Is elective Cesarean section as safe as vaginal birth?
Yes, says Mary D’Alton, M.D., chairwoman of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and of a government panel studying C-section on maternal request. A C-section on maternal request is perfectly reasonable because many women who plan an unassisted vaginal delivery don’t end up having one. Instead, they may have an emergency C-section, which increases the risk of infection, hemorrhage, complications from anesthesia and potential neurological problems for the infant. Another possibility is a vaginal birth with vacuum or forceps, which increases the likelihood of incontinence in the mother and trauma to the infant. If a woman plans to have three children at most and schedules the procedure at a gestational age of 39 weeks or later, an elective C-section could be a good option. While each additional scar on the uterus increases the chance of placental problems in future pregnancies, this is likely only an issue for women who want large families.
