Elective C-Section

 
Marietta GA C-Section Delivery

An elective procedure is one that is scheduled in advance because it does not involve a medical emergency. Cesarean births (colloquially referred to as a C-section) are considered to be a major surgical procedure. During a C-section, the abdomen is cut open, the intestines are lifted out of the body, the uterus is cut open to remove the baby or babies, and then everything is put back together. Cesarean births are not “simple procedures” that should ever be taken lightly. However, many expectant mothers express interest in having an elective C-section.

The major factors for women requesting an elective C-section include convenience, what they think of as “ease of delivery”, and fear of a vaginal delivery. The convenience of a scheduled delivery is often highly desired; thus, the growing trend for both inductions and the requests for elective C-sections has been on the rise. However, major medical organizations are encouraging obstetricians and expectant mothers against scheduling their birth unless medically necessary. Babies need time to develop, and cutting this development time short can cause huge problems. Being prepared for the arrival of your baby is important so that you can react when the time comes naturally.

Women mistakenly assume that an elective C-section is “easier” than a vaginal delivery. However, this is rarely true. The female body was designed to give birth vaginally, not via a C-section. As mentioned above, a Cesarean procedure is a major surgical procedure. The healing from a C-section is quite intense because of everything involved during the procedure. Pain, a longer hospital stay, the inability to move around, the inability to drive for a few weeks, the inability to lift anything heavier than your newborn (including older children) – all of these are serious components of recovery from a C-section that many women do not take into consideration. They let the fear of a vaginal delivery scare them into making a much more serious decision. Less than 3% of women have any type of complications from a vaginal delivery, yet C-sections not only require intense recovery, but they also increase the risk for serious complications in future pregnancies.

At Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A., we provide comprehensive women’s care. Giving birth is a beautiful, natural process that should not be interfered with unless medically necessary. We encourage women to plan for a vaginal delivery whenever possible. Our practice is here to provide complete and compassionate care for you throughout your entire pregnancy.

Posted on behalf of Dr. Carlos Alarcon, Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A.