Elective Vs. Necessary

I never thought there would be so much confusion over the difference between these to terms.
Let me give a quick dictionary reference before I start.

e⋅lec⋅tive – adjective – open to choice; optional; not required: an elective subject in college; elective surgery.

nec⋅es⋅sar⋅y – adjective – being essential, indispensable, or requisite: a necessary part of the motor.

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I pose a question. Why do people not understand the difference between a medically necessary cesarean, and an elective cesarean?

Choosing to have a cesarean because you had an emergency cesarean with your first child is elective. Choosing to have a c-section because you had a condition with your first pregnancy which ended in a cesarean is elective.

Unless you have a medical condition (Placenta previa, placental abruption, etc.) it is not medically necessary. Because a doctor makes a suggestion because an ultrasound shows your baby may be “big”. That does not make it medically necessary.
Breech babies in most cases can be born perfectly safe. Recently Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, their version of America’s ACOG changed their position on Breech Births.

“Breech pregnancies are almost always delivered using a Cesarean section, to the point where the practice has become somewhat automatic,” principal author of the guidelines Dr. Robert Gagnon of McGill University in Montreal said in a statement.

“What we’ve found is that, in some cases, vaginal breech birth is a safe option, and obstetricians should be able to offer women the choice to attempt a traditional delivery.”

Let’s hope that our own ACOG can follow in their footsteps.

Now, back to my original subject. United Health Care, in works with The March of Dimes, are not taking a stand on elective c-sections taking place before 39 weeks gestation. Bravo! This is a huge start!

I am hoping that United Health Care will no longer pay for these elective surgeries before 39 weeks or even 40 weeks because of the safety issues associated with elective premature delivery. Babies born via elective c-sections have a very high risk of NICU admission, breathing problems, and also are at a greater risk for asthma and diabetes later on in life.

How many of these women are being told this before they schedule their elective c-section by their doctors?

I just wish more women would take the time, research, learn, educate, because this is the health of your babies! Not to mention this is YOUR health.
Cesareans are MAJOR abdominal surgery that carry MANY risks.
It is not like getting a tooth pulled!

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