Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a C-section
C-section: Short for Caesarian section, a procedure in which a baby, rather than being born vaginally, is surgically extracted (removed) from the uterus. Although most women don’t plan on having a C-section, an unpredictable problem may occur before or during the birthing process that leads to the procedure. Having a C-section can have its advantages, but it also has many disadvantages. Here is the detailed information.
Advantages of Having a C-section
For most women, the advantages of a C-section may be limited. The majority of women feel that it’s only natural that their baby comes out the way that it has for women for millions of years, a vaginal birth. Of course, it’s not always possible for this to happen and this can cause women to feel like they did something wrong. A C-section can be a life saving procedure and is a great advantage for those who have complications during their pregnancy. A C-section can be attempted fairly promptly and within minutes, you will be able to see your newborn son or daughter. Unlike a normal vaginal birth, you can skip the countless hours of labor and excruciating pain. You will not have to go through the healing process of an episiotomy or have to suffer through weeks of constipation after birth due to pressure. You will avoid any complications during birth with a C-section and be able to enjoy your birth, instead of screaming through it.
Disadvantages of Having a C-section
The disadvantages of having a C-section are much like that of having any type of surgery. There is always a risk of infection, injury to your organs and blood loss. Although these types of problems tend to not happen very often, there is always a chance.
Risks for the mother include the following:
* Infection. The uterus or nearby pelvic organs such as the bladder or kidneys can become infected.
* Increased blood loss. Blood loss on the average is about twice as much with cesarean birth as with vaginal birth. However, blood transfusions are rarely needed during a cesarean.
* Decreased bowel function. The bowel sometimes slows down for several days after surgery, resulting in distention, bloating and discomfort.
* Respiratory complications. General anesthesia can sometimes lead to pneumonia.
* Longer hospital stay and recovery time. Three to five days in the hospital is the common length of stay, whereas it is less than one to three days for a vaginal birth.
* Reactions to anesthesia. The mother’s health could be endangered by unexpected responses (such as blood pressure that drops quickly) to anesthesia or other medications during the surgery.
* Risk of additional surgeries. For example, hysterectomy, bladder repair, etc.
Possible risks to the baby include the following:
* Premature birth. If the due date was not accurately calculated, the baby could be delivered too early.
* Breathing problems. Babies born by cesarean are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth).
* Low Apgar scores. Babies born by cesarean sometimes have low Apgar scores. The low score can be an effect of the anesthesia and cesarean birth, or the baby may have been in distress to begin with. Or perhaps the baby was not stimulated as he or she would have been by vaginal birth.
* Fetal injury. Although rare, the surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the uterine incision.
