Expectant parents have a lot of choices to make. What will the baby’s name be? Will baby have a pacifier? Cloth or disposable diapers?
One thing that may or may not be a choice for parents is whether the birth is vaginal or by Cesarean section (C-section).
The safety of the mom and the baby is the priority during childbirth. Although vaginal birth is usually preferred (two out of three births are vaginal), if a vaginal birth is unduly risky for a medical reason, the health care provider may discuss a C-section with parents.
- C-section may be recommended if the parents are expecting multiple births, such as twins, or the mom has a condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV or active herpes.
- C-section may be recommended if baby is not in a head-down position and efforts to reposition it have been unsuccessful.
- Parents may opt for a C-section if they want to plan when the baby is delivered or mom had a previous vaginal delivery that ran into medical complications.
C-section may be prompted by a medical emergency such as when there is a threat to the life of the baby or the mother. Examples of this are if baby is not getting enough oxygen or if the labor is not progressing.
Risks of C-section
It’s important to note that C-section does have risks. It is a major surgery that involves making a cut (incision) in the pregnant woman’s abdomen and removing the baby from the uterus.
When a mother has a C-section for her first birth, her desires and plans for her subsequent births have to be discussed with her provider.
