Why not just schedule a c-section?

Question: Why not just schedule a c-section?

From reader email: "Right now my baby and I are fine and healthy. But my doctor thinks that I am likely to have a c-section in labor. She says that if I want, I can just schedule a c-section and skip labor. Why not just schedule a c-section if I'm going to have one anyway?"

Answer: The goods news is that you and baby are healthy. This gives you time to stop and sort out your feelings about what's going on. The first thing I would recommend is that you ask some questions of your doctor including:

• What reasons do you think I will need a cesarean?
• Is the reason due to my baby? My body? Labor?
• Is there any reason that I cannot wait for labor to begin to make this decision?
• Would you be willing to talk about alternatives to a c-section? What might these be? (Induction of labor, Biophysical profiles, etc.)

In addition to talking to your doctor, you may want to get a second opinion from a practitioner who is not in practice or affiliated with your doctor. This allows you to have potentially different information to go on or a confirmation of what your doctor is telling you. This can be an important step in the informed consent process.

Take time to think about the statistics. Cesarean sections carry risks, more risks for you than a vaginal birth. Even a "minor" complication like an infection can seriously impact your life with baby in the immediate postpartum. There are also lasting effects that go as far as your future pregnancies.

So you might be think, "Well they said I had a 50% chance of having a c-section anyway." The truth is that if I told you that you had a 50% chance of winning the lottery, you would probably be excited! That 50% works both ways. A 50% chance of a c-section, means a 50% chance of a vaginal birth too. Compare that to a scheduled c-section, which carries a 100% chance of a c-section.

Talk to your practitioner, talk to your friends and family. Spend some time gathering information from a variety of sources. Find out about your alternatives. Make your decision based on informed consent, your plans for the future and the health and safety of you and your baby.