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Hear hear! I agree with you Denie. That other forum about actually wanting a c-section is really hostile at times. I am fighting a battle against a repeat c-section dictate even though I had a perfectly GREAT v____al birth prior to my c-section (which I might actually not have needed...) I think just about every other woman is being told they "need or might need" a c-section...just a new form of control over us, I think.

Follow the MONEY train! It's just the same with all of the prescriptions that doctors are sticking people on these days to treat symptoms instead of to cure the problem. Especially as people get older. The more they can "do for you" medically, the more everyone gets paid.. doctors, nurses, hospitals, drug companies, insurance companies, and government! Yep.. It trickles that far and then some. Ever notice why people are being "treated" for the rest of their lives instead of healed and made healthy? MONEY. If doctors made us well, or let us have babies naturally, there would only be a fraction of the income. We go along with it because we are taught that doctors are people we should trust and they "must" know more about our situation than we do. Think about it.

C-sections are easier on the doctors; it's a more controlled environment, and ther'es less room for error. Doctors are quick to say "baby's too big" and "failure to progress", because if the baby really IS too big, and gets caught on mom's pelvic bone, BAD juju can happen, like serious head injuries and shoulder distocia. (sp?) If labor really DOES stall, the baby could die - those are serious issues that cost doctors millions of dollars. It's just like "once a c, always a c" - sure, chances are super-duper low that nature's design isn't going to work, but that one in however many is expensive enough to convince doctors to control as many factors as they can. I had to have a c-section following an induction; like Susan, I feel that if I had been allowed to go into labor naturally, I would not have needed the surgery; after 24 hours of labor, and 2 hours of pushing while the doctor tried to move my daughter under my pelvic bone, I was begging for my baby to get out of my body any way possible. They could've beamed her out Star Trek-style, for all I cared at that point. But, my doctor made a judgement call that I needed to be induced 3 weeks prior to my due date; he called and consulted another doctor while I was sitting in his office, and so I heard the entire discussion of whether or not to induce me, based on test results, bloodwork, and ultra sounds. Maybe I didn't need to be induced - but 2 doctors seemed to think I did. Maybe if I hadn't been induced, and I had gone into labor naturally, my hips would've spread enough for my daughter to pa__s through the birth ca___l on her own. But, maybe if I hadn't been induced, complications could have been worse. We'll never know.

Yes, you will never know and that's part of the frustration. I feel for you. Jamie, will you ever have another baby, and will you go into labor on your own? I am getting closer to the 6 month mark for my youngest and am getting ready to start my 3rd and last pregnancy. We will be building a home in the country for our family and I don't want to be so far from town when I am ready to deliver my last child so these two will be close together that is another reason I don't want to fall into the too many sections trap. I think in your case there was nothing left to do but a c-section. You needed it to be over one way or another. Keep the info coming, I appreciate it.

I knew the rates had increased over the past few years, but you're right, I never thought about how many people I know who have "had to have a c" and the numbers are getting disproportionate to how many emergencies should realistically happen in everyday life. Out of 4 close friends, THREE have had c-sects, and come to think of it, the only one who didn't was the only one who wasn't induced and didn't have an epidural....hmmmm. I had an induction, and epidural and a fetal monitor...I ended up with an "emergency" c-section because the baby wasn't liking labor...yet when they took his blood after the operation he was perfect and his blood gases were fine...so much for the "emergency" part. I found out only afterwards that the fetal monitor throws off a lot of false worries. My next baby will be natural labor starting and take it from there.

Denie, I would prefer to have my next baby au natural - then again, I would've preferred this one that way, too. I had hoped to have 5 kids total - but if I am held to the "once a c, always a c", I'll stop at 2, and adopt from there. The human body wasn't designed to be cut up so many times. But, I was induced because of pre-eclampsia - honestly, my doctor kept me pregnant longer than others would have. One doctor I saw wanted to do a c-section at 30 weeks because of the pre-eclampsia; that's when I switched doctors. They tried to let me have the baby naturally - it just didn't work out that way. Hopefully next time will be better.

Jamie, you had a severe and life threatening situation, you benefitted from the attempt/induction and so it ended in a c/s. That doesn't mean you didn't need it..YOU did. The end game is a healthy mom and baby and no one could ever think yours was a created need. Glad you and baby are fine. I understand what you are saying, I am making this observation because I notice a trend and since I want one more I am truly afraid I will be "helped" too much...unlike you, I didn't need any interventions, got them anyway and almost ended up with a cesarean...that's what has me wondering for women without situations like yours and other pressing needs...know what I mean?

well Denie,I know that you want some educational defination as to why this rate seems to have gone up.My guess,and its only a guess,is because women like madonna,Victora (posh),Zoe Ball etc etc etc,has chosen that method,and it is a known fact that childbirth pain is very high other women have been taken by this.I don't think there is anything wrong with it,when you say there are too many being done.I think in this day and age a women should be able to choose,medicines has advanced .I know you don't want there to be a debate,saying that there are other forums for that,but you said there are "way too many being done".A woman,like Marcie,and others,Charlotte etc who has chosen that method have not done so lightly,so good luck to them.

Carrie, the question here isn't about elective c-sections. It's about doctors telling women that they NEED c-sections, when they might not actually NEED them.

I read the Naomi Wolf's book before I got pregnant regarding c-sections and the medical necessity and Medical intervension. It was her theory and mine that because of the malpractic insurance that OB/GYN physicians have to carry and the rate it increases, the physicians want to make sure that the woman has the "safest" birth available. Insurance carriers and hospital administrators have put a "maximum" amount of time for birth after the water breaking. There is a formula that hospitals use to determine how long one should dialate (sp?). Hospitals make money on how many beds they fill and turn around time. They are not going to have a woman take a bed who has been laboring for over 48 hours. Is that right? I do not think so. But with regards to malpractic. The number of lawsuits against OB/GYN physicians have increased significantly in the past 10 years. Some hospitals are putting cameras in the delivery room so the physicians can disprove negligence. We unfortunately are in a "sue happy" society. We try to put blame on something or someone if something goes wrong. Sometimes we need to remember that "stuff happens."

Yes, I agree. While I definitly support c-sects when necessary I too, agree that all these great medical interventions have commandeered labor and delivery and have caused a significant increase in surgical births that wouldn't have been necessary before as you said all "...the help...". I do NOT want people to think some aren't necessary, but there are WAY TOO MANY women being told they "need one".

I had to have a c-section because I was so sick with hypertension. If I didin't have one it would have killed me and my son! So unless some one is forcing YOU to do it mind your own business!!

I think you misunderstood, we all know how serious hypertension is, and YOU ABSOLUTELY NEEDED TO HAVE YOUR BABY HOW AND WHEN YOU DID! I meant too much intervention on healthy, low-risk moms. I absolutely agree that pre-eclampsia is a very dangerous condition and needs all the interventions modern medicine has. I did not say anything about not supporting necessary c-sects such as yours.

I agree with you Denie. I think technology has tried to speed up the process and is failing. I remember when I was a little girl and someone was in labor they were told to walk. I used to hear my mom talking about how so and so had to walk up and down the hospital for hours. Now you are confined to that bed like a prisoner with all sort of things hooked up to you. God forbid you had to use pictocin, then you wont be allowed to even get up and use the bathroom. I had to have a section two months ago bc my son got stuck but I will still try to have a v____al birth next time I am pregnant. When I was younger and you heard of someone getting a c-section you felt so bad for them. Now it is so different. When I told a childless friend of mine that I had a c-section, she was like oh good so you are still intact down there. I looked at her with disbelief. I can not believe that people have such a nonchalant att_tude when it comes down to having major surgery!!! And most of the time people are awake through it!!!! I just do not understand. And I hate the fact that as soon as someone say that they rather have a v____al birth all of the pro-choice, pro-sectioners come out swinging. Whatever happened to my opinion and my right to choose??????

Yes we sure do live in a sue nation and doctors are scared. My ob/gyn would always say to me "Oh no, I think you're going to have a big baby. I'm scared of big babies." I asked her why and she said bc she I might need a c-section and she is scared of LAWYERS. Now this woman has been delivering babies since before her daughter was born and her daughter has been a ob/gyn for 4yrs. She is a seasoned doctor and is so afraid of being sued that she was willing to let me just have a scheduled section even though I had no health problems and this was my first child.

Wow, TC, you really know how to say things, I have read your other posts and you are very even-handed about things. NO, you didn't wish for a c-section, no you didn't enjoy it, and yet, you are able to see the most important thing about them and to remain positive. I applaud you. Thanks for your input.