Being Pregnant
Want a Satisfaction Guarantee? Plan a C-Section
A surprising new report found that women who planned C-sections were happier than those who gave birth au naturale
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m very much looking forward to my planned C-section this summer. The C-section I had during my first pregnancy was unplanned and due to a mismatched head/pelvis situation. The one I’ll have this time is because my pelvis has not grown in the interim, and, more importantly, because the hospital in the town where I live isn’t certified to do VBACs.
That’s fine with me since all I care about is my baby arriving healthy and me surviving the experience. There are also other advantages to Caesarean deliveries, and now, as it turns out, there’s yet another upside to the planned C-section: high satisfaction rates among moms who experience them.
C-sections increased 53 percent from 1996 to 2008 (the most recent data available), and while the trend has alarmed many doctors and public health officials, experts say it’s also a sign that new mothers’ satisfaction is now a formidable consideration in birthing decisions.
The issue of emotional well-being was studied by doctors at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and they found that negative birth experiences have been linked to postpartum depression, which affects one in 10 women.
The findings, published recently in the American Journal of Perinatology, found that those who planned C-sections were “much more satisfied with their experiences than those who planned vaginal births, partly because more than a quarter of the latter group ended up with unplanned cesareans.”
“There is not enough evidence that we should offer everyone a C-section; we’re not at that point,” said Dr. Joan Blomquist, an obstetrician-gynecologist at GBMC. “But for the right patient, it might be the right decision. At least we need to make sure they understand all the possibilities, that they don’t have unrealistic goals.”
The study looked at 160 women planning vaginal deliveries and 44 planning C-sections. Those planning the latter reported higher satisfaction and fulfillment, lower distress and difficulty, and a more overall favorable experience than women who planned vaginal births.
Of course, not a few doctors will argue that the change in attitude is not good news for women who don’t need C-sections, as the surgery is potentially risky if it’s for non-medical reasons.
Do you feel differently about planned C-sections knowing they carry such a high satisfaction rate?
Image: Wikipedia
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34 Comments
amanda commented on May 12 11 at 8:35 amI think looking for “satisfaction guarantee” when talking about birth and parenting is pretty darn unrealistic, whether you think a c-section is going to guarantee your satisfaction or a swimming-with-dolphins vag birth will. Learning to cope with uncertainty — not looking for guarantees — is part of being a parent.
Izy commented on May 12 11 at 8:58 amNo I don’t feel differently about planned C-sections knowing they carry such a high satisfaction rate. Personally when its time for birth I want to do everything possible to avoid a C Section unless it is deemed medically necessary.
Kate commented on May 12 11 at 9:38 amC-sections are more dangerous for the mother and more dangerous for the baby. In situations in which they are medically necessary, they can save lives, but the majority of C-sections in this country occur not due to medical necessity but to other factors, including a notion among some mothers, like yourself, that they are somehow a guarantee of a healthy baby and mom. Far from it.
I’d urge you to actually read some science on this. Not sure what “other advantages” you allude to (but do not list) but the known disadvantages include longer healing time for mother, increased risk of lung problems in babies, increased risk of difficulty with breastfeeding, and so on down the line.
As for your hospital, there is no such thing as being “certified for VBAC.” That’s a choice they’re making to avoid any perceived liability in offering VBAC, which has been proven to be safer, except in rare cases, for both mother and child.
Good luck with your upcoming surgical delivery, and I hope you and your baby are healthy and happy. Every mother deserves that. But it’s really irresponsible to spread such misinformation.
Meg commented on May 12 11 at 9:49 amI had a planned c-section with my 2nd daughter and yet she arrived 5 weeks early when they were unable to stop my labor. I has some PTSD as a result of that and some pretty dramatic things that happened during her birth. Don’t PLAN on anything. Babies sometimes have their own agenda and nothing is definite. I am pregnant with number 3 right now and even though I have a c section date, I am not counting on that or planning for that to be his birthday. If it is, great! But if not then that’s ok too.
ceridwen commented on May 12 11 at 9:50 amI think this is such a valuable point, Meredith. In her book about the maternity care crisis, PUSHED, Jennifer Block makes the compelling argument that the lousy maternity care system with long, crappy hospital labors rife with (often unnecessary and mostly unpleasant) interventions and lack of continual support and that often cause/”result in” an “emergency” or unplanned c-section is making some, arguably clever women like Meredith, say to hell with it, I’m getting a planned c-section. Why go through that nightmarish labor first? Other women, like Kate (above), decide based on THE SAME INFORMATION, to hell with it, I’m giving birth at home. Both of these women are unhappy with the status quo. It is my belief that we need to address the crappy situation from which we are all running. I think these articles and polarized points of view are so important but we might benefit from not spending too much time talking about elective Cs and home births. Most women don’t get elective Cs and only 1% give birth at home. Let’s not get to riled up about these two sensible women choosing two radically different paths to achieve a similar goal. Let’s focus on reducing unnecessary inductions and making normal, vaginal births in hospitals safe and as pleasant as they can be!
El commented on May 12 11 at 9:52 amI was very happy after all 3 of my c/s. I had 2 breech babies and although my Dr. Offered me a vba2c, I declined. Turns out when she went in to deliver me, I had the beginnings of a rupture. I had been contracting for a week on and of, and had I moved into full blown labor, my daughter may not have survived. I recovered quickly, had 3 longterm champion breastfeeders, and never had one regret over not having a vaginal birth. I had my healthy babies, I wanted to be a mother and the birth did not define my experience.
Me commented on May 12 11 at 9:52 am5 times the risk of death as a vaginal birth: not much of a satisfaction guarantee. Not to mention the fertility risks, excess risk in future pregnancies and births, the added risk to the baby. I don’t care how other women choose to give birth so long as it’s an educated decision. But it’s irresponsible to write an article calling a c-section a guarantee of a satisfying birth experience. It’s major abdominal surgery, nothing to sneeze at.
Take a peak at maternal satisfaction in planned homebirths. Bet it blows the socks off that for planned c-sections.
Danielle commented on May 12 11 at 9:53 amPlenty of people are happy making risky choices. I’m sure if you surveyed a small group of people (like this study did, very small) and offered them something they perceived as “safe” or “pleasurable” they would always say they had a good experience. Like a group of people in substance abuse treatment: half get sober and half get free drugs. The sober people would say, “yes I was afraid of this unknown thing that I knew was ultimately the safest choice.” the high people would report loving the treatment plan despite being hooked still.
Why use this example? Because you must be high on drugs to put the “but I want to” argument above the health and safety of your family.
When a 3 year old says she wants to play with the knives and reports a low satisfaction rating when you tell her that is dangerous, do we make conclusions that toddlers with knives are acceptable because she “likes it?”
Amanda H. commented on May 12 11 at 9:57 am“At least we need to make sure they understand all the possibilities, that they don’t have unrealistic goals.”
I think this is much more important than anything else in this whole article.
Providence commented on May 12 11 at 10:00 amWish I could hit “like” on Ceridwen’s comment above.
I had a planned c-section with my two breech twins. I was desperately disappointed when it became clear that there was no alternative birth route for me, but I had a chance to get over it, to focus on the positive, and to go into my birth in a good mental place. I have some sadness that I’ll never experience labor and a vaginal birth, but my experience was good because I felt some degree of control. I’m guessing that control — even the illusion of it — is highly correlated with women’s satisfactions with their birth experiences.
Meredith Carroll commented on May 12 11 at 10:34 am@Kate — I have no delusion that my delivery is safe just because it’s a c-section; however, because the hospital that I’ll be delivering in is not equipped for me to safely do a VBAC, what we’re planning for is the safest (and only) choice going into it. As for other advantages, if you click the link that I supplied above, I talk about getting a little respite in the hospital and being able to plan. I am looking at the glass as half full instead of crying because I have few choices in the situation. Indeed, some hospitals are not equipped and certified to do VBACs depending on the size and location of the hospital. Mine is one of them, and it’s quite true and factual, despite what you seem to know. And I’m not sure how I’m spreading *negative* information since the tone of the research about which I’m writing is quite positive, but it’s clear you are anti-c-section, so I’m guessing anything that puts a positive spin on them is going to be perceived by you as a bad thing.
@Ceridwen & @ Providence — Thanks for the thoughtful responses. As it turns out, when I went in for my pregnancy confirmation appointment, I asked if I had to get another c-section and because of the hospital (and a few other factors), and they said I did. I’m fine with it and it wasn’t until I started writing for this site last month did I ever encounter such judgment and hostility to c-sections and about being happy about my situation. In the real world (or at least in my world), it is what it is and I have have faith and trust in my doctors that the right steps are being taken. I am perfectly happy making lemonade out of my situation instead of getting my panties in a bunch about it. @Providence — I think you’re right, and lot of the happiness comes from the control.
@Danielle — Risky in my case would be selfishly attempting a VBAC when it goes against the medical advice I received. You (presumably) aren’t a doctor and don’t know me, so I’m not sure why you seem so angry about my choice and seem to think you know better than my doctors and me what’s safest for my family. *That* seems like a risky side to be on — clinging to some rhetoric that *you* believe in.
@Me — I’m writing on the findings of one study. I’m sure you’ll find others that have the opposite results. It’s what makes the world go ’round.
@El – “I had my healthy babies, I wanted to be a mother and the birth did not define my experience.” ——– Well stated; I couldn’t agree more.
ceridwen commented on May 12 11 at 10:51 amAh yes, Meredith, I didn’t mean to loosely conflate your (VBAC & hospital policy-specific) circumstances with those of the women in the study. I was speaking more generally about the appeal of a scheduled c-section, thanks for the clarification. I think the results of this study you’ve written up here are worth discussing and should not be written-off, perhaps especially among birth activists.
SarahB commented on May 12 11 at 10:54 amHonestly, if I have to have a c-section, I’d much rather know ahead of time than have to be making the decision during a crisis in the throes of labor. I could see in that case how having a planned c-section would be more satisfying and less stressful.
Andy Lee commented on May 12 11 at 11:24 amI do completely disagree. Why not ecstatic, blissed out, connected, and awed by the creation you (or your partner) has just produced without surgical steel, anesthetic, or needles? I really think women (and men) are being TOLD that they are ‘satisfied’ because they have a healthy baby, and that SHOULD be enough. Power and empowerment is completely taken away by a medicalized birth. I think you, and the many other women who have medically dictated c-sections, do have to make the best of what you have experientially, but I really think it does disservice to women and babies to encourage (in any way) the surgical approach to birth for women who really are just opting out of a ‘normal’ birth experience.
The maternal mortality rate in the US has almost doubled (8-14% with the vast majority in women who a) have a c-section b) come from a lower economic status c) have insufficient post-partum support) in the same time as the c-sections rates have gone from 20 -35% in the past decade (US numbers only). Both women and doctors may feel it is ‘easier’ to schedule a surgical birth, but it has been proven that for healthy women and babies, natural birth is safer and healthier, with faster bonding, breastfeeding, healing, and overall recovery. Convincing someone w/little education or support that the reverse is true is a real disservice to women. I’d really be interested to find stats from, say, 150 woman who have had a natural birth followed by a c-section birth – I do wonder whether they’d be able to better compare ‘satisfaction’ with those birth experiences.
Shannon commented on May 12 11 at 11:40 amI want to know who decided the statistics they cited here as far as birth satisfaction. There have been scientific studies and national birth surveys done showing exactly opposite – birth satisfaction did not go down with increased perception of pain, in actuality it was the exact opposite. Women who had to work harder to deliver their babies expressed more satisfaction with their births than those who had anesthesia right away or cesareans. When a woman gives birth the way her body knows how and the way her baby is meant to be born that creates satisfaction in birth. Some babies need to be born via cesarean. But not all of them. I understand that going in knowing you’ll be having a cesarean is preferrable to the stress of an emegency c section. But as a mother, doula, and childbirth educator it seems in my opinion to be incredibly uneducated and irresponsible to say that moms will have more birth satisfaction by electing a massive surgery.
We detach ourself from our humanity when we completely remove natures ability to bring forth life by scheduling a medical procedure without even giving nature a chance. Giving birth was the most intense thing I’ve ever done -aside from raising children. Childbirth prepares mothers to be confident in their ability to parent.
Monica commented on May 12 11 at 2:40 pmAs someone who has had 2 vaginal births, then a c-section, and finally a successful v-bac I can say I was proud of all of my choices. I think as long as you are making informed decisions based on what’s best for your family you’ll be happy. I wasn’t entirely thrilled when I was told I had to have a c-section and tried everything to get out of it, but when it was all said and done it was necessary. No regrets, but I was determined to do a v-bac with my last. However, I knew going in that I was a good candidate for a v-bac since the reason for my c-section was because of breech. Everyone is different. And of course knowing exactly when your child is going to be born sure makes things much easier especially when you have to take care of child care.
Jessica commented on May 12 11 at 2:41 pmWow, lots of strong feelings on this topic. My personal inclination is toward a natural birth (in a hospital, despite the inherent challenges that may pose), and I’m due with my first in 10 weeks. I’ve tried to do my homework on all of my options for birth, from the very first intervention/augmentation to the last, and outlined my birth preferences according to 1) recent, accurate medical research and 2) my own personal inclinations, comfort level, and expectations. It’s my opinion that any mom who does the same will be choosing the best, safest, happiest birth with the best possible outcomes, no matter what that choice may be. All decisions in life have some level of risk involved, and every day we make calculated choices based on awareness of those risks and outcomes. Birth is not any different. Clearly, Meredith is more comfortable with the potential risks of an elective, scheduled C-section; Kate is more comfortable with the potential risks of a homebirth. Neither choice is entirely risk-free, and so long as both mother’s have done their homework and feel safe & comfortable with their choice, THEY ARE BOTH DOING THE BEST THING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR BABY! I used to think the whole natural/homebirth movement was about empowering informed mamas, but it seems like so much of the rhetoric is judgmental and pedantic. That’s really unfortunate, and a disservice to the health of women.
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Debbie commented on May 12 11 at 3:12 pmI don’t mean to bring you down from your happiness in your chose, I want you to stay happy, good happy hormones and positive thinking during pregnancy and post-partum will go a long way towards a healthy baby and speedier recovery, but a). I know you might be looking for positive things to help you prepare for a second c-section, but the study you site is a very poor study and I’m surprised that anyone gave it the time of day to publish. Basing a published medical study off of 204 births (160 planned vaginal and 44 planned c-sections)? That isn’t a very scientific study. There aren’t nearly enough data points and absolutely no consideration of demographics. b). I think women with planned c-sections simply have had more time to come to terms with the c-section and they aren’t necessarily more satisfied about the experience so much as have accepted it. After having a traumatic birth experience a planned c-section probably eases a lot of fears too, and thus a positive outcome from a planned c-section probably seems a lot more pleasant than having to deal with another potentially traumatic birth experience. It is far easier to plan a c-section than to come to terms with your fears and do the leg and mental work required for a natural vaginal birth. c). Every woman should come to terms with a possible c-section whether or not she is planning a vaginal birth. She should educate herself as to what truly requires a c-section (taking ALL information from both OBs and the natural birthing community with a grain of salt) and have someone as equally educated with her that can advocate for her. Even a c-section can be empowering, because after all, you are the only one in the world that can save your baby. Every woman should have a plan in place for the aftermath of having an unplanned c-section, I think this would help with the feelings of satisfaction. d). CPD is actually very rare, about 1 in 2,500. Your OB may have told you had CPD, but it was most-likely not true. Every woman should rely on her and her care providers knowledge and intuition. It sounds like while your OBs intuition led him/her to the wrong conclusion, it may have been based on a strong feeling of something going wrong or he may have just wanted to help out a woman who looked in pain (doctors hate to see people in pain, it’s their job to stop the pain and sometimes they go too far). e). After having experienced the natural vaginal birth of my son and the amazingly easy post-partum recovery from it I couldn’t imagine having to have a c-section. The hormonal high after birth was like nothing else in this world and I was up and walking around within 12 hours and felt great. I couldn’t imagine having to spend 6 weeks in pain. I try not to take too much pride in anything I do, but I am very proud of how well I reasonably educated myself and prepared and practiced for the birth of my son (I say *reasonably* educated, because I made efforts to educate myself with all perspectives, not just from the natural birthing community). My education actually has made me feel more OK with having to get a c-section some day if needed. f). PPD can come from feeling unsatisfied with your birth experience, but there is so much more to it. It is a hormonal state that most woman have very little control over. I had PPD due to the separation I experience from my baby (he was a preemie and had to spend time in the NICU). I don’t mean to bring you down Meridith, I hope your delivery and recovery go well, keep your positivity, but I would suggest looking in other places as your source for positivity than this study since it is most-likely not very accurate. Good luck momma!
Meredith Carroll commented on May 12 11 at 3:44 pm@Debbie — Don’t worry; you didn’t bring me down. What you call my doctor’s “intuition” is what I call a medical degree and experience, and I’ll go with the facts of my case and the expertise of my doctor, not what laypeople have studied online or have heard anecdotally. My next c-section isn’t elective and I have no reason to suspect I won’t have the same high after giving birth this time as I had after the first time (which wasn’t a traumatic experience at all, it just wasn’t what I expected). My recovery was really not a big deal at all — the worst part was the bleeding that resulted from the pushing. But I appreciate that you took the time to comment nonetheless.
Imogen commented on May 12 11 at 7:40 pmI had a c-section after prolonged labor due to fetal distress. If I found out I was unable to “try for” a VBAC with a second pregnancy, I think I also would feel some relief at having that decision and uncertainty (barring unforeseen circumstances) taken off the table for me. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Also want to add that as much as c-sections are vilified, I am extremely grateful that the option was available to us. The health of my child would have been severely compromised without it.
Shannon commented on May 12 11 at 8:08 pmA study of 204 women at one hospital is not enough to make such a sweeping generalization as this one tries to. When the (generally) riskier option is the ONLY one (in this case due to ridiculous VBAC bans) it will always look more appealing. The women who report the most satisfaction with their births are generally the ones who feel they were in control of their births, whether everything went the way they originally hoped or not. Women feel empowered when they have care providers who work with them, rather then simply telling them “this is what you have to do because we say so.” The most common reason for a hospital refusing to allow VBAC is because they do not have 24/7 anesthesia available. It has been said a million times but I will say it again, if a hospital is not safe to VBAC in, it is not safe to birth in, period. Women in America are generally dissatisfied with the state of obstetric care and birth, and more and more are trying to change it. It is deplorable that in a country that spends more on health care than any other nation we were 31st on the list of best places to be a mother. There are other options (namely obstetricians working with midwives instead of against them), and we all need to work to make them more readily available to all moms.
Cortney commented on May 12 11 at 9:50 pmSo very sad that this type of thinking is so widespread. It’s sending a horrible message. More often then not c sections are not necessary, and as my mom always said nothing good comes easy. Women are obviously far too detached from their birth experiences. So sad.
Christi commented on May 12 11 at 9:54 pmKate ~ 3rd comment from the top ~ Thank You !!!! Very well put !!!!
Debbie commented on May 12 11 at 10:40 pmgenerally I’m not one to belabor a point (since I already posted a rather lengthy comment), but I just can’t help but mention this anecdotal piece of information. My neighbor had a c-section and apparently laughed just a little too hard while still in the hospital (“not much of a laugh” according to her, so take her account for what it’s worth), but the laugh ended up splitting open her stitches. Once you’ve split your stitches, you can’t be restitched. She had to spend a couple extra days in the hospital and when she returned home, she had to wear a pump with tubes that went to her incision site to pump out fluids every five minutes. When I was visiting and heard the noise of the pump at first I thought she was farting, but it was the pump. A nurse had to visit her at home for quite sometime after and it was a major complication for tending to her newborn at home. So, no, c-sections are by far not “satisfaction guaranteed”, but then again, I know I’m probably just reading too much into Babbles sensationalistic headings (I really should unfriend them, I just can’t help but keep looking at the train wreck).
Colleen commented on May 13 11 at 3:11 amWell said Imogen. I loved my planned c-section. It was the right choice, and I felt very empowered to be in a position to make it. It was a wonderful experience with a great support team, and in the end we got to be parents to a great kid. We who have made that choice would thank people to keep your judgemental comments to themselves. These comments are not productive. Always happy,however, to discuss facts.
aleah commented on May 13 11 at 6:16 ami love some of the creative statistics I’m reading here… @Me: five times the risk of death for a c-section? Cite your source, please – and Ina May Gaskin doesn’t count.
My first c-section wasn’t planned, yet both baby and I were fine. I looked forward to my second; it was a known quantity at that point and I had no qualms about having a repeat surgery. And amazingly, I bonded right away with both sons,leaving me to speculate that it’s not how your baby’s born that affects your bonding – that’s in YOUR head. If you need a vaginal/home birth in order to feel “empowered” then you were born in the wrong century.
hannah commented on May 13 11 at 9:48 amnope i don’t feel differently about c-sections because of birth satisfaction. ‘Satisfaction’ is rather a broad, highly subjective, and varying kind of term. I would think that the satisfaction of birth in any eventuality has way more to do with feeling informed, in control, non-judged, and non-stressed than anything else. Things going according to plan (any plan) will create this kind of satisfaction and seems to not affect the objective risks/pros/cons of any choice. I think the interesting point is that YOU seem to feel better about it. Which is great! I’m sure you’ve done your research, discussed your options, and made your decision in the best interests of you and your baby to the best of your ability. Well, then, what does it matter what anyone else’s opinion is? And if you still feel dissappointed in some way because that ‘best interests’ decision doesn’t involve vaginal or natural or whatever else you might have picked if you could, then just recognize that and go ahead and grieve. It’s no different from any other dissapointment. And once you are done grieving go right ahead and start listing all the positives and advantages just the way you are doing. Duh. :D
Heather commented on May 13 11 at 12:14 pmAhhh, LOL! So for those reading (and writing!) the drivel on babble, women can take all kinds of risks to make their birth experience wonderful, as long as it isn’t *gasp* one of those ~dangerous~ c-sections. I had an emergency c-section, which turned out pretty darn great, so I signed right up for the c-section when I found out I was pregnant again. And the planned one was even better. And Aleah’s right — the “statistics” quoted above are totally made up.
JGideon commented on May 13 11 at 1:31 pmBravo to Meredith Carroll for reminding Babble readers that real women have the right to be empowered and satisfied by their own educated choices, even when that choice does not meet the approval of the radical crunchies. I felt empowered by saying “NO” to the loopy CNM who wanted me to try a version so I could deliver my transverse baby vaginally, despite my uterine abnormalities. I gasped and wept when I saw my new baby boy, who was delivered by planned c/s, and his little brother, who was also delivered by planned c/s. They both nursed well, and I would give up my life for either of them. I don’t know how I can be more “bonded” than that, so fuck Michel Odent and his idiot theories about c-sections.
Incidentally, to Andy Lee, maternal mortality rates in the US are ~14 per 100,000, not 14 per 100 (14%).
Mama Tao commented on May 13 11 at 2:40 pmI would like to know where some of you got your education from. The way that you quote theses made-up and moronic stats it super funny. Please state your school name so that my children can avoid said college..
AmyG commented on May 13 11 at 3:00 pmWhy is it so hard for you to believe that some people enjoy having c-sections or don’t mind? These are measures of OPINION in this study – it’s a qualitative (taking opinion into consideration) study, not quantitative (measuring something with numbers). So you simply can’t say that it isn’t true. Women in this study have reported more satisfaction overall with scheduled c-sections. There’s nothing to dispute about it. That’s what they reported. Why does this threaten some of you so much? How insulting to tell women their choices are wrong/”uninformed”, especially when they’re happy with the outcome! Blindly buying into the “natural is best!” claptrap is the uneducated, uninformed viewpoint because when it was all natural the death rate of both mothers and babies was astronomical. Insert condescending “but C-Sections are OKAY if they’re really necessary!” comment here. Most mothers who choose to have c/s are very “informed” about c/s in general, and more inportantly about their own situations. (Unlike people who have never had one and come to their own misinformed conclusions about how “unempowering” it is) Most don’t take a decison like this lightly.
Heather commented on May 13 11 at 5:07 pmLoved my scheduled c/s for breech presentation and macrosomnia. Talk about an extreme delivery…200 years ago we would have died because of my abnormality and their size!
And where on EARTH did this gem come from: “The maternal mortality rate in the US has almost doubled (8-14% with the vast majority in women who a) have a c-section b) come from a lower economic status c) have insufficient post-partum support)”.
We are loosing 8-14% of moms in childbirth? The only way that will happen is if we go down the road of more CPM/DEM homebirths and increased UC.
k8blujay commented on Jun 07 11 at 3:57 pmPersonally, I don’t like the idea of having a surgery that is not necessary… but whatever floats your boat…. I was terrified of just about every medical intervention because of the increased risk of a C-Section… yet, I ended up with a medicated birth (because I could not feel any contractions at all and then too much) with awesome doctors and nurses… But I would prefer to not be cut open unless it’s absolutely necessary and there is nothing else that can’t be done first.
Inga commented on Jun 12 11 at 11:35 amI had 2 prior c-sections, and now am in my 3rd pregnancy. I had one with my first because “labor wasn’t progressing.” I was interested in a VBAC the second time around, but my OB was not on board, so I didn’t push the issue. I’m all about people having choices regarding birth, but wanted to say that even if a person’s c-section seems to go swimmingly well, it can have major repercussions. During this pregnancy it was found I have placenta percreta, where my placenta has gone through my uterus, out the other side, and is pushing against my bladder. The cause of this? Prior c-sections (placenta went through the scar). Result? I’ve been in the hospital on bedrest for a month. I will deliver my baby at 33 weeks, have a hysterectomy, a probable large blood transfusion, and possible bladder surgery. Yes, this is a somewhat rare case, but the instances of placenta accretas/incretas/percretas are increasing significantly with c-section rates. Had someone told me this would be a possibility before my c-sections, I would have advocated 100% for a vaginal birth.
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