Don’t Have That C-Section Out Of Convenience

C-sections reached an all-time high between 2002 and 2009, and while that data is now coming up on three years old without the new upward trend of home births, some doctors have some stern words regarding the default c-section mentality of both doctors and mothers alike. C-sections are a major abdominal surgery, but with one and three births happening under the knife, standard medicine would have you thinking otherwise.

Dr. Alan Fleischman, medical director of the March of Dimes, told USA Today that “convenience” alone does not warrant a c-section:

“Cesarean section should be done at the right time and for the right reason,” he insisted. “Some cesarean sections are being done too early and not for the right reason. Convenience for the woman or her doctor isn’t the right reason.”

Dr. Fleischman points out that many elective c-sections compromise the development of the fetus, which needs those last extra weeks to develop proper breathing, kidneys, and lungs. And while there are certainly mothers who are opting for c-sections for the sake of convenience, hospitals are just as guilty for it too. Fear of malpractice and keeping deliveries happening on a timely basis also make c-sections a favorite for hospitals. But although convenience can deliver you a moderately healthy baby at 34 weeks with minimal risk, the outcome is not as healthy as a full-term birth.