by caesarean section are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth). Possible low Apgar scores caused by the effect of the anesthesia or lack of stimulation. 2. Among term babies, the risk of neonatal respiratory distress necessitating oxygen therapy is higher. 3. Fetal injury. Although rare, the surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the uterine incision. 4. Acidosis secondary to anesthesia complications. 5. Removes the benefit, through vaginal delivery, of allowing the fluid in the baby's lungs to be squeezed out as the infant passes through the birth canal.
Your choice The US National Institutes of Health reviewed all the risks and benefits of elective cesarean section and concluded that the choice depends on the individual: “The magnitude of cesarean delivery on maternal request is difficult to quantify. There is insufficient evidence to evaluate fully the benefits and risks of cesarean delivery on maternal request compared with planned vaginal delivery. Any decision to perform a cesarean delivery on maternal request should be carefully individualized and consistent with ethical principles.”
Call (708) 848-9440 to schedule a Free Consultation with Dr. Lyndon Taylor or |
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LYNDON TAYLOR OB/GYN |
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1100 Lake Street, Suite 260 Oak Park, Illinois 60301 |
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Cesarean Section On Demand
Your baby, your choice |
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“For the baby, the risks are far higher for vaginal delivery than for an elective c-section at term.” Dr. Ben Harer, FACOG, past President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists |
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A leading Northwestern urogynecologist compares vaginal delivery to “rolling a bowling ball through the vagina,” creating permanent muscle, fascia, and neurological damage. |
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Cesarean Section On Demand a rising trend among celebrities. |
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In the US, 46.2% of obstetricians choose cesarean sections for themselves and their partners. |
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A mother has the right to choose the extra risk of cesarean section for the sake of her unborn child |
