I think C-sections are too prevalent in this country.

I live in Miami, and we have a very large Latin population. I am always a little taken aback when nearly every pregnant Latin woman I speak with claim they are having a C-section. I really don't understand the logic of undergoing invasive surgery to do what is a natural body process.

I don't think the supposed benefits are worth the potential complications and the added pain and recovery time. But then, I guess that is not my decision to make.

W. :)

It's indeed very distressing to see women from cultures that have traditionally honored the "life transition" of childbirth as a normal function of the female human succumb to the American trap of valuing only the technical...only the surgical...and distrusting women's bodies.

If this is what we are "exporting" to the rest of the world, we're hardly worth admiring.

MER

It is unfortunate to see women consider c/section as the method of choice for "birth." Unfortunately some physicians are into the technical part of surgery and forget about the emotional/spiritual part of giving birth. The result is women who have lost faith in their ability to control their own bodies!

This is so sad. I think that women think that it will be better for pain, and easier on body image, but they are, of course, sadly mistaken. I think c/section should be an absolute last resort, and for people to know ahead of time that they are going to have a c/section really saddens me. The only reason a woman should know this in advance is for cases such as placenta previa, abrubtio placentae and STDs, etc.

Speaking as a student nurse and a mom who had a C-section, I have to agree...sorta. We have to remember there are times when a c-section are medically necessary, it's partially because of them women and babies aren't dying in childbirth as often anymore. I had to have one, didn't want one, but had to for a healthy daughter. I do agree, doctors are too quick to jump to the C-section decision, but I believe it's up to the patients and nurses to keep a rational defense against it when MD is getting too scalpel happy.
BTW, I don't believe I was shorted on the emotional/spiritual part of giving birth. I still formed a strong bond with my baby long before she was ever born and it makes no difference whether I pushed her out or not....emotions, spirits, love all still the same.

I hope this idea is quickly eradicated by the moms of our nation. I hope they refuse to have unnecessary c-sections. I believe this movement is because we are becoming a nation of wimps, noone "wants" to endure the pain of child birth anymore. All of us moms have made it and I think the rest will too.

Dawn

Hypnokitten: Thanks for your post on my blog, it REALLY helped to set my mind at ease about the "dosing" questions. Testing begins at 8am tomorrow so I am off to try to settle in for the night and hope to get some sleep.
Thanks again.

I just wanted to add that the health benefits for baby in a vaginal birth should be one of the main considerations of why NOT to instinctively have a c-section. (bearing in mind the presence of an STD, of course)
Dawn