The Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a C-Section

When you find out that you’re pregnant, you have a lot of major decisions to make. Yes, you need to decide about breast vs. bottle and whether or not you want to use childcare. But before making any of those decisions, you’ll need to decide how you want to give birth.

The standard way that our bodies are designed to give birth is through our vaginal canal. But sometimes, you may not be able to select this option–or may not choose to do so. Alan Patterson, MD, explains more about the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a C-section.

Who can choose how to give birth?

Most women can choose to give birth vaginally if they so choose. In general, if this is your first baby and you are in overall good general health, you can choose to give birth vaginally if you want, which Dr Patterson encourages for the vast majority of his patients. 

However, if you prefer to give birth by C-section, you can often select this option, too. Discuss your options with Dr. Patterson if you’re trying to make the right decision for you.

Conditions when you need a C-section

Some women know from early in their pregnancies that they will probably not be good candidates for a vaginal birth.

Certain health conditions make it unwise–and possibly dangerous–to pursue a vaginal birth. In these circumstances, you should choose a C-section instead. These conditions include the following:

• Pregnancy with multiples
• Fetal macrosomia (the baby is too large)
• Breech presentation (the baby’s feet are first, rather than its head)
• High blood pressure
• Previous C-sections
• Problems with the placenta
• Diabetes 
• Women with a clinically small pelvis or history of a pelvic fracture.

Other issues can also warrant a planned C-section instead of a vaginal birth.

The advantages of a C-section

Having a C-section is sometimes viewed as in some way being inferior to a vaginal birth, but this isn’t the case. Don’t let anyone else make you feel ashamed of how your baby is born! The most important thing is having a healthy child, regardless of how he or she comes into the world and for you , the mother, to be healthy.

The advantages of a planned C-section include the following:

• You can avoid labor, which may be prolonged or especially painful
• You can actually schedule it for the ideal time to work around your schedule (within reason)
• You don’t have to worry about injury to your perineum or vagina
• Many people have anxiety about childbirth
• You’re monitored for safety throughout the entire birth experience
• You can go through a long labor, get all the way dilated, and push for up to 2-3 hours and then end up with a C-section because the head is stuck in the vaginal canal.

Having a C-section gives you a lot more control over the entire experience, which some people prefer.

The disadvantages of a C-section

However, having a C-section certainly isn’t a walk in the park. There are several disadvantages to having a C-section, even if you recognize that it’s the best option for you. Some of these disadvantages include the following:

• It’s a major surgery with all the risks of infection and complications that may occur
• The recovery period is often longer than for a vaginal birth
• You could have an injury to other organs as an effect of the surgery
• You’ll be numb from the waist down for more than a couple of hours

Many of these complications are reduced by choosing an experienced provider.

If you already know that you’ll give birth by C-section, don’t fret. Dr. Patterson is an experienced provider who will make the experience as comfortable as possible. Contact him today at his Coral Springs, FL office or request an appointment online.