Originally published September 26 2005
Unnecessary patient-choice C-Sections becoming popular among first time moms
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Although patient-choice C-sections are considered unnecessary surgery among doctors, Medicine Net reports that the procedure is becoming more popular among first-time mothers, and doctors theorize the dramatic decrease of the risks associated with C-sections might be the reason for this trend.
More and more first-time mothers are choosing to deliver their babies by Cesarean section, even when there's no medical need for the procedure, researchers report.
A new report from HealthGrades found that patient-choice C-sections for first-time mothers with no medical need for a cesarean increased 36.6 percent from 2001 to 2003.
Some doctors support the idea of patient choice, while others feel it's nearly impossible for women without medical training to truly comprehend the risks involved with Cesarean births.
Probably not," said Dr. Samantha Collier, author of the report and vice president of medical affairs for HealthGrades, in Golden, Colo.
Collier said she wasn't against patient-choice C-sections -- just that women need to be as informed as possible.
And, she added, women need to understand that their physicians will likely have a bias either for or against a patient-choice C-section, and it's important for women to know how their doctor feels about the issue.
The risks for the mother include hemorrhage, pain, infection and placenta-implantation problems in subsequent pregnancies.
For the baby, risks include respiratory problems, accidental surgical cuts and an increased risk of breastfeeding problems and asthma, according to the report.
The risk of complications from a C-section has decreased dramatically, even in the last 10 to 20 years, said Collier.
Plus, they're getting support from medical groups such as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, she said.
She is quick to point out, however, that there's no solid proof that vaginal delivery can cause such problems.
"For the majority of women, vaginal delivery is still the standard of care and is usually indicated, but you can definitely have a discussion about how you want to deliver your child with your doctor," said Warner.
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