Doctors Pushing C-Sections

maddymama

I am so outraged over doctors want to push c-sections so much! I know that c-sections have a time and place ( I had an emergency c-section at 32 weeks with my first child) but they have become so common place today it is ridiculous! The reason I bring this us is become my very best friend is expecting her first baby the first week of July and last week they did an ultrasound and measured the baby at approx. 8 lbs (which most of the time ultrasounds this late in the pregnancy are not very accurate in determining size and weight) and so they have pretty much scared my friend that she is going to have this huge 12 lb baby. Now she herself was a 10 lb baby and her brother was 10 lb baby so they genectics are there that this could be a big baby but my friend is 6'1" , so she is not a petite woman by any means. So basically they have told her she "HAS" to have a c-section on July 2nd and even if she goes into labor naturally before then she will "HAVE" to have a c-section because the baby will just be "too big" Total BS.

FWIW, with my second baby, I went in for an u/s at 36 weeks. They estimated that my baby was 8lbs and if I went full term I would have had a 10 lb baby. I was induced at 37 weeks for eclampsia, and delivered a 7 lb baby. The late-term measurement for how big or heavy a baby is is generally not very accurate. If that is the only reason they have for asking her to have a c-section, then that seems odd. If she has had a history of complications or other issues, then it might make sense.

suiteblooms

That is really awful. I hate how often Doctors play "god." My sister had a 13 POUND baby naturally, no Episiotomy, no complications - AT HOME! Doctors will often insist that if you had a c-section with your first child, you MUST have them with all children after that. There are countless examples of botched c sections including ones where the child was injured. I know that c-sections have a place, and that no two cases are the same, but if size is the only issue that is coming up with your friend, please assure her that she can do this. Let the baby go to term - they are in there for 9 monthes for a reason.

UsedToBeHusky

but it doesnt really matter most of the ignorant statements made about c sections come from people that have never had one

I've noticed this.

UsedToBeHusky

Let the baby go to term - they are in there for 9 monthes for a reason.

They are actually in there for 10 months. 37 weeks is 9 months and one week. :happy:

Irishmoonwitch

I was induced for both of my deliveries. I was induced 2 weeks early with the first. They felt like the baby was large and thought it would be best to delivery a little early than to wait and risk the possiblity of complications and a possible c-section. She was 9 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches long at two weeks early. I had some internal tearing which cause me to lose a liter of blood. The nurse should have called the doctor in sooner for an episotomy. As soon as that was done, one push and she was out. From the time they started the pitocin to delivery was 10 hours. With the second, they induced a week early because I was starting to have blood pressure issues. It was not pre-eclampsia, but my BP would periodically spike. She was 8 lbs 8 oz and delivery was 8 hours with no complications. I was fortunate in that my doctor believed that c-sections should be a last resort and that natural is the best. I agree that it sounds like perhaps your friend is wanting the c-section instead of a natural delivery. She's probably just scared of the pain of labor, not realizing that the pain of a c-section is worse and lasts longer. I have trouble believing that insurance is the reason she has to have a c-section. Maybe she feels that way because this is the only doctor that is covered under her insurance and he is telling her it's necessary. Either way, being supportive is all you really can do. Best of luck to your friend.

C-sections aren't painful. Do you speak from experience ~ I did see that you experienced quite a few complications from your natural birth? I have had 2 and had no pain at all (during or after) I would imagine that tearing your perineum would hurt a heck of a lot more than a neat even barely noticeable incision.

Not painful? Lucky you. I would disagree strongly with the assessment that it is no pain. I couldn't walk properly after my first one for weeks.

I wish my c-section had gone half as well as yours seemed to go. Not painful my butt. 12 weeks later and i still can't do anything more then a slow walk. Have pain f i stand up to fast or in the wrong way. And it isn't even healed completely still, with lots of complications going on. Granted I know I am probably an unusual case with all that is happening. But please don't say c-sections aren't painful when they definitely are. If I could have given natural birth i would have preferred that.

ABetterBalance

C-sections aren't painful. Do you speak from experience ~ I did see that you experienced quite a few complications from your natural birth? I have had 2 and had no pain at all (during or after) I would imagine that tearing your perineum would hurt a heck of a lot more than a neat even barely noticeable incision.

Not painful? Lucky you. I would disagree strongly with the assessment that it is no pain. I couldn't walk properly after my first one for weeks.

It's amazing to me how different people's experience can be. My labors weren't painful at all. I didn't even realize I was in labor the second time, I was taken to the hospital to get checked out after a slight fender bender and found out I was having contractions. I know most women are not that fortunate.

On the other hand, I wasn't so lucky to have one of those "pain free" c-sections I have heard rumors about. My first c-section did not heal properly for about 4 months and led to pain and complications in the second pregnancy (which also ended in a c-section since I could not find a dr. covered by our insurance who would even consider vbac after the first c-section :ohwell: )

thefreebiemom

She is under the impression she "HAS" to have a c-section because she's on state healthcare, which I don't understand and tried to tell her that they cannot legally force her to do anything but she's already got her mind made up but I think she's going to regret her decision afterwards

I highly doubt this is true. I used to work in a medical billing office and state/federal health insurances are very big on paying the least possible. C-sec cost more so would require more payout from them and more hospital stay payout. I was also on medicaid during both of my pregnancies because my employers didn't offer health insurance and I have never heard of anything like this.

FitBarbie2986

Thats crazy! I'm only 5'2 and my 2nd was 10lbs 6oz and i had him vaginally,but they also didn't think he was that big,my stomach was huge and i was a week over due,and they ordered for me to have an ultrasound done, and estimated him to be at the most 8.5lbs..and after i had him my dr came in and apologized & said had he known that he would be that big he'd have ordered a c-section,it wasnt a very pleasant birth experience,they actually had a small nurse literally get on top of me and to push down on my stomach to help get him out,they couldnt believe how big he was,and i tore from hole to hole,it was horrible,is she small boned? if so,she should have the c-section...pushing out 10lber's is no fun,and ur risking the babies health,u know? i was sooo furious at my midwives cause they acted like he was gonna be no bigger than 8.5lbs..ugh..im just glad hes healthy now,hes had 2 surgerys and hes only 4..one on his eye muscle,cause it was weak,and on a groin hernia,id love to know if that was caused due to stress of the whole labor,anyways...if her dr thinks she should have a c-sec then hes just looking out for the health of the mother and child,i know its hard,but tell her to try to not take it so personally

MeliJean78

Your friend can opt to go AMA (against medical advice), which will require her to sign a consent. She can have a trial of labor and hopefully have a wonderful birth exprience.

I attend a dozen or so c-sections a month and have to say many are necessary....

threnners

I had a c-section for medical reasons (preeclampsia.) It's not the WORST thing in the world. Sure my recovery took a little longer, but in the long run, my vadge is still in its pristine state, and quite frankly, I like it that way. I don't feel any great loss because my son didn't shoot through the proverbial hoop. Sure, my recovery was a tad longer, but that was about it. Oh, and when they're rolling around on the playground, no one gives a rats *kitten* what hole he came out of or whether he was on the boob or the bottle.

One thing I found when I was pregnant is that people will go out of their way to scare the **** out of you. I mean, perfect strangers regaled me with fistulas and tears and all sorts of horrors. Your friend needs to keep a positive attitude and figure out what works for her, and most of all remember that her doctor works for HER. If they're not doing their job, or want to go against her wishes, she is perfectly at liberty to FIRE them. There should be more than one option even with state insurance.

vanishingirl77

The thing that makes me mad is that she doesn't think she has a choice in the matter. She keeps telling me that they can force her to have a c-section because she's on state health insurance. I think she's just really afraid of labor and so this is her way of trying to avoid the discomfort of labor. The whole thing just makes me really irritated.

it sounds to me like she's fine with having the c-section, and you're obviously pretty judgmental about it. perhaps she is going on about being "forced" because she wants you to shut up and mind your own business?

RDalton84

The thing that makes me mad is that she doesn't think she has a choice in the matter. She keeps telling me that they can force her to have a c-section because she's on state health insurance. I think she's just really afraid of labor and so this is her way of trying to avoid the discomfort of labor. The whole thing just makes me really irritated.

it sounds to me like she's fine with having the c-section, and you're obviously pretty judgmental about it. perhaps she is going on about being "forced" because she wants you to shut up and mind your own business?

Oh yes that's exactly why she's been going on and on about how she wishes she didn't have to have a c-section and she's terrified of having one. SHe is naive and unexeperienced and her doctors have pushed her (scared her) into making this decision. AND for that matter I just started this post to vent, she knows my frustrations but I told her that I would be completely supportive of whatever decision she makes. It just makes me angry at her doctors.

RDalton84

Sounds to me like the doctor doesn't want the chance of having to come in on July 4th to deliver a baby so he is trying to push her to schedule one early. But I totally agree with the op, I would never opt to have a c-section if I knew there was a chance I could have a vaginal birth. My preference....

THIS! This is exactly what I think! This is her first pregnancy and she has had ZERO complications. The ONLY reason they are telling her she needs a c-section is because they are afraid the baby will be to big for her to push. And that i think is total BS. Baby is healthy and show ing no signs of distress and mom is healthy. No reason why she shouldn't be able to at least attempt a vaginal birth. I am venting here because I can't vent to her because it stresses her out and I am trying to be supportive of her decision but I have to get my frustrations out somewhere.

Reedern

my wife is scheduled for a c-section July 2nd, so i won't be logging in. Anyway, our first baby was an emergency c-section. So with this one, they said you could go natural or c-section, so she wanted to go natural. Just a few weeks ago, she went to the doc (same doc who preformed her c-section) said she would suggest another c-section in case you rupture the scar or any thing like that. in fact she said "if i was you i would get a c-section" needless to say my wife is getting the c-section.

I had to have a c-sec with my first child for 2 reasons...1. I was a week over due and my body would not dilate or ephaze at all and 2. my baby's heart rate was doing strange things and they had been monitoring it for hours. Because of her irregular heart beat, they could not give me anything to induce labor therefore, I was taken in for a c-sec. Now I am pregnant with my second and we have been discussing the options with my OBGYN. First off, she asked me how many more children I want. She told me that if I was planning to have a large family she would definitely suggest trying natural as you do not want scar after scar. However, she said if I only planned on 1-2 more then the risks are lower with another c-sec. Ultimately she said the decision is mine and she would support whatever I wanted unless something happened that would not allow a natural delivery. I have not made a final decision yet as I want to see how the pregnancy progresses and do some research myself. I am certainly not opposed to another c-sec though if it is the safest thing for myself and my baby.

Tiggermummy

Here in the UK its the opposite they are trying to cut down the number of c/s as they are doing too many, we have had all sorts of
daft rumours by teenagers getting pregnant to try and get a c/s or even starting to smoke as they had been told it would mean their baby would be small and therefore easier to deliver!

I had an elective c/s with first as she was "locked" breach her bottom dropped into my pelvis and her head was wedged under my ribs and she didn't move from that position from week 30 - My carefully thought out birth plan went out the window as the risk of issues were very high.
I had no complications was on my feet as soon as the mandatory bedrest was over (24 hours) and was back 3 days later - only delayed leaving earlier by Jaundice.
With second I chose to have a c/section and I had to fight my case to have it as I was being pushed for VBAC. I knew as only
the woman carrying the baby can that their was something wrong, two weeks before due date baby was not head down.
I saw the nurse that ran the VBAC clinic - explained my reasons for wanting it, explained the risks I knew there were of having a second c/s and she felt I had made the right decision and she was happy for me to go the route of c/section.

When I had her the docs were a little surprised when they opened me up, they had a lot of trouble getting baby out as she had gone in at an angle almost trying to engage with my left hip rather than the gap in the middle!
Doctor told me I'd definalty made the right decision on going for section. Again I was up and about within 24 hours and was asking to go home at the end of that day. I came out the following day when I discharged myself after waiting 3 hours for the doctor to discharge me - It was christmas day - which is the other reason I'd asked to go home the night before!

At the end of the day, regardless of if you think c/sections are for "too posh to push mums" or lazy docs, or there is a high risk of death/injury etc. it should within reason be the woman's choice as it is her body.
There is no right answer as every woman is different.
Your friend cannot unless she has been sectioned under some form of mental health act be forced to have a section. She can refuse to sign the consent form for them to do the procedure.
She needs to do the research her choices and then as someone earlier said - Write a birth plan of ideal - what to do if it goes on too long etc. And then ask for a copy to be placed in her notes and also give a copy of her plans to her midwife and general practise doctor. This way she had come back on them if she has problems.

dayone987

Oh, and when they're rolling around on the playground, no one gives a rats *kitten* what hole he came out of or whether he was on the boob or the bottle.

I like the way you put things into perspective.
Just like marraige is much more than the wedding day, parenthood is much much more than how you gave birth or even if you didn't gave birth and adopted instead. Yes it's nice when everthing works out like you planned for the day but the real work and joy come with time.