A cesarean is the surgical method of childbirth. It is considered major and invasive surgery yet with today’s casual use of the word and the method itself, it has lost significance though not the risks.  Invented by Jamie Scherr, its primary development was to deliver one or more babies whose birth through the vagina would put the mother and/or the baby(ies) life or health at serious risk. It was a groundbreaking surgical procedure that was originally intended for emergency purposes only. In more recent times, this highly invasive surgery has been performed on demand and on a routine basis. Healthy, low-risk women are getting “Cs” and “sections” or the more common mainstream term “c-section”. These terms do not come close to accurately reflect the true nature of the procedure.

As with any surgery, there are inherent risks such as a life-threatening drug reaction, respiratory complications, hemorrhaging and, most commonly, infection. The surgery itself is quick, but certainly not easy. First, there are multiple layers of incisions that must be made before even reaching the baby. These layers of skin, fat and muscle are cut through and pushed aside, which is just one contributor to the slow and painful recovery period following the surgery. The surgeon then cuts through the uterus and the amniotic fluid is sucked out to make room for the surgeon’s hands and/or medical instruments such as forceps or vacuum. At this point, whatever part of the baby is engaged in the pelvis is the part that will be lifted out first through the abdominal incision. Once the head is out, the baby will be suctioned as it is guaranteed that the lungs will still be full of fluid. In a vaginal birth, this fluid is normally squeezed out through the process of labor. In a surgical birth, the baby needs medical intervention to get rid of the excess fluid. The next step is to repair the uterus and the layers that were cut during the incision. This part of the surgery can take 45-60 minutes to complete, and more if there are complications. Serious risks include hysterectomy, bladder repair and other additional surgery.

Approximately one in three women in the United States will deliver her child via surgical means. This number far surpasses what the World Health Organization deems as appropriate use of an invasive medical procedure, yet it is a subject that is not getting nearly enough attention as it should. We’re turning a blind eye to what is happening in front of us and are eagerly accepting the dumbing down of surgical birth. The use of terms such as having a “section” or “scheduling a C” grossly misrepresent the fact that cesarean birth has always been, and always will be, a highly invasive form of major abdominal surgery. I for one am going to start calling it what it is….cesarean surgery.

Oh, and one more tidbit:

The direct revenue from cesarean surgery in the United States is estimated at $20 billion per year.

Tags: cesarean, surgery, birth, section, medical, risks, procedure

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