My friend and I have been debating this. Is natural birth or C-section a choice the mother has to make?

Or can you only get a C-section if there is a medical reason for it? Is there any tangible proof of this so that my friend will beleive me?





Can a mother just say , hey i want a C-section, and get one? Or does there have to be a medical reason for it?

My friend and I have been debating this. Is natural birth or C-section a choice the mother has to make?
It depends on the situation. My mom had to have a c-section with me due to not progressing with her labor and her water had broke over 12 hours before, so the risk of infection was very high. But when she had my sister 18 yrs. later, she elected to have an c-section, when the drs. told her that she was a very good candidate for V-BAC (vaginal birth after cesarian), yet she opted to have the surgery once again. Her dr. didn't argue the point, just set the date once she was 38 weeks and it's all history now. I think it's becoming more popular to have a c-section just because you can control the date if it's not in an emergency. I know my mom picked Nov. 5th just because it was on a Thursday, and that meant she could go to Bible Study that wednesday beforehand for the last time until my sister was old enough to take out the house, and it was also the birthday of her boyfriend who had passed away in Jan. of that same year, so it was a "tribute" of sorts to him as well.





Me myself personally, I also chose to schedule a c-section with both of my children. I hate prolonged pain, and I knew that although it would take longer to recover from the c-section, I couldn't imagine being in labor for countless hours and in so much pain. I'd had 2 surgeries before on my pelvic region, so I knew how the pain would be afterwards, and it's nothing compared to what you go through in actual labor. So I chose to have my oldest daughter on my grandmother's birthday, as her 67th birthday gift being it was her 1st great-grandchild, and my 2nd daughter 18 months later on my grandfather's bithday as his 72nd birthday present. They both said it was the best gifts they've ever recieved. There was no medical reason that I couldn't give birth vaginally, I just didn't want to and I went into the situation knowing fully what I was getting into and the possible risks involved, too.





I'n not advocating elective c-sections as an option for everyone, but to me, it's your body and you should be able to choose what you are willing to put it through.
Reply:Technology are supposed to make our lives easier and better. And that's what C-section is for. You don't need a medical reason to have one. Most people go for natural birth because it's cheaper. The only downside of C-section is that, you recover slower compared to mothers who had natural birth. But then again, it depends on the person's body (how well they can cope with C-section/natural birth pains).
Reply:It really all depends on the doctor you have. Typically a c-section is only done if it is medically necessary. Unfortunately the way things are these days, more times then not a doctor is anxious to get a labor going and will do a c-section hence this is why the c-section rate in the US is high- due to medically unecessary c-sections. Natural is so much better than having a c-section, for one thing your recovery time is going to be a lot longer for a c-section then natural, and the pain is also going to be worse. Judging by the question, it makes me feel like your friend has not had any type of childbirth education. I think she should contact a local childbirth educator or doula in her area to further educate herself about birth, including the options available to her for pain management, etc and also fill out a birth plan.
Reply:a c-section , is not an option .


a women some times must under go a c-section for reasons such as her health of that of the childs .


a women can decide to have her child completely natural (no meds)or she can ask to recieve them dureing the labor and delivery process .


this is the only choise she has as to how to bring her little darling into the world.


a -section is not an option.. the dr. decides if she or her child is in need of this
Reply:A C-section is for medical reasons and is not an elective. You don't want to have a c-section if you can avoid one. A c-section is considered a major surgury and comes with risks. All doctors will encourage a vaginal delivery and only resort to a c-section. If the natural way is not working or if an emergancy happens during the delivery.
Reply:No, there doesn't have to be a medical reason for a C-section, but that is usually why they are done. If your friend won't believe you, print out all the answers you get for this question and see if that helps.
Reply:here one should consult and follow the advice of a good doctor
Reply:It can be an elective choice, though I'm sure a doctor would argue against having the procedure without it being necessary.
Reply:I think there was a case in the news recently about a mother who had a high risk pregnancy and was told she needed a C-section. She refused and delivered naturally, ultimaly killing one of her two children. She was charged (and found guilty, I believe) of manslaughter or murder. That leads me to believe that one may have some say in how one delivers.
Reply:Health and doctors choice.
Reply:Yes it is the mother's choice to decide what she wants, natural or C-section. I have two friends who decided to do have C-sections ahead of time and the doctor said that was alright. Alot of women are doing this now, personally I wouldn't unless absolutely necessary.
Reply:As far as i know, C-section is the last resort for saving the baby when the mother can't give birth naturally. And why would someone request a c-section anyway? I think it's far more painful and probably unhealty. Otherwise doctors would be popping babies out their mother's belly all the time, as it would be quicker thus more efficient.
Reply:You can only have a C-Section if your are having your Tubes tied or if there is complications during the delivery. A doctor will not willingly open up a patient unless the is a viable reason because of the risk of infection and other dangerous complications that can occur.





Why would someone want that big scar anyways........
Reply:if theres a medical reason its green lights all the way, it can be done if the mother wants but by the time u get it past all the red tape the little tyke'll probubly poped out and have graduated, however theres a price tag on everything, if uve got the green the world would spin the other way
Reply:It seems they can. Third link below talks a little about the controversy over this, but it also gives statistics on "patient-choice c-sections"








Since the release of HealthGrades' first study on this topic in 2003, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Ethics Committee released an opinion supporting C-sections by patient choice "…so long as the patient is fully informed of the risks and benefits of this procedure over vaginal delivery."

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