For many expectant mothers in North Adams, the prospect of giving birth, while a welcome one, is also one that’s been known to cause a good deal of anxiety. In order to avoid stress, most women are recommended to follow the advice of their doctors. However, in certain cases, it’s the doctors themselves that are the source of the stress.
For OB/GYN doctors, their own preferred methods of practice will often extend to the methods in which women give birth. While the manner of delivery is ultimately left up to the mother, a doctor may cite his or her own beliefs or work history in recommending whether to attempt a vaginal delivery or do a planned C-section.
The organization Childbirth Connection reports as of 2011, the national average of deliveries by C-section was over 32 percent. There are many cases where a C-section may be recommended due to a mother’s individual health concerns. These include:
- A history of C-section
- Multiple births
- A sudden onset of infection (i.e., preeclampsia)
However, there may be times when none of these factors may be present, yet a doctor recommends a C-section, anyway. Often this advice is given if a doctor wants to help an expecting mother avoid the possibility of complications that could result in problems later in life, such as a vaginal tear. In some cases, he may even simply want the mother to avoid labor altogether.
Whatever the reason for a doctor recommending a C-section, women should not forget the fact that a C-section is an invasive surgical procedure. That fact, as well as any concerns over their own personal health and/or the extent of the recovery process, should influence their decisions just as much as the advice of their doctors.
