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More women are choosing caesarean section over normal delivery — here are six reasons why

 

There seems to be an increase in the number of women who choose to have their children through Caesarean Section (CS) rather than go through normal delivery.

A survey carried out by NAN reveals that the development could be attributed to many factors. We have listed six of them for you:

FEAR OF LABOUR PAINS

Many women said they were afraid of experiencing labour pains hence the decision to opt for CS, which totally eliminates that painful experience.

According to Ismaila Busari, Ondo State Chairman of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, CS offers mothers laxity to reject labour pains.

It is a alternative for would-be mothers to conveniently have their babies “instead of going through labour pains with its contractions”.

For Dele Hundeyin, whose wife gave birth to his two daughters through CS, “the process saves a lot of time and the agony my wife would have to pass through, so I think it’s far better than the Hebrew delivery”.

RISK OF VAGINAL TEAR

Vaginal tears during childbirth, also called perineal lacerations, occur when the baby’s head is too large for the vagina to stretch around. Most women do not want to risk this as it may affect subsequent sexual activity even after the tear has healed.

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However, CS eliminates any such risk, as the baby is cut out from the stomach instead of having to come through the vagina.

“Normal delivery might also come with vaginal tears which can never happen with CS,” says Dr Busari. “The baby doesn’t pass through the vagina with this process; it is cut out through the stomach.”

This was corroborated by Ijarotimi Omotade, Senior Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, who said that “mothers are now also requesting caesarean section because they want to preserve the tone of the perineum and vagina”.

MATERNO-FETAL FACTORS

Pregnancy
Photo Credit: SciDev.Net

According to Omotade, there could be complications for the mother “when the passage (pelvis) is too narrow for the passenger (fetus); when the placenta or tumour is blocking the passage, and/or when the womb (uterus) is in danger of a rupture”.

“Others factors … are age, body formation (short-statured woman), contracted pelvic and previous surgeries,” said Adewunmi Alayaki, Head of Surgery Department, State Hospital, Ilaro, Ogun State

SPECIAL DATES OR EVENTS

Most women chose to give birth through CS because they want their babies born on a particular date or special occasions.

“Mothers, who want their babies delivered on a particular day like their birthdays, husband’s birthday, wedding anniversary, special occasions like New Year day, Christmas or other religious occasions” opt for a CS in order to achieve this,” says Omotade.

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A 26-year-old pregnant lady who opted for the procedure said: “It is our first child and my husband and I have decided we want the birthday to coincide with our wedding anniversary.”

This point was also corroborated by most of the medical experts that contributed to the survey.

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY

Photo Credit: Youtube
Photo Credit: Youtube

Most women said that with the improvements in health technology in the country and around the world, the risks associated with CS has been greatly reduced, making it somewhat more attractive than normal delivery.

Florence Adeyemi, a middle-aged petty trader and mother of three, said she may consider CS if she were to be pregnant with a fourth child.

“The major reasons for refusal of a caesarean section is fear of death during surgery, but that fear has since been laid to rest when I saw my friends who have undergone a C- section and came out well,” she said.

“There is enough awareness now of the benefits of a C-section in preserving the lives of mother and child.

Saratu Bello, a matron based in Ilorin, said that there is little to be worried about as long as CS is concerned.

“Giving birth through CS is not a death sentence and the earlier expectant mothers realised this, the better for them,” she said.

“They should know that before medical personnel decide to carry out CS on any pregnant woman, it is to save the life of either the mother or child or both of them.

“But when you want to remain adamant that you must give birth only through vaginal delivery, caution needs to be taken.”

ECONOMIC REASONS

Absurd as it may sound, there are suggestions that some doctors may be advising would-be mothers to opt for CS, not because they feel it is the best for the mother and child, but because it costs more than normal delivery.

Akinola Oladeji, a gynaecologist agrees.

“Another reason for the increase is due to economic factor in that some medical practitioners encourage it because of the profit to be made; it’s more expensive than normal delivery,” Oladeji said.

“In our hospital, the cost of a C-Section goes for about N250,000 to N300,000 and for multiple births, it is more. We have up to four C-sections in a month in this facility.”

Similarly, Modupe Lawal, a gynaecologist at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, said CS delivery is on the rise because doctors make more money from the procedure than normal delivery.

He admitted that what most private hospitals charge for CS is higher than normal delivery.

NEVERTHELESS




     

     

    New mother
    Photo Credit: borgenproject.org

    There are, however, many women who would rather have their babies come into the world via the “good old way” of normal delivery.

    “I like to experience what it means to bring forth a child by yourself. The pain you experience is one of the joys of motherhood,” said a lecturer who pleaded anonymity.

    “Cesarean Section is not for me and the pain of vaginal birth besides is just for that moment compared to the lingering pain you experience after the CS.”

    For another respondent, a petty trader, who simply gave her name as Adebayo, having a CS is against her Christian beliefs.

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