Good Healthcare Requires Treatment of Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Is An Elective C-Section Ever A Good Idea?

16 May 2017 by Hugh Larson

If you're pregnant, you may find yourself dreading the thought of the actual birthing process and secretly hoping you're among the more than one in three U.S. women who winds up with a cesarean section. However, while a C-section may sometimes be necessary for health or safety reasons, elective C-sections have fallen out of favor in recent years, and you may find it difficult to find an obstetrician willing to perform this surgery on you without good cause. Read on to learn more about the factors behind the rise in C-sections, as well as some of the potential complications that can arise from an elective C-section.

Why are C-section rates rising?

Much of the reason behind higher C-section rates over the last few decades lies in the increase in fetal and maternal weights, as well as an increase in head circumference among many C-section babies. Gestational diabetes can lead to larger babies, and mothers of children who might otherwise have been easily birthed vaginally can find themselves in need of a C-section after the infant refuses to progress down the birthing canal. 

In other cases, a C-section may become necessary after an early induction attempt fails. Infants who are likely to experience distress if they go beyond full-term or mothers who are dealing with issues like high blood pressure or ICP may need to deliver prior to 40 weeks, and attempting to induce birth through pitocin or other methods may fail, ultimately requiring the child to be born via a C-section.  

Should you ever seek an elective C-section? 

Although C-sections are generally a safe way to deliver, they're also a major abdominal surgery, and should not be entered into lightly. Choosing a C-section as a way to keep your vaginal walls taut by avoiding vaginal birth or as a precursor to a tummy tuck surgery to immediately help take the baby weight off may not be the healthiest decision for either you or your unborn baby. 

However, if your obstetric care provider has indicated you may have some medical conditions making a C-section an option, or if your baby begins to experience distress or a lowered heart rate as you approach the 40-week mark, a C-section may minimize the risks of complications from a high-risk vaginal birth. You and your obstetrician will be in the best position to make this important and serious decision based on your own health factors and history. 

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