caesareans DO save lives

[Josh]

I have just been convinced that a c/s does save the life of mum and or mum and bub, I have major placenta praevia, which has actually got worse over the last few wks, and I know that if I was to give birth in the old days, it would be certain death, so I am just thankful for this modern life saving procedure.:yelclap::yes:

[naiwen]

Jodie9 I am sorry you have this but you seem too be coping well, you are right they do save lives, both me and my son would be dead if it were not for caesareans, we are an extreem case though!

[AM]

c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.

Glad you and bub came through it all OK :)

ETA: You haven't had it yet, have you??

[Freya]

c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.

Glad you and bub came through it all OK :)


:iagree:

:)

[punkbaby]

c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.

Glad you and bub came through it all OK :)

ETA: You haven't had it yet, have you??


:iagree:

Good to hear bubs and you are ok :hugs:

[Ffrenchknickers]

Absolutely they save lives:yes:

Most people who speak out about C-sections speak out about the overuse and rising numbers of uneccessary ones being performed, I dont know anyone that would deny that they have their place in saving the lives of mums and bubs in a medical emergency.

[jag5000]

my ob after my last caesar said "thank god you decided not to try a vbac, your scar was so thin it would have ruptured for sure" :eek:

[neekynoo]

absolutely they do :iagree: DD wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the doctors who knew I didn't have time to be induced and they needed to get bub "out now". Thank god for there foresight. :yelclap:

[4babycinos]

c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.

:iagree:

[Cordelia]

There absolutely is a place for them. Thank goodness!

[naiwen]

What I have noticed is that mums who know that they had them as life saving surgery and know for sure that they and their babies would have died without that surgery tend to be at peace with having had one. It seems to be more the mums who felt they were pressured into an unnecesary CS that feel upset and unhappy about it.
(obviously I was upset that my son was in NICU but I am not upset that I had a ceaser IYKWIM).

Anyway thank god for caesars I say!

[our little treasures]

c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.

?

:iagree::yelclap:

I agree with Ffrenchstar as well.. I don't think one person would dispute the need to have a true emergency cs.. It's just that so many are told their baby is going to die when that was not the truth. I know this as I have had first hand experience on the pressure for a cs and refused, my dd is gorgeous healthy and very smart - obviously I didn't need an emergency cs for her or my health!!

[spiritedbirth]

my ob after my last caesar said "thank god you decided not to try a vbac, your scar was so thin it would have ruptured for sure" :eek:
__________________



This is exactly what I am talking about scare tatics that obstetricians use to ensure Mum has the fear of god put into them regarding birth...

With the utmost respect to you, your obstetrician would never be able to predict if you uterus was going to rupture or not!!


c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.


Very well said I agree they are appropriate in saving lives when an emergency strikes!

Thank goodness you and baby are fine and all is well :thumbsup:

Becky

[SassyDiva]

My beautiful DS wouldn't be here without it.

Its really scarry to think of the 100's of thousands of women who have died during child birth, thanks to modern medicine this is no longer the case.

I disagree with the whole too posh to push or people seeking to have a c/s due to cosmetic reasons, that grates a nerve I have to say

[SassyDiva]

What I have noticed is that mums who know that they had them as life saving surgery and know for sure that they and their babies would have died without that surgery tend to be at peace with having had one. It seems to be more the mums who felt they were pressured into an unnecesary CS that feel upset and unhappy about it.
(obviously I was upset that my son was in NICU but I am not upset that I had a ceaser IYKWIM).

Anyway thank god for caesars I say!

Well said, :iagree: 100%

[tickle]

You are right J&Jmum, it is a misconception that more women are choosing c/sections. The higher rate of c/sections is due to the rising number of unnecessary caesareans performed by obstetricians.

I had a caesarean for the same reasons Jodie, I'm glad you are feeling ok about it all. Good luck. :)

[~Emmylou~]

Caesareans certainly do save lives and thank god we have them - for women and bubs like you who need them.

[Silvana]

My pre-eclampsia continued to worsen after they tried to induce me. I was 38 weeks. I don't what would have happened, if I didn't have a caesar. I was induced 24 hours before my caesar, with little improvement and worsening pre-eclampsia.

In the old days, it is not likely that I would have survived.

[shed]

I agree and don't believe it has ever been called into question that caesareans can save the lives of babies who may otherwise not have made it. They are a truly wonderful invention.

I don't believe that 30% death rate has ever been reached in the history of the species however, and that's the caesarean section rate, so what's the explanation for that.

it would appear that SOME caesareans save lives, and we are all very happy about those that do.

[sockstealingpoltergeist]

This is exactly what I am talking about scare tatics that obstetricians use to ensure Mum has the fear of god put into them regarding birth...

With the utmost respect to you, your obstetrician would never be able to predict if you uterus was going to rupture or not!!



Very well said I agree they are appropriate in saving lives when an emergency strikes!

Thank goodness you and baby are fine and all is well :thumbsup:

Becky

With the utmost respect to you- how can you say that Ob did not in fact know what he was talking about. Clearly he wasn't trying to prevent what had allready happend (a c sect) just telling her how lucky she was, Most Ob's do not make those sort of statements without reason. Of course he can't predict , however I would believe his educated guess.
I say thank go for C sectiona as an alternative birthing choice for women.

[Mummaholic]

With the utmost respect to you- how can you say that Ob did not in fact know what he was talking about. Clearly he wasn't trying to prevent what had allready happend (a c sect) just telling her how lucky she was, Most Ob's do not make those sort of statements without reason. Of course he can't predict , however I would believe his educated guess.
I say thank go for C sectiona as an alternative birthing choice for women.

:iagree:

Although I understand there are both good and bad OBs - they are experts and do not always lie to women about these things.

[shed]

I have never heard of an OB who says "oh, sorry, actually you probably didn't need that caesarean after all".

Of course they want you to think it was needed.

People have to decide for themselves. Many people are angry and traumatised to discover that their caesarean probably wasn't needed. And others just prefer to remain oblivious to it. I can't say I blame them either, it would be awful to go through it when you didn't have to.

[sam's mum]

One of the worst nightmares that I have is the thought that I may have lived back in history before women survived cs.

I had a placenta praevia with DS (Thank God for ultrasounds as well) and my waters broke early with DD (34 weeks) and I never went into labour.

without the 2 cs that I had :crying:, I wouldn't have survived the first birth. I am not sure how I would have gone with the second, without the antibiotics I would have been in trouble for starters, I am sure I would have started labour eventually, but she was nearly a gonner at 37 weeks due to low, low fluid, at term???

[BeautifulBoys]

c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.

Glad you and bub came through it all OK


ETA: You haven't had it yet, have you??

:iagree:


This is exactly what I am talking about scare tatics that obstetricians use to ensure Mum has the fear of god put into them regarding birth...

With the utmost respect to you, your obstetrician would never be able to predict if you uterus was going to rupture or not!!



Very well said I agree they are appropriate in saving lives when an emergency strikes!

Thank goodness you and baby are fine and all is well :thumbsup:

Becky


:iagree:However when they open you up wouldn't they be able to see how thin the cervix is? RE:vbac
Is that why the ob said thankgod we did the c-section.
Im aiming for a vbac now!!!!!!!!!!!!!:smiliedance:

[jag5000]

With the utmost respect to you- how can you say that Ob did not in fact know what he was talking about. Clearly he wasn't trying to prevent what had allready happend (a c sect) just telling her how lucky she was, Most Ob's do not make those sort of statements without reason. Of course he can't predict , however I would believe his educated guess.
I say thank go for C sectiona as an alternative birthing choice for women.

thanks for phrasing that so well! :) I was going to reply but thought I'd just leave it, I couldn't think how to say what I wanted to in a non-hostile way. you've summed up it up beautifully :hugs:




Although I understand there are both good and bad OBs - they are experts and do not always lie to women about these things.

well said!

I have as much healthy scepticism about the medical community as the next person - but why do so many people assume that OB's lie to women? esp. when there is a C/S involved?

I totally believe my OB and what he said (which, btw, was backed up by his assistant and the midwife) .. the main reason I believe him is because he didn't talk me into having a c-sect! I chose to have it, I chose not to VBAC.. all by my little old self - no scare tactics or 'fear of god' involved from the doctor

not that I want to get into a debate (again!) but isn't the whole point the womans right to choose?

[shed]

I have as much healthy scepticism about the medical community as the next person - but why do so many people assume that OB's lie to women? esp. when there is a C/S involved?


I have built my impression of this by reading about other women's experiences. They have had surgery then got their notes and discovered that it was unnecessary. I have been reading birth related type forums for a couple of years now and these stories just keep cropping up, time after time after time after time.

I haven't had personal experience because I have never seen an OB. I just go by what people who have lived through it tell me.

I am not assuming the OB is lying. I am being told it categorically by the people who have been lied to. I believe them. They have lived it, so I assume they are telling it because its the truth as they see it. You may see it differently.

Not that I care anyway, I would never hire an OB so the only time I will ever see one will be when I know for sure that I need surgery, not after I have had my labour so interfered with that one becomes necessary. There is a big difference between a caesarean that is really needed and a caesarean that becomes necessary because the woman's labour was so interfered with that the baby doesn't stand a chance without surgery.

I know people who have had both situations (in their own opinions, not mine, my opinion doesn't matter, theirs does).

[Shanaynay]

why do so many people assume that OB's lie to women? esp. when there is a C/S involved?

I don't think they neccessarily lie. Some of them are just idiots. Some are guessing.
My Ob told me I couldn't birth because my pelvis was too small. Did I think he was lying? No, just guessing. Oh and he guessed wrong seeing as I went on to birth a bub with bigger head 2 years later :)

[spiritedbirth]

With the utmost respect to you- how can you say that Ob did not in fact know what he was talking about. Clearly he wasn't trying to prevent what had allready happend (a c sect) just telling her how lucky she was, Most Ob's do not make those sort of statements without reason. Of course he can't predict , however I would believe his educated guess.
I say thank go for C sectiona as an alternative birthing choice for women.


Of course he cannot predict, but you stated in your original post he said it would have ruptured for sure...

I did not say he did not know what he was talking about, he sounds like he was pretty 100% certain to me!! What I am saying is how would he have known it would have ruptured for sure without you going into labour and it happening (which I am glad it didn't of course)

It was a stupid statement for him to say and awful for all those mums wanting a Vbac as research clearly shows it is a very mininmal risk that the uterus will rupture. He has probably convinced you that a vaginal birth is out of the question if you ever wanted one another baby! Uterine rupture can happen even in any labour with no previous scar..they are not going to open you up in a normal pregnancy and see if you are at risk of your uterus rupturing....are they??



not that I want to get into a debate (again!) but isn't the whole point the womans right to choose?


and


Most Ob's do not make those sort of statements without reason. Of course he can't predict , however I would believe his educated guess.


Yes exactly. Many, many women are having the right to birth their baby the way they want taken away from them because of an obstetricians educated guess!!!

My rant is yes c/s saves lives when used correctly but when used to help with obs own personal situation eg. finances, timing, convenience etc.. it really peeves me off!!

[Mamalicious]

With the utmost respect to you- how can you say that Ob did not in fact know what he was talking about. Clearly he wasn't trying to prevent what had allready happend (a c sect) just telling her how lucky she was, Most Ob's do not make those sort of statements without reason. Of course he can't predict , however I would believe his educated guess.
I say thank go for C sectiona as an alternative birthing choice for women.

:iagree::yes::yelclap:

[susmamma]

Without doubt my sister ended up having a c/s because her ob had started an induction on a woman who was only two days overdue (was already dilated 1cm when she arrived for the induction and they went ahead and put the drip up anyway... madness?!)
Her ob was going on holidays so it had to be done that day or someone else would need to induce her later in the week...
This lead to painful contractions, epidural to cope, stalled labour, artificial breaking of waters, failure to progress.... please come for a c/section.
After the birth my sisters milk didnt come in, so on day 4 the ob told her to give up breastfeeding and bottle feed instead as her 4 kilo baby had already been on the bottle for the last four days there was no point in continuing.

And my sister thinks she has the best ob in the world... :confused:
Took the better part of two months to tie my tongue to the roof of my car so I wouldnt YELL my head off about how blink'n useless her OB was.

However, having said that. I had a c/s with my second baby. Best delivery I ever had (well out of the two i'd experienced). My vb was a shocker and left me in a fairly buggered up state. After much angst and wringing of hands and having tests done on my rectum (terribly humilating to have things proded up your bum at 7months preggas) but the upshot was in order to save future colostomy bag (or the potential if things went badly again) I opted for a c/s. My bum, is in great nick now (hmmm yes probs too much info... sorry!) and I dont regret the c/s for a second... although I do wish a part of me had braved another vb just to see if i could have done it without tearing from here to timbucktoo again.

Nuff said. :p

[Mummaholic]

After the birth my sisters milk didnt come in, so on day 4 the ob told her to give up breastfeeding and bottle feed instead as her 4 kilo baby had already been on the bottle for the last four days there was no point in continuing.

That's sad. I wonder why she took advice on breastfeeding from her OB? It's not their specialty - a paed or lactation consultant, sure...but I would not be taking breast feeding advice from an ob???

[susmamma]

That's sad. I wonder why she took advice on breastfeeding from her OB? It's not their specialty - a paed or lactation consultant, sure...but I would not be taking breast feeding advice from an ob???

You got me?
:confused:

I never even heard of an OB who tells a woman to stop bf'ing on day 4??? :confused:

[sockstealingpoltergeist]

That's sad. I wonder why she took advice on breastfeeding from her OB? It's not their specialty - a paed or lactation consultant, sure...but I would not be taking breast feeding advice from an ob???
I've never heard of it either. I think I would have gotten a second opinion from a Paed.

I know that some women are very upset that they had what they deemed unessecary C sections, I feel for those women, and it's sad. However I know alot of women who arn't "In denial" they are just glad that their babies are alive. Thats fine as well- not everyone is going to be happy whatever decisions they make, or others make, however most people are!

[shed]

I can think of two women, straight off the top of my head, who were told to give their baby formula until their milk came in, by their OB.

One of them was the women in the bed next to mine at the hospital, the other was the wife of DP's workmate who gave birth two days after me.

Happens.

[jag5000]

yeah - not going to get into the whole C/S vs vag birth thing :no: that debate has been there done that..

I'll just say the same thing I always do;

I believe in a woman's right to choose the birth they want, with no judgement from anyone.

I believe women should seek advise from different (reputable) sources and be informed and educated about their birth choices.

I just don't like the implication that I have had 2 C/S's due to my own blind trust in doctors... um, no.. I am well educated and informed and made MY choice and I am very happy about it - I have had 2 wonderful births and wish that for all mothers regardless of the choice they make about their birth options. :)

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

yeah - not going to get into the whole C/S vs vag birth thing :no: that debate has been there done that..

I'll just say the same thing I always do;

I believe in a woman's right to choose the birth they want, with no judgement from anyone.

I believe women should seek advise from different (reputable) sources and be informed and educated about their birth choices.

I just don't like the implication that I have had 2 C/S's due to my own blind trust in doctors... um, no.. I am well educated and informed and made MY choice and I am very happy about it - I have had 2 wonderful births and wish that for all mothers regardless of the choice they make about their birth options. :)

I have to say I agree with you here, whether you choose to homebirth, vbac, have a c-section, have your baby hanging upside down, it should be your choice and knowing all the options you can make an educated choice about any birth option...no choice any mother makes should be considered wrong or right by another person simply cos they wouldnt make that choice themselves.
CSections save lives but are also a credible birthing option should someone choose it...I have experienced both types and I am totally at ease with both...ultimately I have two beautiful babies, and my 2nd planned c section was the most beautiful experience for me and that is the most important thing to me...
I have not btw met an ob who encourages csect over vaginal birth...is that because I had public system babies?

[shed]

I do agree that women should have the final say in their birth choice, but please keep in mind that the baby has rights as well and there are implications to each type of birth method and some of them carry more risk to the baby than others.

I think this is why many people are concerned about the rising rate of surgical birth. They are concerned about the baby as this method of birth does have its drawbacks and is much more complicated than just being another birthing choice like items on a menu.

[Fuchsia!]

I do agree that women should have the final say in their birth choice, but please keep in mind that the baby has rights as well and there are implications to each type of birth method and some of them carry more risk to the baby than others.

I think this is why many people are concerned about the rising rate of surgical birth. They are concerned about the baby as this method of birth does have its drawbacks and is much more complicated than just being another birthing choice like items on a menu.
:iagree:


yeah - not going to get into the whole C/S vs vag birth thing :no: that debate has been there done that..

I'll just say the same thing I always do;

I believe in a woman's right to choose the birth they want, with no judgement from anyone.

I believe women should seek advise from different (reputable) sources and be informed and educated about their birth choices.

I just don't like the implication that I have had 2 C/S's due to my own blind trust in doctors... um, no.. I am well educated and informed and made MY choice and I am very happy about it - I have had 2 wonderful births and wish that for all mothers regardless of the choice they make about their birth options. :)

The thing is SOME women completely trust their OB and don't make an educated choice and informed decision. They let a OB decide what is best. Thats the thing that scares me. I believe some OB's don't have the woman best interest, but their own. It scares the hell out of me.

Babies have rights too, they should be considered in the decision making as well. I had an elective C/S with my 2nd baby. I was very well informed and i had weighed up the benifeits and a C/S was the best option for us. Not once did my OB tell me of the complications, or even spoke to me about it. He just agreed with me and book me into his schedule. Lucky for me i was educated and knew what i was getting myself into. Some woman just go into it blind sighted and i know of a few and now they regret it and have a traumatic time about it.

I agree that C/S save lives, thank goodness for that! But it can also ruin and even kill woman when unessecary C/S are preformed

[forbetoel]

c/s were developed as true life saving surgery, and are brilliant as that, it is just the blatant overuse of them which is quite sickening.

Glad you and bub came through it all OK :)

ETA: You haven't had it yet, have you??

:iagree:

An amazing medical procedures that saves lives, and in a lot of cases gives some mums the only chance of being a mother....but they are over used. It is becoming the norm to have a c/s.

[Mummaholic]

I have not btw met an ob who encourages csect over vaginal birth...is that because I had public system babies?

No. Both my private OBs are advocates of natural birth. I have to have a c-section this time for medical reasons but he did not push me into the decision. We talked about it for quite some time and the final say was with me. My last birth (diff OB) was 26 hr labour, vaginal delivery.

[Josh]

I haven't had my bub yet, I am booked for the end of june, but I was told on wednesday that, I have one of the worst cases of placenta praevia, and I am just hoping that I will make it to the end of june without any problems, I am scared beyond reason. I am just so overwhelmingly thankful for the this amazing procedure.:yes:

[susmamma]

I haven't had my bub yet, I am booked for the end of june, but I was told on wednesday that, I have one of the worst cases of placenta praevia, and I am just hoping that I will make it to the end of june without any problems, I am scared beyond reason. I am just so overwhelmingly thankful for the this amazing procedure.:yes:

Dont be scared honey, you'll be fine.
Nice little epidural, a bit of "the police" soundtrack (the music playing in my operating theatre at the time) a couple of tugs and it's all over.

This is a site that has some great info on what to expect on the day of the surgery. I found it really useful... http://users.picknowl.com.au/~caressa/

the site talks about what you can do to ask for ie: can i bfeed my baby on the op table?
can i have my partner and baby in recovery with me?
if i cant bf my baby in the theatre can i have all the babies checks done on a trolley near my head so i can see him/her...

regrettably i was unable to have any of the above, but asking for it and being refused gave me an oportunity to prepare for the fact i would be separated from my newborn whilst in recovery. dh was with lola instead. so when in recovery i focused on the fact this may well be the last time for years that i would be on my own! so i chilled out and didnt stress... i really was able to make the best of the situation, even though i was initially quite dissapointed that i couldnt have the "birth plan" i'd wanted.

And yes. thank god they do have this as an option. My life was turned around from having a positive c/s experience with my second child.

You'll be fine. Just imagine the best team of people assembled to help you deliver your baby, and focus on the fact that it's about healthy baby and healthy mummy (meaning emotionally as well as physically) that makes for a good birth, not which entrance baby comes out of!

:hugs:

[Josh]

Dont be scared honey, you'll be fine.
Nice little epidural, a bit of "the police" soundtrack (the music playing in my operating theatre at the time) a couple of tugs and it's all over.

This is a site that has some great info on what to expect on the day of the surgery. I found it really useful... http://users.picknowl.com.au/~caressa/ (http://users.picknowl.com.au/%7Ecaressa/)

And yes. thank god they do have this as an option. My life was turned around from having a positive c/s experience with my second child.

You'll be fine. Just imagine the best team of people assembled to help you deliver your baby, and focus on the fact that it's about healthy baby and healthy mummy (meaning emotionally as well as physically) that makes for a good birth, not which entrance baby comes out of!

:hugs:

Thanks for that susmama, I have had a emergency c/s for the exact same problem 3 yrs ago, so I sought of know what I am in for, my bub only has one way out at the moment, there is no way possible for him to be born vaginally, the placenta is covering the cervix completely, and has settled nicely there without moving an inch, but I would like to add to other mums that after giving birth 9 times, I dont think that it really matters how our bub's are born, the only thing that matters is the health of mum/baby, at the moment I couldn't care less if they sucked my baby out through my eyeballs :laughing:as long as I am safe and bub is safe, thats all that should matter.:yes:

[Shanaynay]

Have you had a c/s before Jodie?

I would probably ask your hospy and Ob what standard procedures are about how long you'll be in recovery etc... and whether you can have your baby in there with you so you don't get any nasty shocks on the sday, iywkim.
Also if you ask soon, then you have a change to ask them to arrange things how you want eg. have an extra nurse available so you can have bub in recovery, that sort of thing.

ETA: Sorry, you just answered that, I missed it, but yeah, with a planned c/s you have much more chance to make arrangements beforehand etc..