All Women Should Have the Right to Caesarean Birth, Even if There Is No Medical Need - Research Paper Example

All women should have the right to caesarean birth, even if there is no medical need. The women, for a long time have been encouraged by the doctors to keep a sensible diet rather than embarking upon excessive eating during their pregnancy. It has been known for a long time now, that the factor of obesity has been connected to the increasing risks of complications in the cases of childbirth. In reference to such an issue, the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that women, who go beyond even the slightest weights and having higher glucose levels in the blood, are prone to the greater threats of carrying a large baby, which in turn, enhances the risks of the complications. This will, in turn, require the c-section surgery to deliver the baby. This paper will discuss the women’s right to the caesarean birth even if there is no medical need for it. The work will elaborate upon the rights of women to ask for the delivery in alternative manner if they want to. Caesarean Birth Cesarean delivery, also known as the c-section, is surgery to deliver a baby. A Caesarean section refers to a surgical method in which one or many openings are made through the uterus (hysterotomy) and abdomen of mother (laparotomy) in order to deliver one or many babies or sometimes, for the purpose of removing a dead fetus. The baby, instead of being delivered through vagina, is taken out through the abdomen of mother and most cases of such surgeries give the outcome as healthy mother and baby. The following figure shows the example of a c-section birth: Figure 1: Caesarean Birth The figure above depicts the delivery of baby from the abdominal section instead of vagina, indicating the c-section delivery. However, the caesarean section is a major surgery and thus, carries great risks with it, while, the healing process in this surgery is also longer than with vaginal birth. The hysterotomy abortion is the late-term abortion which is performed through using the procedures of Caesarean section and it is a very rare practice these days. Ferdinand Adolf Kehrer, a German gynecologist, performed the first contemporary Caesarean section surgery during the year 1881. The practice of performing a Caesarean section, or c-section, is usually conducted for the delivery of baby in a complicated manner unlike through the normal procedure of vaginal delivery and is more likely to put the health of mother or baby at risk (Medicine Net Inc., 2012). In the current times, this particular surgery is performed only when it is requested to deliver the baby in unnatural manner (Finger, 2003). The rate of the deliveries through the c-section, in recent years, has heightened to 25% and above in many Asian countries, 46% in China, and various Latin American and European and countries are also facing a rise in this action. Reasons for C-Section A doctor may recommend the c-section surgery for the delivery of the baby if it is considered to be safer for the baby and the mother than the normal vaginal birth. Though, some mothers do plan to get such surgery; however, most of them are performed when there happens to be some unforeseen problems during the delivery. Some of the reasons of performing the c-section are as follows: The mother is carrying twins, triplets or more babies. The mother might be suffering from health issues such as heart disease, HIV infection, and herpes infection. The blood pressure of the mother’s body at the time of surgery is dangerously high. The mother has some problems with the placenta, the shape of her pelvis, umbilical cord, or the position of the baby (such as breech). The baby indicates the symptoms of distress, which might include slowed heart rate. The mother already had a c-section previously. The rights of women to Caesarean birth without medical needs In the current world of medicine, it is argued that the women should be free to decide whether they want a c-section surgery irrespective of medical compulsions or not. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published the new guidelines for the freedom of women to take up this decision. Under this new declaration, any lady giving birth to a child and desires to request a caesarean on the NHS will be provided midwives and doctors to discuss their decision and issues with. According to NHS, if the women wish to have a caesarean without any medical reason, then they are not discouraged. According to a consultant obstetrician, Dr Bryan Beattie, who had assisted to set these existing NICE guidelines has been of the opinion, that it is one of the enormous developments of the century. According to him, there were various good arguments of saying no to c-section surgery some fifteen years back, however, now it has become much safer than before (James, 2011). The practitioners and health care people these days are also of the opinion that all the women should be left on their own to decide whether they want to have a naturally delivered baby or through c-section. In support of this fact, the 2011 guidelines suggest that most of the women these in the present times request for a C-section due to the stress and anxiety which they go through and they need mental health support. According to the statistics, there are between 6% to 10% of women who are affected severely by the phobia of childbirth, especially when it is their first baby (James, 2011). The clinical practices have seen widespread changes in the 21st century. It is also suggested by the latest evidences that even for those women who already had up to 4 c-section surgeries, it is the same risk of bladder injuries and fever which are for the planned caesarean and planned vaginal deliveries. The trend of the c-section births in gaining heights in the entire world at quicker pace. About one in four women in United Kingdom chose to deliver their babies by Caesarean section. The following figure shows the trend in the c-section births: Figure 2: C-Section birth trend in UK The figure shown above illustrates the varying rates in the trend of the Caesarean births in UK. It clearly indicates that the freedom of choice regarding the c-section birth given to women by the NICE guidelines have been effective contributor in the increasing trends of such births. One of the other reasons for the choice of caesarean birth by women is the fears of inadequate care provision, perceived lack of control, and lack of assistance during delivery and labor. The women who seek to go for c-section, without any medical need, have one or multiple of these reasons. Besides this, sometimes, the women desire that they should not take up the chance to damage their pelvic floor and this is another reason that they chose to prefer ECS over the normal vaginal delivery (Amu, Rajenfran & Bolaji, 1998; Bates, 1998; Duff, 2000; Idama & Lindow, 1999). There are many women who support and prefer ECS because of the fear that during normal childbirth they might have to counter the risks of losing vaginal muscle tone, or developing faecal or urinary incontinence. All these factors could ultimately lead interference with their sexual satisfaction. Besides the other reasons, it has been observed that South and Central America possess the highest rates of ECS across the entire western world. It has been seen that the C-section surgery has gained the status of a fashion statement and, in the contemporary world, it is culturally acknowledged as a usual way of delivering the baby by wealthy, white, middle and upper class women. Many women gain such information regarding childbirth and pregnancy from various sources such as magazines, newspapers, television and film. According to the visual implications of most of the current media, the natural process of vaginal birth is an uncontrollable, painful, and a dangerous procedure (Beech, 2000; Dimond, 1999; Kitzinger, 2001). According to these authors and writers, it is media which is encouraging women to accept the fact that the easiest and safest option to give birth is an ECS. Thus, it can be seen that the overarching influence on the decisions of women to adopt the C-section surgery for the childbirth is the presentation of the normal vaginal birth in a negative manner and it portrayal as potentially and uncontrollably dangerous both, psychologically and physically. The women, in general, are of the opinion now that the normal way of giving birth might put the life of mother and baby at risk. Various writers, observers and researchers have also presented this fact that the free usage of the medical technology in times of pregnancy gives such ideas and hints that the vaginal birth performed in a normal manner is threatening to the health and thus, it indirectly conveys that it is incapable of a woman to give birth to their babies without the assistance of technologies. There is the controversy which revolves around the matter of choice regarding ECS. In the modern world, which allows absolute freedom to an individual to perform whatever action he or she wants, the growth of feminism has also become one of the major aspects. With such a development, extreme focus and significance is given to valuing the experiences, thoughts, decisions, needs and ideas of women (Draper, 1997). This factor particularly becomes true and gains practicality when it regards the consideration of concerns regarding women’s health. The Code of Health and Disability service consumer rights (1996), in New Zealand, and the prior “The Inquiry into the Treatment of Cervical Cancer at National Women’s’ Hospital” (1988) declare that women has the right to chose how one is capable or desires to five birth to the baby (Douche, 2001). The women, who were interviewed for the purpose of obtaining their own responses, showed a clear perception that they were free with all their rights to opt for the Caesarean birth. For instance, media, every now and then suggests, that “the people are in wait for the life saving operations, but hey, I’ve worked for 20 years and paid taxes. I think it’s a personal choice but I feel I’m entitled to make my own choice [about having a caesarean section] (Rosemary)”. In this way, Rosemary makes herself legal for the power on her due to the fact that she pays taxes for many years. This is precisely the way, in which many other women like Rosemary, have earned their legitimate entitlement to availing ECS as a discretionary operation. The women have all their rights which equate to the other citizens of New Zealand citizens who need surgery. However, at many other places including New Zealand, the Health Ministry practically does not prefer or support the women’s choice of opting for ECS. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) gives a clear definition of the informed consent and disclose that the women are given the non-discriminatory and informative material and decision making options that they need for the purpose of making good and informed decisions. Thus, the NICE guidelines do give the women the freedom to choose for the C-section birth even in case of no medical compulsion, yet it requires them to consult the physicians and health experts before making decisions. The health experts vow to provide guidance, quality support and assistance to the women in delivering their babies. However, it is left upon the women themselves to choose either for normal or C-section delivery procedures. Conclusion In the growing feminism and liberty, the women are free to make decisions ranging from their personal and professional to their medical needs. In the current era of medical and scientific advancements, they are even independent to choose the mode of giving births to their babies. There are no restrictions if they opt to go for the Caesarean section surgery instead of the normal vaginal birth. REFERENCES Amu, O., Rajendran, S., & Bolaji, I, 1998, Maternal choice alone should not determine method of delivery, British Medical Journal, Retrieved May 31, 2012 Bates, C., 1998, Rising caesarean section rates, British Journal of Midwifery, 6(4), 214. Beech, B., 2000, Journalism and other influences, RCM Midwives Journal, 3(2), 53. Dimond, B., 1999, Is there a legal right to choose a caesarean? British Journal of Midwifery, 7(8), 515-518. Douche, J., 2001, Caesarean section in the absence of clinical indications, New Zealand College of Midwives Journal, 24, 18 – 22. Draper, J., 1997, Potential and problems: the value of feminist approaches to research, British Journal of Midwifery, 5(10), 597- 600. Duff, E., 2000, Rates of caesarean section: who is sneezing, who is catching the cold? MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, 10(1), 73-74. Finger, C., 2003, Caesarean section rates skyrocket in Brazil, Many women are opting for Caesareans in the belief that it is a practical solution, Lancet 362 (9384): 628. Idama, T. O., & Lindow, S. W., 1999, Safest option is still to aim for vaginal delivery, British Medical Journal, Retrieved May 31, 2012 James Gallagher, 2011, Women can choose Caesarean birth, BBC News, Web, Retrieved on May 31, 2012 Kitzinger, S., 2001, Who would choose to have a caesarean? British Journal of Midwifery, 9(5), 284-285. MedicineNet Inc., 2012, Cesarean Birth (C-Section), MedicineNet.com, Web, Retrieved on May 31, 2012 Read More