Why Women Choose Cesarean Sections
There has been a lot of debate about women choosing cesarean birth for their babies. A new Australian study looked at this very question. While this was a small study, it's one of only a very small handful of studies done on the topic. Most practitioners and others assume that the choice is made for timing, convenience or even fear of harming the mother's body. The study showed that the reason that these mothers chose a c-section was out of concern for the baby's health. They believed, erroneously, that a cesarean section was safer for the baby.
So where are women getting the idea that a surgical birth is safer for the baby? Some blame the media, television births, dramas on TV, newspapers carrying articles that are only half true about surgical birth. The fact that women are making fear based decisions worries some doctors. But they aren't sure what to do. Certainly there are cases where a c-section is the safest way for a baby to be born, but not in the ridiculously high numbers that we are currently seeing.
So what's the real deal? Should women be allowed to continue to choose to have elective surgery? How would you run an ad campaign to prevent women from believing that cesareans were better, in general, for babies? Is there really a problem? Share your thoughts.
Related:
- Giving Birth by Cesarean Section
- Can I request a cesarean?
- Scheduled Cesareans
- 10 Reasons to Choose VBAC
- Cesarean Scar Gallery
- VBAC Course
- VBAC Stories
- Cesarean Recovery
- Denied VBAC?
- Cesarean Picture Gallery: Step by Step
- Normal Birth Video
- Animation of Childbirth (Video)
- Cesarean Birth Video
Photo (c) Desiree
Comments
This is a very serious problem. I don’t know that there is any way to prevent people from making the choice for an elective c-section without curtailing birth rights for everyone, but I would never personally have an elective c-section. I think women need to be better educated about birth and about the way their bodies work. I do think anyone choosing an elective c-section should be fully informed by their doctor of all of the risks to mother and baby. And I think if practitioners spent more time educating their patients and giving them good reading material, it would really help.
I am very thankful for that c-sections are available for thoe who need them. But I do think if it is possible to have a vaginal birth, thats what you should do. But it does have to be an individual decision.
I think it’s important for women contemplating an elective c-section birth to be fully informed, but, at the end of the day, it’s their decision and we shouldn’t be able to prevent it. As long as they are able to weigh up the risks and benefits and make an informed decision, it’s not up to anyone else to judge. I personally would do it for practical, and, some may say, selfish reasons, but that’s my choice to make.