Just Say No To C-Sections!

[StSusanna]

leaner:

and want to avoid a third, but because of malpractice, it’s doubtful. The amount of education involved in having the birth you want is huge – if you want a natural birth, get smart beFORE the emotions start tolling – before you’re in your 3rd trimester; take classes (and not the generic hospital offered ones – bradley, hypnobirthing, etc.) and have a doula there to help you see clearly – nothing more frightening than the doctors threatening your baby could die – it’s hard to think clearly; that’s what a doula is there for. Personally, there ARE too many c-sections due to rising medical malpractice – it’s also MUCH easier on already taxed staff to have a time (9:30am) that you will deliver, come hell or highwater…so there are many reasons to be cautious when a doc tells you “it’s no big deal” – just do your homework like you would before they cut you open for anything and have someone there who can think on your behalf and speak intelligently.

As for the “too small” thing, that just doesn’t make sense to me – why would this perfect God create in me a life only to kill one or both of us because he created me “wrong” for birthing??? What about all the itsy bitsy aisan women (not a slight, but aisan women tend to be smaller in general) who squat and give birth to normal babies? And there are COUNTLESS stories of women who have had a first c-section because she was “too small” to deliver her 7lb baby – guess what, they go on to a second vaginal birth and deliver a 9lb baby!

Think smart, do your research, pray for guidance and demand to be treated as a thinking adult, not as a “patient who’s taking up too much space in l&d”

You wrote what I was thinking. I have given natural birth 5 times, but my poor sister in law, pregnant the same amount of time that I was, has 2 children surviving; and they wouldn’t be here if they had not been c-sectioned. She grieved though, because she wanted the same type of delivery I had. I don’t know why, mommies become heroes after delivery, not during.

But let me say as well, the opposite. I was in a hoity toity store and some lady in front of me was bragging about how wonderful it was to have c-section because it didn’t interfere with her work schedule and that her next one would be planned as well. Right or wrong for judging, I nearly threw up. To have a c-section because it conveniences you, is strange to me. Morally wrong on a physical basis? I don’t think so, but strange enough to me, to make me feel ill. I think at that point the children were an “inconvenience that needed to be worked around” rather than a blessing from God. That is the point that it becomes immoral and wrong.

Anyway, that’s my 2cents…

 

[SweetPea]

What nonsense. If my mother had “just said ‘no’” to a c-section, I wouldn’t be here. Why would someone want me NOT to be born? Because that’s what the original poster is saying: he’d rather let babies die (now there’s a real culture of life attitude!" rather than have a c-section.

Thanks, Killer.
.

 

[Jenlyn]

CinciMom:

Jen,

God bless you and that you had 3 more children since. I had severe pre-eclampsia with our first and when I had our second, I did not have problems. I want 2 more… just praying that it is what God intended. I did not have the VBAC because my son was stuck up in the cavity that they had to literally push on my belly and use forecepts. Everything is fine with both now

Good to hear things are okay. Wow, that must of been scary! So you had a natural birth and then a C-section? or 2 c-sections?

Since I didn’t remember a thing between watching the “Saturday Night Live Primetime Mother’s Day special” to the priest giving me my annointing of the sick sacrament, I had 3 more! God does wonderous things!

Peace,
Jen

 

[leaner]

SweetPea:

What nonsense. If my mother had “just said ‘no’” to a c-section, I wouldn’t be here. Why would someone want me NOT to be born? Because that’s what the original poster is saying: he’d rather let babies die (now there’s a real culture of life attitude!" rather than have a c-section.

Thanks, Killer.
.

I think you need to re-evaluate your screen name…

 

[mschoir01]

wabrams:

Or could it be we have the highest live birth rate in the world?

You can find live birth statistics on the Census Bureau web site. Unfortunately, the United States is down around 13th or so in live births. It is one area of health care that many other countries do much better at than we do. That is a subject for another forum, however.

So is the assertion I read that the C-section rate goes up on Fridays.

One doesn’t need to do a baby with the bathwater thing. There are some facts that are being obscured by high emotion. There are many ways of giving birth and each woman ought to be able to educate herself and make her choice. To choose life for your baby is to take risks no matter which choice you make. I daresay that many of us have great birth stories, but no one ever wants to hear about short, easy labors and perfectly normal births.

Also, in defense of midwives, because of the care that they take to minimize risks, their rate of complications (and consequently their insurance premiums) are much lower than their physician counterparts. And, of course, where do their complications go? To the physician who is the one licensed to perform the surgery.

Physicians are necessary as a back up for when complications arise. Let’s keep them on the payroll!

 

[Amber101]

shrug

I could never understand why people get so upset about this. I guess I fit into both categories.

My first c-section: 24 hours of labor, transverse breech twins, and not dilation at all, not to mention high blood pressure and I could not stop throwing up. Had a c-section, they actually had to put me out completely after they delivered the babies because my blood pressure was all over the place and I could not stop throwing up. Woke up 5 hours later felt fine. Went home with my little sweeties the next day. Recovery was a breeze.

My second c-section: Planned. Yup, I am a naughty “convenience” mommy. I picked my son’s birthday, Feast of St Joseph, my husband planned his time off, dropped the kids off with grandma, got to the hospital and was prepped, medical charts were thoroughly reviewed, had a c-section in which everything went brilliantly they were even able to control my fluctuating blood pressure. Held my baby, he went with daddy, I went to recovery for one hour, wheeled back to my room, nursed him, we all went home in two days. Recovery was a breeze.

So, as you can guess, I have no problem with c-sections, or (gasp) the scheduling of one.

 

[snoopy]

sarcophagus:

I think this whole thing is just arguing semantics. Christian4life has her opinions, others have theirs…let each decide what’s best for them when the time comes and be done with it…

Amen!!!

 

[catherinesiena]

I don’t feel that giving personal advice on such a sensitive subject like whether or not to have a C-Section is appropriate. Doctors give C-Sections because it is needed for whatever reason. Doctors prefer mothers give birth naturally, but if the mother or child become dangerously distressed, a C-Section may be necessary to save a life. There is nothing evil or shameful about having them, and they are often necessary. They do lengthen recovery time sometimes, but that is a small price to pay to have a healthy child, and a living mother.

 

[opticks]

Christian4life:

I hate injustice, and I hate it when people are being lied to… We’d like to think of ourselves as a DEVELOPED country, and yet even 3rd world Cuba has safer maternity rates than us!

You claim to hate injustice and lying, but then post statistics provided by a communist dictatorship. Nice logic.

Please don’t project your single personal experience onto the entire medical/OB community. You are just one data point.

 

[Leeta]

dear Christian 4Life,

Folks who haven’t been through it , can’t understand. I also had on a c- section and determined at first not to have any more children and then after a conversion, determined that I would never have another c-section. The key I’ve found is to be healthy before and during pregnancy. That is the best preventative measure. That means tke your vitamin mineral supplemnts ( 500 mg. Magnesium and 100mcg B6 at least daily, exercise moderately (walking /swimming etc.), flax seed oil, eating fruits, vegies, whole grains, xylitol for prevention of infections to baby and for the baby’s teeth, raspberry tincture for toning the uterus, raspberry leaf tea. The raspberry tincture made a huge difference in the contractions. They were regular and efficient throughout the labors. No doctor will ever recommend or tell a woman about the tincture, though.
Also. squatting for pushing is superior or a water birth . Don’t let them get you lying down or on your side during pushing. It is amazing how much room is opened during squatting. So much for not being big enough! Anesthetics have their own risks. An epidural practically stopped my dilation, thus necessitating a c-section. But the main reason for it was having twins and pre-esclempsia. The doctor claimed not to know what pre-esclempsia is caused by. Doctors are not trained in nutrition. Pre-esclempsia is brought on by malnutrition. Foods nowadays have fewwer nutrients due to hybridization. The above amounts of magnesium and B6 are particularly critical for preventing pre-esclempsia. I’ve had 5 vaginal births since the c-section and I have a lower segment, vertical incision on the uterus. Letting pitocin be used increases the risk of uterine rupture. My last birth the baby was under water. I highly recommend it .
.After the emergency c-section, it was so heartbreaking not being able to even sit up and hold my son before he was wisked off to the children’s hospital. There was no bonding time. The breastfeeding never got started as a result and I went through hell for the next 3 months essentially bottlefeeding the twins. I could only sleep about 3 contiguous hours in a 24-hr period. The incision would invariably be kicked by their little feet and it was painful indeed. And I was certainly not going to have any more children! That is one very good reason to stop doing so many c-sections. Yes, I and my twin sons were in great danger due to the pre-esclempsia, but it all could have been prevented by proper nutrition. I’m with you Chriastian 4 life. I feel betrayed by the doctors. I was naive to believe that they have much idea about health. The whole profession has become corrupted due to abortion and contraception. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

 

[spacecadet]

Anyone who thinks that a 25-30% csection rate is normal is not educated on the topic. In 1970 the rate was 5%. Many women say, “I had to have it” while that is only true for about 5%. C sections are a life saver for those 5%, but for the rest they are a result of

1. Women in our culture not being educated on how to give birth and how to naturally handle problems which is something that other cultures pass on from mother to mother
2. Drs. being trained and educated on ABNORMAL birthing as opposed to normal birthing
3. People going to the hospital tooooooooooo early and then being given time limits on labor
4. Women being in bed flat on their backs which slows labor and his bad for the mother because the weight of the baby i on the blood vessel that runs down her spine
   5 Women being induced
5. Poor nutrition which leads to problems in pregnancy
6. epidurals which relax the uterus and can prevent the baby from descending down or the mother from being able to push the baby out
   etc…

but i don’t really complain about such things, i take steps to make a difference. when i got pregnant my husband and i educated ourselves on how to handle labor and how to be prepared for troubles. now i’m a childbirth instructor doing the same for other couples. i often find that women who have had csections are angry when presented with the facts because it is hard to admit that what happened to them was most likely preventable. This is a national epidemic that will take a long time to reverse. I for one am glad at the recent craze of malpractice lawsuits for obs because hopefully it will drive them out of business and birthing will be handled by midwives who have far more success.

 

[Amber101]

It’s insane the way we are treating one another. There are women on this board who have stated they had to have a c-section for one reason or another. Others scheduled their’s after previous c-sections. Those women are being made to feel like they have commited some crime or sin. If you read what some have written, they have stated that they feel their birth experiences were some how less than those who gave natural birth. I personally think that is hogwash.

Give thanks to god you were able to give birth. Don’t get caught up in the c-section hype. It is a decision made by you and your doc. If someone doesn’t like it… tough.

I have had a friend die in birth. I have a miscarriage. A very close friend had a stillbirth. There are no easy answers in birth, life or death. Be educated and do what you need to do. And above all, thank God that we have the option of c-sections, natural birth, pain killers, clean sheets… etc. All things my great grandma didn’t have.

Now, go kiss your kids for me.

 

[Amber101]

Also, the less OB’s we have in practice, the less likely people will be willing to risk childbirth at all. I don’t think that is something to be happy about.

In fact, I think my Catholic OB would be sick at heart to hear people referring to him this way.

 

[Leeta]

Chidbirth almost always involves pain. Some women have the false idea that a c-section is going to help them avoid pain. A c-section merely extends the pain and suffering over many weeks and exposes the child and yourself to the risks of anesthesia. I prefer to get it over with before the baby is born rather than having it detract from the care and nurture of my baby when it is newborn.
By the way, the incision in the skin is often irritated and even broken open after 22 years! I just remembered now to put Vitamin E oil on it.
The ob-gyns always say that the c-section is an emergency, so do not take a statement from a physicain that she will only do one in an emergency as any kind of sign of restraint. We certainly do need good Catholic Ob-gyns, but we need more good Catholic midwives. More midwives are used in Germany where I gave birth twice. Here I would not be able to have a midwife attended birth because I am VBAC and have a vertical uterine incision. There I could have even had home birth. There also diet is in general better than here, so Americans’ generally poorer diet is, I think, a huge contributng factor and the lack of understanding of normal childbirth on the part of many physicians with all the IVs and other interventions early in labor.
My strategy to avoid another c-section also involved staying away from the hosipital until my labor was well-established, as in the transition stage. Now it was uncomfortable and unpleasant, but I was motivated.
C-sections are definitely a piece of the small family culture. Some mothers are called to such heroism as to have a large family and a c-section every time ( Rose Kennedy with her 11 c-sections is a prime example, but she had wealth and servants which most of us don’t.). Most of us are not very heroic or have been able to take advantage of the grace to be so heroic.
Some mothers have to have a little help to be open to having another child and not having to go through another c-section is definitely a help. A friend who went against her doctor’s advice to not have more than 2 c-sections is definitely heroic in that she had 4 more and many miscarriages. She had a lot of grace and preparation for suffering by her devotion to God and her education as a CCL teacher.

 

[rayne89]

Leeta:

Chidbirth almost always involves pain. Some women have the false idea that a c-section is going to help them avoid pain. A c-section merely extends the pain and suffering over many weeks and exposes the child and yourself to the risks of anesthesia. I prefer to get it over with before the baby is born rather than having it detract from the care and nurture of my baby when it is newborn.

I had a c-section and was out of the hospital in 2 days. The only pain med I took was regular tylonal and I cared for and nurtured my baby just fine thank you very much.

Leeta:

By the way, the incision in the skin is often irritated and even broken open after 22 years! I just remembered now to put Vitamin E oil on it.

Your scar broke open after 22 years? Besides my c-section I have had multiple surgeries in my life and have never had any scar break open. Nor have I had any irratation at the site of my c-section (or any other surgical site). Infact I forget it’s there, it’s difficult to see. I can’t imagine how it is possible for a an incision site that has been healed for 22 years to break open.

 

[sparkle]

Christian4life:

What they don’t tell you about c-sections can kill you. It is NOT safer than natural births, it’s 4 times more deadly! Your recovery time will be longer, your risks of complications will be worse, and chances are YOU DIDN’T EVEN NEED IT.

Yes–this is true. Except I had to have an emergency one with my 2nd baby cuz the cord was around his neck, he had no heartbeat and he would have died for sure. So it saved my precious baby’s life!!! And maybe mine too! My first one was C-Sec also cuz he was butt first . I just did what they suggested! It was as if a mac truck ran over me for at least 6 months. OW–then they expect you to do all the housework, childcare, everything by yourself immediately! What we women do today is unbelievable!!!

 

[coralewisjr]

Christian4life:

What if I had gone ahead with it, and we’d both died??? What If only I had died, what would my baby do without a mother??

Christian4life, please calm down. Your baby could be adopted, or maybe your husband (I’m assuming you’re married) could ask your mother or his mother or a sister for help in raising your child. During first trimester of this, my first pregnancy, I was very stressed and worried about everything and finally DH and God helped me figure out that worrying is POINTLESS and it just gets me more depressed. Trust in Jesus Christ! He provides.

my Mother my Confidence,
Corinne

 

[spacecadet]

We certainly do need good Catholic Ob-gyns, but we need more good Catholic midwives.

Amen to that!

There also diet is in general better than here, so Americans’ generally poorer diet is, I think, a huge contributng factor and the lack of understanding of normal childbirth on the part of many physicians with all the IVs and other interventions early in labor.

and this too!!! It is crazy how doctors don’t even bother to take histories of what their patients have been eating. They care more about weight gain than quality of food which is backwards.

My strategy to avoid another c-section also involved staying away from the hosipital until my labor was well-established

YES!!! The less time you are there the less chance you give them to intervene and cause and unnecessary c-section. Also, you labor will be so much quicker if you stay off your back. Gravity is a laboring woman’s best friend. I was only in the hospital for the last 3 hours of my labor.

In fact, I think my Catholic OB would be sick at heart to hear people referring to him this way.

I’d be happy to issue an apology if he has a less than a 10% csection rate (which is 5% above normal)

 

[Island_Oak]

coralewisjr:

Christian4life, please calm down. Your baby could be adopted, or maybe your husband (I’m assuming you’re married) could ask your mother or his mother or a sister for help in raising your child…

PLEASE tell us you are not suggesting she would have been no worse off to pass on the c-sect. and risk death because she has extended family who might have stepped in and raised the child?!?!

Trust in Jesus Christ! He provides.

Especially for those who use the common sense they were born with to employ the services and expertise of a doctor in a medically challenging delivery.

 

[jess7396]

As someone who has had 3 necessary c-sections, I actually appreciate the sentiments of the OP(the delivery of the message could be better though ). There are far too many c-sections happening in the US especially. And- they are most certainly not “harmless”. Prior to my last c-section, I had a uterine rupture which means that my incision broke apart prior to delivery (and actually prior to labor for me). I was one of the lucky ones as my baby and I survived the uterine rupture, many do not.

Do I regret my c-sections? Of course not, my babies would not be here without them, but- knowing what I do now about rupture, I make sure the women in my life are well educated about avoiding them. For example- Breech presentation does not have to mean that a c-section is needed, it depends on the breech position (my first was a shoulder presentation, no way for that to work, but if she had been Frank Breech, I could’ve tried a vaginal birth). Also-going “late” does not require a c-section most of the time.

When medical issues arise with mom or baby, c-sections can be needed, and can be life saving.

I would hate to see anyone take the decision to have a c-section lightly after my experience with rupture (most people think they can avoid rupture by sceduling future c-sections at 38-39 weeks, not true!)

I do think that women need to have a healthy skepticism of their Dr.s, these are almost always people who prescribe abortifacient birth control and do other morally questionable things on a daily basis, and OBs receive far more training in unnatural childbirth situations than they do with natural childbirth. Of course, there are some good pro-life OBs out there, just not many.

So, yes, of course there are multiple examples of people who would’ve died without a c-section (my kids included), but, the OP has a good point about unnecessary c-sections, which over half of those done in the US are likely to be.