“Elective Cesareans are too risky!” – WHO

When I read this title of an article I recently read, I couldn’t be more happy. Finally a major health organization speaking out against elective cesareans, maybe the tides are really working on a change!  But I am sure it will be snubbed by many mothers who simply love their major surgery to deliver their baby and want to continue believing their choice is risk free.

There are many parts of this I want to write about today, while trying not to make this a long winded rant reflecting my own personal views. What I have learned over the past couple years, since I got involved with the “Cesarean Awareness movement” and became an ICAN Chapter Leader here in my state of Connecticut is how many women simply are not being given accurate information regarding a repeat cesarean as opposed to the choice for VBAC.  When the first thing out of a providers mouth is “Your uterus could rupture” most women will not think twice about their choice to go and schedule that second birth. But here is the problem…

Yes, your uterus can rupture, but they are not being told that…

1. Anytime during pregnancy after a primary cesarean section, you can experience a uterine rupture. While it may be a SMALL risk, it is a risk, and with each subsequent cesarean, that risk goes up.
2. The risk for uterine rupture in a health, and low risk woman during VBAC is 0.6%.  Not even a full 1%.

Nor are these providers coming out and saying VBAC is not only healthier for mother, but also for baby. Sadly when someone like myself shares the above information, in many cases it is just received in a defensive manner because what do I know?  I am not a Doctor… I am not even a VBAC mom!

According to many women, Doctors are all knowing Gods, and the way our society was raised, never to question the medical professional, it has started to do more harm than good in our childbearing women. I certainly know when I was growing up, Doctors were wonderful people, not someone I should question or think to ask for a second opinion. Into my adulthood is when that changed. But my personal experiences aren’t important in this.

“A new report from the survey, which was published online today in the medical journal The Lancet, found that in Asia—in both developed and developing nations—cesarean section births only reduced risks of major complications for mother and child if they were medically recommended. Elected surgical deliveries, on the other hand, put both at greater risk.”

“Cesarean section should be done only when there is a medical indication to improve the outcome for the mother or the baby,” the authors of the report concluded. Common reasons for a recommendation for cesarean delivery included a previous cesarean section, cephalopelvic disproportion (when the baby’s head cannot fit through the mother’s pelvic opening) and fetal distress.”

Above quote is taken from an article out of Scientific American.

But let me move on to all the risk factors of cesarean, after cesarean after cesarean.
Let’s discuss the risk of hysterectomy first.
With your first cesarean section, your risk for a hysterectomy is 0.65% or 1 out of 154, with your second cesarean that number drops to 0.42% or 1 out of 238, but jumps with your third cesarean to 0.9 or 1 out of 111, and if you wish to go on for a fourth child, it goes all the way up to 2.41% which translates into  1 our of 41.

Now onto the risk of a blood transfusion.
With your first cesarean section, your risk for a blood transfusion sits at about 4.05% which works out to 1 in 25, you second cesarean it drops to 1.53% which is 1 out of 65, then goes back up for your third and fourth cesarean. Third being 2.26% or 1 out of 44, and fourth being 3.65% or  1 in 27.

But one thing I wanted to touch on is the risk of uterine rupture during VBAC and the numbers associated with that.
With your first VBAC the risk for uterine rupture sits at 0.87% which works out to 1 in 115, with your second VBAC your risk for a uterine rupture does down to 0.45% or 1 out of 222, and third goes to 0.38% or 1 out of 263. So with each VBAC you do have, your risk for a uterine rupture, which scares the bejesus out of everyone goes down.

All above statistics came from this post, which cited sources.

The risk for adhesions with each surgery increases, making the risk of damage to other organs, such as your bladder increased.  Adhesions are something I personally have been battling with.

I just think if women were being given accurate information, and true informed consent, the repeat cesarean rate wouldn’t be 93%.
I am just worried to see in the next decade the kind of issues women who had cesarean’s 40 years ago are going to start happening as a result of the surgery.

All in all, I am going to throw my personal two cents in here and say Cesarean sections should not be elective procedures that are treated like getting your teeth cleaned. They are MAJOR surgeries with MANY risks.  Stop to consider ALL these risks before making your way into a hospital to give birth.

Click to add your comment

Comment Guidelines
We all come from different backgrounds, and hold different opinions and beliefs...

While I understand and respect that, I expect the same respect from my readers. This website is “mine” and like my home, I expect respect, and reserve the right to “kick out” anyone who doesn’t follow the rules, just like I would in my home!

1. Trolls will automatically be deleted and banned
2. If you feel the urge to be disrespectful, or start a fight... move along.
3. No name calling... PERIOD

Happy Commenting!

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Twitter ID

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail