Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Recent data sheds light on elective c-section debate

I've just read and posted comments on this article by Cassie Piercey, on the San Diego News Network website. This is what I've said:

There is so much that I could write in response to this article but unfortunately, time does not allow this evening. What I would like to simply point out though, is this: you provide case studies of two women's birth experiences – one, a planned cesarean birth and the other, a planned vaginal birth - and their outcomes reflect a common phenomenon.

Mo Davis-White says, "I never once wavered on my decision to have a C-section", and by all accounts was very satisfied with her birth experience. In contrast, Rose says, "My delivery experience was traumatic… It was upsetting to know my baby was suffering."

Greater levels of satisfaction following a maternal request cesarean birth have been confirmed in medical studies too. For example, this one from Sweden: After PCD "women reported a better birth experience compared to PVD women." (Wiklund et al, 2007) I am not suggesting that all women would be wise to choose a cesarean, but rather, I am defending the perfectly legitimate decision by some women to plan a cesarean in preference to a trial of labor.

2 comments:

Jago Holmes said...

Every woman has the right to choice, things change and the world changes. This option wasn't avaiable 100 years ago, but now it considered a safe, neverless major abdominal operation.

Jago
www.exerciseaftercsection.com

Mrs. W. said...

I just wanted to say thank-you for this blog! As a woman who is considering an elective c-section for the birth of her first child in July (and unless the kid decides to be breech, won't have a medical indication) - thank-you. I've been doing a lot of research and strongly feel that an elective c-section is a choice that is as legitimate as any number of other birth choices.