Caesarean section: pros and cons of the operation

Кесарево сечение: плюсы и минусы операции

Caesarean section — is a surgical operation that replaces natural childbirth in cases where it is risky for the mother or child. Increasingly, women who do not have appropriate medical indications resort to it. Their main argument: it doesn pain. The operation is performed under anesthesia, so it is really painless. But this is a surgical procedure, which means there are risks. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of a caesarean section.

Indications for delivery by caesarean section
5 undoubted pluses from mom's point of view
What are the risks for the mother and baby of a caesarean section
Highlights on the pros and cons of caesarean section

Indications for delivery by caesarean section

Doctors insist that a caesarean section should be done only if there is a medical indication. these are:

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Narrow pelvis of the woman in labor. In this case, the baby will not pass through the bone ring, which can end very tragically.
Specific location of the placenta. If it is obstructing the baby's path, surgery is best.
Injuries. If the mother has had spinal injuries, injuries or plastic surgery in the area of the perineum, natural childbirth can be risky.
Diseases. Caesarean section is done for a number of diseases of the pelvic organs, vision, and the cardiovascular system.
Incorrect presentation of the fetus. In this case, natural childbirth can cause suffering for the baby and mother.

Otherwise, natural childbirth is safer. It is not uncommon for doctors to recommend a caesarean section to mothers who have obstetric pathologies that have previously resulted in stillbirths. Such a responsible decision should only be made by a specialist.

5 unconditional pluses from mom's point of view

Women choosing caesarean have their own weighty arguments in in favor of the operation, although not all of them are unambiguous:

The ability to avoid risks. If a normal birth is dangerous to the health of the mother or baby, a caesarean section should definitely be performed.
Painless. Ability to feel nothing during — — the greatest boon for women who are afraid of pain. But it's not so simple. Firstly, not every natural childbirth is accompanied by severe suffering (especially if they are not the first), plus anesthesia can be done. And & nbsp; secondly, the pain will come after the operation, and it will last much longer than normal childbirth.
Knowing the exact date of birth of the baby. Many pregnant women are afraid of the unknown. They are afraid that the birth will begin suddenly, in a crowded place, or, conversely, in complete solitude, when they will not be able to call for help. The operation relieves such experiences.
Quick delivery. The operation takes about 40 minutes instead of many hours of natural delivery.
The full responsibility of doctors. Many mothers are terrified of making some mistake during childbirth and damaging the baby. Cesarean section is completely on the conscience of doctors, and it helps the woman in labor to cope with her fears.

On the plus side, everything looks almost perfect. Some inconvenience may occur only for women who have planned children-weather. The next birth by caesarean section is possible no earlier than 2 years.

What are the risks for the mother and baby of a caesarean section

After the operation, the body recovers longer than after natural childbirth, but this is not the only disadvantage of the operation. There are also risks to the health of the mother and child:

Infection. Infection of the pelvic organs cannot be ruled out. Kidneys, bladder may be affected.
Blood loss. Your body will need more than one day to recover. All this time, the mother will feel weak, dizzy.
Problems with intestines. A few days after the operation, the intestines do not work well, constipation is possible, which will have to be disposed of with the help of enemas. It hurts after surgery.
Complications after anesthesia. Although laboring women are given safe painkillers, pneumonia is possible.
Severe pain. Those who have ever had an abdominal operation know very well how much pain is excruciating. It is impossible to do without powerful painkillers in the first days. It will take about a month for the pain to subside completely.
Long stay in hospital.After a cesarean, a woman will have to stay in the hospital for about a week and a half, and if there are complications, then and longer.
Injuries. This is rare, but there is still a risk that the surgeon will accidentally damage the fetus or the mother's internal organs.
Child health problems.Children born by caesarean section are more likely to have problems with respiratory and the central nervous system. They are more lethargic, suffer from increased drowsiness.

European doctors convince patients not to go for an operation without very serious indications. Even those mothers who have previously had a caesarean are recommended natural childbirth. This is due to the increased risk of reoperations.

Highlights on the pros and cons of caesarean section

You can understand mothers who, in an effort to avoid pain and fear, decide on a cesarean without good medical reasons. And still it's worth considering the risks:

Painlessness is very conditional. In the first days after the operation, the mother suffers from severe pain, she feels weak due to blood loss.
Child may have problems. Although doctors relieve the baby of birth stress, other dangers may await him, for example, dysfunction of the central nervous system.
Long recovery. After a natural birth, a woman returns to feeling within a few days, and after a caesarean, the recovery period lasts about a month.

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There is good news for moms who are worried that their little "caesars" will be somewhat inferior to children born in the usual way. Observations have shown that getting rid of birth stress does not affect the endurance of babies, as previously thought.

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