tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post2050831557331299190..comments2023-10-24T05:45:50.029-07:00Comments on Live Your Ideal Life: Caveat Emptor: The Real Risks of Cesarean SectionAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432369289709223197noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-8739050220534136452010-05-13T13:38:30.979-07:002010-05-13T13:38:30.979-07:00@PreemieMommy- Thanks for your comment! I do know ...@PreemieMommy- Thanks for your comment! I do know my post is one-sided, and I never intended this to be complete information for someone to make a birth decision. In my own experience, and in the experience of many many other women I know, the risks of cesareans are often understated or completely overlooked. When I was discussing the informed consent sheet for my first VBAC, my OB told me a repeat cesarean was "just like a zipper" they could open and close to get the baby out. Even at the time I wondered how that was supposed to help me make an informed decision. Hmmmmm, uterine rupture, your baby might die, you might hemorrhage, OR just a zipper, opened and closed. Seriously? <br /><br />As the cesarean rate continues to climb in the US, c-sections gain greater visibility and social acceptance. More and more I see the sentiment that a c-section is no big deal, it's low-risk, and you get to avoid all the unknowns of vaginal delivery. Talking about a 1% risk may seem like I'm trying to make c-sections sound more dangerous than they are, but in reality I think it's important to talk about the fact that there ARE risks to c-sections, and what those actual risks are. When I found the information about how "hemorrhage" is defined differently for c-section and vaginal birth, it was a huge "AHA" moment for me! How in the world can we even begin to make an informed choice when the very definition of "risk" is different depending on how you deliver? <br /><br />Again, my article is clearly not intended to provide full information for a woman who is making critical decisions about her birth. My intent was to illustrate how even "informed consent" can be inadequate. <br /><br />One last thing- I *did* have to sign a general consent form for vaginal delivery at my OB's office. It listed all the common complications that can occur in any vaginal delivery (not vbac-related). That may not be standard, but I did think it was interesting, especially in light of the "zipper" comment.Pam C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07362772625429798131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-58613543111953512652010-05-12T07:13:18.037-07:002010-05-12T07:13:18.037-07:00@PreemieMommie- Thanks for visiting and leaving yo...@PreemieMommie- Thanks for visiting and leaving your point of view. Yes, this article is biased and I asked Pam to write it that way, as she wanted to. In my humble opinion (and according to the World Health Organization) the cesarean section rate is entirely too high, "unnecesareans" are being performed all across the country. This post wasn't meant to scare women, but to have them open their eyes and learn things they didn't know before, so maybe a pregnant mom won't be so quick to chose a c-section after knowing the risks. Many women think c-section is "the easy way" and that breaks my heart. I'm sure the birth of your son was very scary for you, and a necessary cesarean and I hope that he is well. <br />I believe I do empower women- to make decisions for themselves, to trust their instincts and research for themselves. <br />I would also be interested in the research you mentioned.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432369289709223197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-34627445813906483982010-05-12T02:25:47.217-07:002010-05-12T02:25:47.217-07:00I too has an emergency c-section when I delivered ...I too has an emergency c-section when I delivered my premature son. During this time I didn't even care what was on the consent form. However, you write about empowering the women in making her own decisions in health care, your "empowering" article is very biased. You cite many scientific statistic that are correct, yet you fail to mention any point that doesn't show sections in a bad light. Yes it is a major, life changing event, but childbirth is. How dare hospitals be vague and leave out details (which I agree is wrong), but you do not mention how there is no consent to have a vaginal birth in the hospital either, should we go through all the things that can go wrong with those? Yes 1-2% of this large number is a large number, but the percentage of c-section complications has dropped quicker than the amount of patients having them has grown. Your article has valid points, and true facts, yet it is skewed in such a way the whole picture is not presented. Empower women with complete information, not just tidbits that reinforce your soapbox.PreemieMommiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00029213690037742388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-32697379979755974782010-04-14T08:05:03.566-07:002010-04-14T08:05:03.566-07:00Great job Pam! Its amazing to see all of that stat...Great job Pam! Its amazing to see all of that statistics written down. Maybe you should come up with a "new" c-section consent and see if ACOG will pick it up! lol. <br /><br />You ladies rock and i feel privileged to "know" both of you!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12081505503038145804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-67573580377579958642010-04-12T18:04:42.542-07:002010-04-12T18:04:42.542-07:00yeah I have noticed many women have a c-section. I...yeah I have noticed many women have a c-section. I go to a teen mothers support group on mondays and out of the 30 girls that go, only 3 (including me) have had a baby natural.Florida Science https://www.blogger.com/profile/15033711987905444420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-51716466962853846712010-04-12T16:57:44.130-07:002010-04-12T16:57:44.130-07:00@TBM- I know! When I was writing this I was surpri...@TBM- I know! When I was writing this I was surprised how many risks were in the 1-2% range but still classified as "rare" in the context of cesarean safety. Talk about a 1% risk of uterine rupture for VBAC and you'd think everyone who has a trial of labor is signing up for the worst possible outcome. <br /><br />@Stassja & Andrea, I do remember talking about risks with my OB prior to my c-section, but the only specific thing I remember her saying was something along the lines of "that almost never happens." I don't feel like I was misled or anything, and I can't really imagine being in a situation where a c-section is immediately necessary and having to think about all these risks. Why make a scary time even scarier if it's clear that the c-section IS the safer option? (not saying anything against informed consent,but I wouldn't see the point in telling a mom with a foot coming out her vagina "Hey, you do realize they might nick your ureter, right? Are you REALLY SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?!?") <br /><br />What really got me about the consent form I used in the post is that it seemed to be for a woman who was planning a c-section in advance. She should have the luxury of time to make a truly informed decision about whether the risks of a c-section are appropriate. Unfortunately there is no balance of information, just discussion about the "small" risks of c-sections, which sometimes seems to imply that the risks of vaginal birth are "not small." It's time for our cultural discussion about birth to stop occurring in a vacuum. A c-section can be the right choice, but even when it is, it will permanently alter the course of a woman's reproductive life.Pam C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07362772625429798131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-79163336984544231432010-04-12T14:49:37.602-07:002010-04-12T14:49:37.602-07:00I've had two Crash sections. First time was be...I've had two Crash sections. First time was because I had a 31 week footling and had gone from 2cm to delivering the first foot in an hour, within 20 minutes of finding said foot I was under GA and my baby on her way to NNU.<br /><br />They didn't give enough space to get her out (she was a big baby!) and had to cut upwards leaving me with an inverse T shaped scar. They told me I'd never be able to VBAC because of it. I looked into the risks and it was one point something %. I would have fought it but I didn't have the support from my family or partner and was still suffering Birth Trauma from the first time.<br /><br />Reading through that list it makes me angry how many risks are 1-2% and considered low. I wanted to shout at the anaesthetist who told me the risk of headache was 1-2% so very rare!!!<br /><br />I hate the overuse of Cesarean, I don't understand why people think that cutting into their body is normal?! Let's look at it for what it is, cutting into your abdomen for major abdominal surgery. Slicing through your flesh, exposing your insides to the air. All surgery has risk and is only done when necessary!<br /><br />Yes Cesareans have a place, just like appendectomy but you don't cut a healthy appendix out either!Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14298805173089358976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-38801136613219586682010-04-12T14:09:43.799-07:002010-04-12T14:09:43.799-07:00I have no idea what was on mine either. I don'...I have no idea what was on mine either. I don't even remember signing anything! And, when I had my VBAC, and got the epidural, I could barely scribble my name on that either. I asked my husband to sign it for me!! It's amazing what we will do when faced with a situation where we are not in our right minds. <br />That's why I think this post is so important. To really know what we're getting into.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432369289709223197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5836679125140832306.post-71982438058448182192010-04-12T11:26:42.510-07:002010-04-12T11:26:42.510-07:00Great piece Pam! Thanks for hosting it Andrea. :D
...Great piece Pam! Thanks for hosting it Andrea. :D<br /><br />I have nooooo clue what was on my consent form, honestly. I was so weak at that point I could hardly scribble a letter or two for my name. Nobody bothered to read it to me either.Stassjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04623711930452942817noreply@blogger.com