C-Sections

C-Sections are increasingly popular nowadays! Some require this to ensure the safety and well being for both mother and baby, while others choose to have it done purely out of convenience. The recovery from a vaginal birth is almost immediately after delivery, which is a wonderful thing but a post c-section recovery can take much longer due to strain injuries and associated raptures and tears that can occur at the cut for a caesarian is a major abdominal surgery.

A woman might be a candidate for a c-section if (1) she is carrying more than one baby and if these multiples are small and poorly positioned, (2) there are no contractions or if contractions aren’t strong enough to move the baby, (3) she has had a previous c-section in only a span of two years or less and therefore may need a planned elective repeat caesarian, (4) the baby doesn’t seem to have a regular heart rate, (5) she has a low-lying placenta known as placenta previa where it is located so low in the uterus that it covers the cervix completely, (6) the baby is too big, breeched or transverse, (7) the umbilical cord is pinched or compressed, (8) she is infected with an STI and could possibly infect the baby if it were to go through the birth canal, (9) she high blood pressure, which can lead to preeclamsia or (10) she has diabetes and therefore the baby is expected to be large, a condition called macrosomia. There are many more reasons to add to this, your OB will be able to discuss this with you.

Only if necessary, a c-section is absolutely the best option. But if you are young, healthy and capable of a normal birth, best to deliver the more natural way for you will experience a faster recovery!

Helpful Resources: www.yahoo.com; www.babycentre.com