Long-term C-section risks; more concerns from the NY Times.

Most of us know people who had their children via C-section, a potentially life-saving procedure for both mother and child during a problematic birth.

C-section rates in the USA are about 32% of all live births, and according to the WHO (World Health Organization), the international rate that is expected should actually be 10-15%.  Consumer Reports earlier this past year suggested that higher rates of C-section may depend on the hospital you use, and profit which can offer a reimbursement level that is 30% more for a c section than vaginal birth.

Of course, there are other variables such as your doctor’s tolerances, beliefs, and habits.  The concern regarding malpractice, professional pressures from other medical team colleagues with slowly progressing births, and pressure from family, friends, and relatives to assure the family that their child will be born without any problems. In this day and age of social media, a poor outcome can very quickly become a headline that affects the reputation of the provider who may have done their best to conservatively manage a difficult birth process.

Whatever the reasons, the current trends in the USA have resulted in thousands of these procedures done per year.  If you had one C-section, you are likely to have another since the structures such as the muscles in the uterus and the abdominal cavity once sutured may not function the same as they did before the C-section.  Another problem that is slowly being recognized is that abdominal surgeries can cause scarring, which can attach to the internal organs and affect how you walk, feel, and function for years to come.

Infection is another concern since healed infections from C-sections often are riddled with scar tissue and can cause back pain, sciatic pain, and many other painful problems that are often misdiagnosed as problems that are back related.

Apparently, there are other risks from the procedure that while necessary, may be avoidable according to the NY Times. Read about it here

Cesarean Delivery Can Pose Long-Term Risks to Mother and Child

By NICHOLAS BAKALARJAN. 26, 2018

While cesarean delivery is sometimes necessary and can be lifesaving, it may have serious long-term disadvantages for both mother and child, researchers report.

The analysis, in PLOS Medicine, pooled data from 80 studies including almost 30 million subjects.

Compared to vaginal delivery, C-sections were associated with a significant reduction in the risk for urinary incontinence and for pelvic organ prolapse, a dangerous weakening of the muscles that hold pelvic organs in place.

Read more here