Have your say! Our popular pregnancy newsletters have been attracting some great comments from our readers, particularly when it comes to scheduling baby's birthday. Are you planning on having a cesarean section? Have you already booked it? Or do you think it's best to let baby arrive in his own good time? Share your ideas with us and browse through other readers' stories. Need more information on c-sections? Check out Pregnancy-Info's c-section articles!
Share Your Birthday Thoughts!
Name: Tammy C. • Due Date: n/a
My youngest two were scheduled (but necessary) c-sections. It was nice to be able to schedule the most convenient time for my mom to watch the older kid(s) around her work schedule. If you have to have a section anyway and your doctor has given you date confines, it's much nicer than having no clue when baby will arrive (especially when you have older kids that need to be cared for during the birth) like I had with my first.
Name: MEGAN • Due Date: 03/04/2007
Unless medically necessary, I think it's selfish and obviously risky. C-sections were meant to address medical concerns, not intended to help parents "choose" a birthday.
Name: CC • Due Date: 12/28/2006
I have damage from the birth of my previous child. My son's heart rate dropped and my doctor had to get him out NOW. The damage from the 10 second delivery has left me with minor fecal incontinence problems. My doctor is urging me to have a C-section with this child to prevent further damage. My concern is that I am due on 12/28. My doctor says we will schedule the surgery for before Christmas. I just dont' want to be miserable and in pain for the holiday. I guess I will have to wait and see. --This does present one example of a reason to have a C-section when natural birth is possible though.
Name: Dawn • Due Date: 01/29/2007
C-sections are harder to heal from and have a higher risk for problems, one being death. C-sections can be useful in the case of an emergency, but in the vast cases, risks are taken for no other reason than convenience of parents or physician. After a c-section, neither mother nor baby is ready to bond/breastfeed until recovery is over. The first 2 hours after birth are the most crucial. Another problem with scheduling a c-section occurs when the due date is inadvertantly miscalculated. This could cause an otherwise healthy baby to be born premature. Premature infants have so many more problems. C-sections can and should be reserved for when they are a medical necessity, which is not nearly so high a percentage as some people seem to think is acceptable.
Name: Kim • Due Date: 01/05/2007
While it would certainly be convenient to choose what day your baby is born, I have heard way too many stories about women who were induced and had complications because of it. I personally feel that it is best to let nature run its course and the baby will come when it (and your body) is ready. I also can't personally see why someone would want a C-section instead of a natural delivery if natural is possible!
Name: tammy • Due Date: 09/28/2005
For some reason my last comment was removed, but I am a nurse, and I think its imperative before a woman goes thru this new "FAD" of scheduling her baby's delivery, that they do a little research. My SIL just delivered in this manner a few days ago. She was given an epidural and induced and hoped for regular delivery. Well she dialated to 2 cm and quit, and things would not progress requiring a C section. The baby was taken 2 days before her due date, but still only weighed 5'12" and 16 inches long. This size is consistent with a baby about 3 weeks early. It was born 3 pm, and by the next day mom reported he wasnt bursing very well. The child has to come first. I dont believe in scheduling. Its just a matter of conveneience for the doctor and the mom. No more 2AM call outs for doc.,or at least a lot less. On the web it states C section is a freq occurrence when this is done with first time mom's, and that gestational age of child CAN NOT be addequately determined, and babies taken early have more chance for health problems.Barring un foreseen conditions, your baby will come when your baby and your body is ready. Let nature decide this.
