One of the most positive experiences is bringing a child into this world. There are two ways that a baby can be delivered, vaginally and a cesarean section. Since the 1990s, cesarean sections have become the most common procedure in the United States. This procedure is necessary for certain circumstances, such as a breech baby or placental abruption. Some women are now preferring elective cesarean sections due to personal preference. There are nearly 1. 4 million babies born surgically in the United States every year.
This trend is due to an increase in elective cesarean sections that are not medically necessary. As with any surgery, there are always risks and complications involved. In this case, it’s to both the mother and the baby. The cost of a cesarean section in the United States costs more than anywhere else. Since 1996, the charges for delivering a child surgically have about tripled in the United States. Elective cesarean sections are not financially and physically beneficial to women today. An elective cesarean section is choosing to deliver a child surgically.
The first recorded case of a mother surviving the surgery was in the 1580s in Switzerland. A pig welder named Jacob Nufer performed the procedure on his wife when her labor was not progressing. His wife survived and went on to have five more successful vaginal deliveries. An elective cesarean section in most cases is done before thirty-nine weeks. This is a major abdominal surgery that involves making an incision into the mother’s abdomen and then another one in the uterus. The baby and the placenta is then removed and the incision is then closed with stitches.
What is unclear is why some women would choose to have this painful procedure. Some women are choosing to have elective cesarean sections because it is more convenient for them. It allows them to arrange for maternity leave and extra help at home. Some women have a fear of labor, while some fear incontinence and tearing that can occur in vaginal deliveries. As patients, we look for guidance from our physicians. We trust them to make ethical decisions based on our medical issues. First-time mothers do the same when it comes to delivering their child.
According to Dvorsky’s (2013) article, “Elective cesarean sections seem to be the result of doctor recommendations, rather than patient requests,” He goes on to say that “studies show that few women prefer cesarean sections in the absence of medical or obstetrical factors. ” Therefore, the increase in cesarean sections is most likely from the pressure of doctors and hospitals. Women are being encouraged to undergo an unnecessary cesarean section because hospitals save money when births are scheduled months in advance.
In Gonzalez’s (2013) article, ” he states that “the average total price charged for pregnancy and newborn care was found to be about $30,000 for a vaginal delivery and $50,000 for a cesarean section. “ The average out of pocket cost is $3,400, this is after the insurance has been billed. The cost has tripled since 1996. The United States is the most expensive country to give birth as “there is no publicly financed health services as in most developed countries,” says Oi (2015), a reporter from BBC News.
Pregnancy is generally billed item by item, whereas twenty years ago they were lumped together, which according to Gonzalez (2013), are “leading to more bills and inflated costs. ” Not only is an elective cesarean section a financial burden, but it also exposes the mother and baby to complications and risks. A normal pregnancy duration is forty weeks, although some can even go up to forty-two weeks. A baby at thirty-nine weeks is not fully developed, and therefore faces many risks. Babies born via c-section are more likely to be administered into the NICU than babies born vaginally.
According to Gawande (2007) “the child can be lacerated. Although this is rare, it does happen. Atul Gawande also goes on to say “if the placenta separates and the head doesn’t come free quickly, the baby can asphyxiate. ” This means that the baby gets an insufficient amount of oxygen and deprives the child of air. It puts the baby in respiratory distress. There are also many other risks that the baby may encounter.
In Kresser’s (2011) article, he states that the complications associated with cesarean section are “increased risk of respiratory compromise, low blood sugar, poor temperature regulation, and depressed immune function. One interesting fact is that babies born via c-section do not have a specific group of “gut bacteria” that vaginal delivered babies have. According to Dvorsky’s (2013) article, “This gut bacteria is important for newborns, as it helps them digest food, regulate bowels, develop their immune systems, and protect against infection. ” A baby can only be exposed to this through a vaginal birth, while a cesarean deny them that opportunity. Without this gut bacteria, the baby has a risk of allergies and asthma later in life.
At the same time, the mothers face many risks as well. The most significant risk for mothers is an increased risk of death. As with any surgery, there are always risks and complications involved. According to Kresser’s (2011) article, “Cesarean increases the risk of maternal death by about four times in the emergency situations and about three times during elective surgery on a healthy mother and baby. ” In a 2010 study, mothers are three times more likely to die due to complications from a c-section than a vaginal delivery.
Some of the causes of death are infection, blood clots, complications from anesthesia, injury to organs such as bowel or bladder, blood loss and risk of needing a transfusion. In Dvorsky’s (2013) article, he states that “compared to vaginal births, cesareans lead to an increased risk for cardiac arrest, urgent and/or unplanned hysterectomies, hematomas, persistent pain, and problems with physical recovery. ” Additional downsides to a cesarean section is the disruption of other natural processes, such as breastfeeding and skin-to-skin bonding.
In a vaginal delivery breastfeeding is initiated moments after birth, while in a cesarean section the baby is separated from the mother immediately after delivery. In Dvorsky’s (2013) article, he states that “Breastfeeding is enhanced when newborns are allowed unlimited access to the breast,” but this can be difficult as the mother’s lower extremities are still numb from the epidural and is unable to lift herself to a seated position to breastfeed the baby. Once the epidural wares off, the mother experiences pain at the incision, which can lead to difficulty in breastfeeding the baby.
Dvorsky (2013) also goes on to say “When babies are not breastfed “early and often” after birth, mother’s mature milk may be delayed and a full milk supply may be compromised. ” When a baby is born vaginally, he or she is placed on the mother’s chest immediately for skin-to-skin bonding, but in a cesarean section the bond is disrupted. This is because the baby is taken for a physical examination, although separation does continue for a few days until the mother recovers from the abdominal surgery. The recovery time for a c-section is six weeks, but can be longer if the mother encounters any complications.
With a vaginal delivery the mother stays in the hospital for two days, whereas a cesarean leaves you in the hospital for four days. During this time, she is monitored for any infections, blood clots, urine output levels, and uterus reduction. The doctors advise the mothers to rest as often as possible, but this can be difficult as the newborn baby must be fed every two hours. Another recommendation that doctors urge mothers to do is to get out of bed and walk to get more blood flow into the legs. Physical activity is encouraged, but with moderation.
Results: The cost of a cesarean section alone is $50,000 in the United. States. -There are too many risks involved for both mother and baby. -The recovery time is much longer than a vaginal birth, but can be longer if there are any complications. -Women who have cesarean sections are more likely to go through post-partum depression than women who delivery their baby. -Women who have cesarean sections are less likely to breastfeed. Based on the results above, there are some recommendations that should be taken into consideration when women are choosing to have an elective cesarean section.
Women should seek medical advice from their healthcare providers about an elective c-section versus vaginal birth. There are many articles about the risks involved in a c-section, but very few on vaginal birth. Women need to be informed about both. Although it may be convenient for the mother to have a c-section, it may not be for the baby. Now, cesarean sections are not recommended before thirty-nine weeks as it poses many health risks to the mother and baby. The healthcare industry is trying to reduce unnecessary c-sections, and therefore many commercial insurances require that the procedure be medically necessary.
Since an “elective” c-section is not medically necessary, doctors will not perform the surgery. Women need to wait their pregnancy out until their due date. The baby will arrive when he or she is ready. Elective c-sections are not financially and physically beneficial to women today. The cost of a c-section alone is $50,000 and only in the United States is pregnancy billed separately. Even removing the placenta can be coded as a separate charge. The recovery time for a c-section is six weeks, but can be more if the mother had complications.
It is a serious abdominal surgery that requires the mother to rest as often as she can. This can be difficult to do with a newborn that needs to be fed every two hours. Also, mothers are less likely to breastfeed their baby due to pain at the incision site as well as being unable to find a comfortable position to feed the baby. In an uncomplicated vaginal birth, mothers stay in the hospital for two days and pay less. The recovery time is also much quicker and there are less complications.
