Im Not Feeling Right About Having a C Section.

Doctors do not push c-sections.

I had 2.
Why?
Because with my first born, it was an emergency. Otherwise my daughter could have died.
With my 2nd child, I had a c-section, which was MY choice. My Doctor did not push me to it or make me or anything. It was my choice. I did not want to risk a VBAC or another fetal emergency.

I have never had a doctor push for it and no it does not make them more money. It may cost more but they make less because of the risks involved.

I have never known of a doctor that pushed for c-sections. They have very strict guidelines/criteria that need to be met. A history needs to be documented on a patients record supporting the reason for the c-section. The majority do not just randomly do them because someone wants one. There are exceptions and some doctors might document something like "low amniotic fluid" to meet criteria. I had a friend that was an OB/GYN.

You need to give us more information. Doctors don't push C-sections to make money. They give medical advice and guidance and recommend the best solution for each patient. Why does your doctor think you should have a C-section? Why do you think you shouldn't?

well depends on WHY your having it. Is there concern, had you had one previous? Guess if there is risk and they are worried then they have a right... if they are flat out just telling you, then I would ask for other options and the risk factor.

You can't really answer this question. There are reasons for and against it; times when it's necessary, times when it's not.

Both of my children have been sections. I would've died during childbirth with the first one...and the second one was required by my clinic, which doesn't allow VBACs, but she was breech as well and never turned.

I don't think doctors push for it in the sense that they are going to make more money...they're not on commission selling products. However, I do think it's overused because doctors are afraid of being sued if this or that goes wrong.

I always tell women who ask about C sections to please watch The Business of Being Born or Pregnant in America. "emergency" c-sections are more like emergencies that could have been avoided had modern medicine not *caused* the emergencies.

Strap a woman in bed, with tubes everywhere, fill her with labor inducing Pitocin, then add pain meds, then increase pitocin because the pain meds reduced its strength. Now the baby is being squeezed harder and longer (ie harder and longer contractions) than if the mother had not had any labor inducing pitocin OR pain meds. When baby is squeezed harder it loses oxygen, baby's heart rate drops, etc after a few hours of this, it is now an 'emergency' because the baby has been in STRESS for HOURS because of the doctors pumping the mother with meds. Now an "emergency" c-section has to happen when it didn't really have to to begin with. Makes me sick.

(BTW by World Health Organization standards the US has one of the worst C-section rates in the entire world. Our rates are HUGE compared to other industrialized countries. Just for kicks I'll tell you, a midwife knows how to deliver a breech baby naturally. Guess what? Medical institutions are forbidden to teach new doctors how to deliver a breech baby except by c-sention. Why, you ask? Becuase the pharmaceutical companies pay the medical schools not to teach the new doctors! Our health care in this country is almost laughable!)

BTW I'm all for ACTUAL emergency c-sections, as in the doctors didn't meddle with the mother to cause he to need a c-section, it was just a major complication.

I have had 3 children and my Dr. didn't push for c section with any of them and I delivered all 3 vaginally.

Not sure what answer you are looking for?

I had three kids and my doctors never once brought it up.
Of course I had healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies. I suppose if there was a valid reason for a c section I would consider it, why not? I never cared much HOW I gave birth, I only cared about what was best for my baby and myself.

I agree that more info is needed.

I will give my personal feelings on the matter though. I had an emergency c-section with my 1st and then a planned c with the 2nd. I really wish now that I had tried to deliver my 2nd vaginally. I realize that there would have been risks and I may have ended up having another c-section, but I really think if possible it is best if mother nature sends you in to labor and things progress from there.

M.

My daughter Abby was born in October. I had a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy. My birth plan was to do it naturally, walk the halls, bounce on a ball, had a great friend who offered to come sit at the hospital, she used to be a birthing doula. I felt like my body was designed to do this, and I wanted it. I am in no way,shape or form a hippie, or doubt western medicine. I just wanted to avoid it if I could.

During the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy, my blood pressure was a little high. They started watching me closer. I ended up being induced due to my blood pressure being a little high. I labored for 27 hours... my daughter decided that she didn't want to come down any further, and I couldn't dilate past 3cm, even with the help of pitocin, and cervadil.

I went in at 4pm on a monday, my daughter was delivered via C-Section at 7:11pm Tuesday night. My doctor discovered when she did the c-section that Abby's cord was wrapped around her neck 2 times. She would've died if I had tried a vaginal birth.

Trust your doctor's judgement. I know that my doctor and the dr that delivered me are not in it to make excessive amounts of money.

I've had both a Vaginal birth and a C-section. Yes the Vaginal birth was much more pleasant. But when I had the c-section, it was kind of an urgent situation and I could tell the doctors were trying to steer me toward another vaginal birth, it just couldn't end up happening and they rushed me off to the operating room. I'll skip the details but it felt like a necessity, not like it was just the whims of the doctor. I could tell they were putting a lot of thought into what steps to take. Nothing suspicious about it.

And honestly, once the baby was in my arms I didn't care how she got there (both times).

I had a c section with my son 5 years ago and honestly wanted one this time. I did discuss I with my dr and due toy inscion I'm not a good candidate for a VBAC. And he doesn't support them anyways due to liability reason. Personally i think once you have a c section no dr should force you to do a VBAC if you don't want to. If you want to spend the money and pain for recovery that should be a womans choice.

It does make them tons more money... because at that point anesthesia isn't an option (epidurals are huge money makers too, as are the interventions which makes normal birth more painful to beg for one).

Cesareans should be due to emergency situations, not just because, or you want to pick your infant's birthday, etc. If you feel the OB was pushing you, go to another or better yet - go to a Midwife!!

If you are not feeling right about anything in your pregnancy, including your delivery options, you should talk to your doctor directly about your feelings and demand straight answers. If you don't feel like your relationship with your doctor is good, or you are feeling bullied, consider finding a new doctor who puts you at ease. Even if your situation demands a c-section, your doctor should be reassuring and explain the reason to you in a way that makes you feel good about it.

R.,
It all depends on why he wants you to have a c-section I had one because my 2nd baby was breech (sitting). My 1st one was a natural delivery and I had a lot of problems afterwards, but my C-section was a blessing. I gave birth on a wednesday and went to my husbands graduation ceremony on saturday (just the ceremony, not the party), for me a C-section was way better than a natural delivery. Ask your doctor why he wants a C-section and find out if a C-section is actually better for that situation. Talk to your doctor, the more you communicate with him the better.

A C-section should only be used for a medical emergency. Otherwise there are solutions for just about every other circumstance. I'd have to know the situation you are in to give you more detailed information, but that's the simple answer. It is harder on both the mother and child to have a c-section. Here's some comprehensive research on vaginal vs cesarean birth
http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10166
Good luck and Congratulations!
J.

I do not think you should schedule a c-section unless there is a medical reason for one. If your doctor is pushing it for no good reason you should really consider getting a new doctor. I only had a c-section bc after a long labor and 5 hrs of pushing my son's vital signs started going down...so we had to do a c-section in the end. I did not want one but at that point I was very happy we had that option. Don't have one if you do not have to!

Like the other moms stated, it costs them more due to the risks involved. We need more info. I do know more and more women are requesting them, but that doesn't mean they get one. Some ppl don't want to go through a vaginal delivery but recoup time for a c-section longer. With more info we could help more!

I've have 3 kids...vaginal delivery, c-section, VBAC. The c-section was for reasons beyond anyone's control. My doctors were very supportive of my VBAC. It's your body. They can't make you have a c-section unless it is medically necessary.

It depends on the reason for the c-section. C-sections are riskier for mom and baby except in some situations where the vaginal delivery would be riskier-- certain health problems for baby, certain infections, and a few other cases.

I work in the field and yes, doctors do push c-sections for their convenience. They do get paid more, and it saves them from having to come in to the hospital in the middle of the night.

I think c-sections are fine as long as they are medically neccessary. Is your doctor trying to push you into a c-section? I ended up needing a c-section with my first one because I had failure to progress past 6 cm after 28 hours of labor, and a uterine infection. My second and third ones were repeat c-sections. I didn't want to risk a vbac. Money was not an issue at my hospital. I gave birth at a military hospital, with all military doctors, and they don't get anything extra for c-sections.

Yes, surgical birth costs more than vaginal birth. However, it is important to know why your doctor is recommending a c-section. I had a scheduled c-section with my second daughter because I had complications from high blood pressure (they ended up having to move the date up from the originally scheduled date). In addition, my previous (emergency) c-section incision was such that uterine rupture was more common when doing VBAC. Also, many doctor's insurance coverage does not allow for VBACs.

If you are a good candidate for VBAC of course you should consider it but you should also understand why your doctor is recommending a c-section and make an informed choice. Best of luck.

I've seen them prefer them more for the simple fact that they have control over as to when the baby will be born. Helps with their scheduling and keeps from having to come in to deliver a baby after hours, etc. Selfish, yes, wrong, yes but not all doctors do that however. If you aren't comfortable with it and there's no medical reason for it, then object to it. You have that right. If you had one prior doctors tend to prefer to do another one because of that. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.

I had a c-section with my 1st and then a VBAC for my 2nd. I think there were valid reasons as to why i had my c-section, though it was an unplanned, urgent section. I had a lot of complications post section, physically and emotionally. My cousin, however, had 2 planned c-sections and everything was fine. I was determined not to have a c-section the 2nd time and was blessed with a wonderful doctor and was able to get my VBAC.

I think more people do make more money off of a c-section because you involve different staff, O.R., etc. I think one of the main benefits to elective c-sections is that the doctor can conveniently schedule the procedure for when he/she wants to do it. So if you're feeling like there isn't a real reason, then maybe this could be the root of it. Also, size of baby should not be a determining factor, though it is often seen as the easier, simpler route.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns. It is best to feel comfortable with your situation even if it means changing doctors!

OB's are actually SURGEONS -- it's a surgical specialty in the medical field. So some of them push for c-sections. And they do get paid more for it. But they shouldn't be pushing you to have a c-section unless it is a medical necessity. If you are not feeling right about it, you need to discuss it more with your doctor, find out the reasons for it, etc. If you haven't had a child before, is there a reason he won't consider a "trial of labor" to see if you are capable of having your baby vaginally? If it's not too late in the game, switch providers if you are feeling pressured. Even if it is pretty late in your pregnancy, get a second opinion. While c-sections can be pretty routine, they are major surgery and should be considered carefully.
Good luck to you!

What are the circustances?

I love California, bc our rate of c-section is low, especially compared to the east coast. I would never ever have a c-section unless it was imperative to the lives of my baby and myself. And I don't think drs get paid more for a c-section...

Doctors tend to rely on caution in this very litigious society!!! While my doctor was open to a VBAC there was some hesitation I admit. I didn't want a C-section to begin with but didn't have a choice. #1 just wouldn't come out after 22 hours and there were issues with meconium. #2 drat that lil' boy but he was a breach one so no VBAC for #2. With #3 I just scheduled a C-section. It's not the worst thing in the world if you can't have a VBAC. The drawback is now I'd like a tummy tuck to help the droop. :)

Make sure you are firm in your desire for a VBAC if you want and if possible and no health risks.

Most doctors are paid a salary by their medical group. They are employees of a clinic. Money has nothing to do with their decisions.

Some doctors are going to be more cautious than others, so if you feel that this is not the right decision for you, get a second opinion.

My first c-section was an emergency. We could have both died. My second was scheduled because I have urological issues and my urologist said she recommended I have another c-section. (She did not push for it, and she would only be affected by the outcome if I didn't get one and it caused me to need to see her.)

In the end I did have a c-section. Partly because I'm a wuss, partly because my husband still had "old school" fears that VBAC's are dangerous, partly because of my other health issues.

Turns out, my son was breech and none of our contemplating or discussions mattered as my OB would not have done a VBAC with a breech baby.

Ask questions, find out your doctor's concerns, get a second opinion. You have to do what you honestly believe is best for you and your baby, but you also have to remember that your doctor might have very legitimate concerns and he/she went to medical school and you didn't.

The doctors who are bad doctors push for it for no reason. Good doctors don't unless there is a valid reason. And nothing is set in stone before going into labor unless there is a physical reason why a woman cannot deliver vaginally.

It's easy to sit in judgment on the subject of c-sections. But until it is YOU laying on that table, it is best to not say that they are inappropriate. Your body, your baby. Their bodies, their babies. Women and babies died in yesteryears because c-sections were not safe. Things are much safer now.

Dawn

C-sections are fine when medically necessary. It is definitely your choice, but listen to the doctors reasons and make an informed decision. Both of my children were c-sections due to their size. I delivered both children at 37 weeks and over 10 pounds. The doctor said I could try vaginally, but there was a possibility of having to break the collar bone to get her out....I heard "break baby" and decided to not even try. If you feel your doctor is pushing you into a c-section for the wrong reasons, is it possible for you to find a new doctor?

Mine were both c-sections. First was an emergency after 28 hours of labor and broken water. My first OB told me that my chances of having a vaginally birth were slim to none so I wanted to go ahead and schedule the c-section with baby #2 but my OB would not listen. He insisted that I try vaginally. I was pissed that he wouldn't listen to me or the other OB. My second birth could have been so much smoother and less stressful if the doctor had listened to me.

I'm thankful that this was a procedure that was available. For me, I really don't care about the money because this procedure saved my life and my daughters!

If you aren't feeling right about it, it is completely within your right to discuss it with your doctor further. Both of my children were born via c-section - the first was an emergency after a full night of labor, and the second was planned after a lot of discussions with my OB. I don't think I was pushed at all. My doctor and I talked about several pros/cons, about what my plan was for future kids, etc. I honestly think if you feel your dr is pressuring you to have a c-section solely due to money, you might want a new dr. If there are valid medical concerns, you should just ask your dr. for more information. This might make you feel more comfortable about the decision. Ultimately, I think the decision should be yours (barring any unforeseen emergencies) and should be something you feel comfortable with.

Hash it out with your doctor and don't hold back. With my second baby I didn't want to be induced until 40 wks, she wanted to induce earlier due to the ultrasound which was showing him to possibly be a 'big' baby, which I thought was hogwash bc late term ultrasound is so notoriously inaccurate. Anyway I took all my concerns to her, shared what I had found in my journey of research and came to a solution we could both live with. She started me the night before I would be 40 wks and I was able to deliver quickly the next morning. So I think you need to talk to your doctor about the reasons he/she wants to do the c. Research for yourself those reasons or share them on this board and get all of our opinions if you are brave! There is no way from your post any of us know what is going on with you or your doctor's motivation. My best advice is to have a candid talk with the doctor, you hired them and they work for you, you have every right to question and then make the best decision for you and your baby, of course giving great consideration to the advice of your doctor. Good luck!

My doctor never brought up c-section until I did. I planned on having a vaginal birth, but I wanted my doctor to know that if there were complications that I'm okay with having a c-section, but I wanted it to be a last resort. After pushing for well over an hour and trying every technique to get my daughter out, she did not make any progress and was in distress, so we went for a c-section. I'm so glad I talked about it with my doctor before because to be confronted with that decision at the moment would of been too much. If you do feel pressured, find another doctor. While doctors that pressure do exist, I still believe they are in the minority.

I would need more info. but on my personal experience I had my first daughter for C-section. I was losing Amniotic fluid for more then 24 hours, there was risk of infection and I had no contractions what so ever.
For my second one I had a good pregnancy, still, my doctor did push for a C-section with no other reason than because I had a C-section already, which I have to point it was 10 years apart of my second pregnancy and I was in very good shape.
I didn't accept that decition based on that only reason so I look for a second opinion and I had my second daughter natural, and no problems what so ever.
I think C-section are some times necessary for you, your baby or both, other times however, "some" doctors would prefer the convenience of a C-section.
I very important that you trust your doctor and you talk to him, why he wants you to have a C-section?
Inform your self, and then take a decision.

They don't get more money.

Why does your doctor want you to have c-section? Are you being pressured into an elective c-section? Or...do you have health reasons where you should plan for c-section? If I were you, I would plan for vaginal delivery and if something goes unplanned/wrong etc. have a c-section. Its definitely a necessity for some women who get into trouble and need it to save their baby's life. If you are feeling pressured by this doctor, see if you can switch to another in the practice.....Sorry, I am confused by the post.