C-section or vaginal delivery - the need to control

There is a big debate, in our gynecology department, about the "trendy" rise in c-sections vs vaginal delivery**. It seems that when given a choice between c-section and vaginal delivery a lot of woman prefer the surgical procedure upon the natural birth. I am not regarding the cases where c-section is indicated to save the life of the baby or the mother, but rather in the absence of medical indications the mother chooses  the "quick and painless" approach.

As a doctor I can understand the comfort of a c-section, the procedure is scheduled to a convenient time (most commonly in the morning after a nice coffee and breakfast) and I have the control over what is going on. As a patient I think everyone acknowledges that there is no pain like labor pain (not that I know it for a fact but I believe my wife) and the comfort of painless labor is very appealing. While picturing the birth of a baby in the eyes of a mother I'm sure that there is always the fear of pain that comes with it. When given the choice, by the physician, c-section or vaginal - painless vs painful the decision is not really a fair one.

On the other hand I see the underlying need here is what pushes most people today in this world regarding their decision making and actions. The need for CONTROL. " I want to have control over this terrifying and overwhelming event" "This is nothing I can fully prepare for and I rather be in control then face the consequences".

The act of giving birth is one that requires the most trust, in the body, and the will to just LET GO. I think this is the one place that if a woman does not let go of her control the labor cannot continue or even slows down. It's an important lesson to realize that our body is just a vessel through which LIFE is taking place. Creation is stronger then our will to control it.

Try and ask yourself: "Are you willing to let go and trust yourself or do you need to be in control?" "Do you rather have a c-section or vaginal delivery?

The facts are that c-sections carry a higher risk then spontaneous labor, for the baby and the mother. The risks are not only immediate risks due to the surgery but also future risks concerning the well being of the baby and further pregnancies (click here to see a list of these risks), all these risk are of minor importance, of course, if the need for medical intervention is essential. 


There are also risks in spontaneous vaginal labor, I'm not denying that, but remember, this is what your body is intended to do, this is what women have done thousands of years before you - YOU CAN DO IT! Believe in yourself and in your body's ability. You have the ability to give life, it is a gift that not everyone gets a chance to fulfill, take advantage of it, LIFE.

**There is a rising trend favoring cesarean section. In the UK during 1953, 2% of births were c-section while in 2001 that number got to 21%. The nation average in the USA stands on 24% and the differences between private sectors and public are large. (numbers taken from: Lavender T, Hofmeyr GJ, Neilson JP, Kingdon C, Gyte GML. Caesarean section for non-medical reasons at term. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD004660. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004660.pub2.)