The first son of Ms. Nguyen Thi Linh (Trung Hoa residential group, Ha Huy Tap ward) was born by cesarean section. This year, the baby is 4 years old. When she was 39 weeks pregnant, due to low amniotic fluid and the uterus not opening, the doctor ordered an emergency cesarean section to ensure the safety of mother and baby.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Linh said: “My family and I had prepared everything for a normal birth. However, when I had contractions but the uterus did not open and the amniotic fluid was low, my family agreed to follow the doctor's instructions to perform an emergency cesarean section to deliver the baby.”
Ms. Nguyen Thi Linh is one of the cases that medically indicated cesarean section. However, there are still many cases that want to have a cesarean section to proactively choose a good date and time for the baby, and conveniently arrange work and take care of postpartum care. According to statistics, if in 2005 the cesarean section rate was only 12%, by 2022 it had skyrocketed to 37% - a 3-fold increase in less than two decades. This number is many times higher than the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), which states that a reasonable cesarean section rate should only fluctuate between 10 - 15% of the total number of births. Among these, there are many cases of voluntary cesarean section without medical indication.
Ms. TTTL (residing in Thach Xuan commune) expressed that during the second pregnancy, my husband and I proactively scheduled a cesarean section in August when the pregnancy was 37 weeks and at Ty hour (9am - 11am). This is a good day and time, compatible with the parents' ages, the child will be smart, bright, and easily successful in study and work.
When a cesarean section is performed without medical indication but only to meet the desired date and time, the health risks to both mother and child are very high. Newborns can suffer from respiratory failure, jaundice, hypothermia, or even fall into a critical condition due to premature birth or not having time to adapt to the outside environment. For the mother, a cesarean section without indication also increases the risk of hemorrhage, infection, postpartum complications, and greatly affects the next pregnancy.
In mid-August 2025, a heartbreaking case was recorded at the Neonatal Center (National Children's Hospital), a two-day-old newborn was delivered by cesarean section at week 37 at the request of the family to "choose a good date and time". Immediately after birth, the baby showed signs of respiratory failure, had to be given oxygen and was urgently transferred to the hospital. When arriving at the Neonatal Center, the baby was cyanotic, had severe circulatory failure and was diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension. Despite intensive resuscitation and advanced techniques, the baby still did not respond to treatment and did not survive. The incident once again sounded the alarm about the consequences of this trend.
Dr. Nguyen Co Thach, Deputy Head of the Obstetrics Department, Ha Tinh General Hospital, said: “In reality, many pregnant women come to see doctors to schedule a cesarean section on the exact date and time that the family has chosen in advance. In these cases, we must perform all the required tests and consultations. If medical indications require surgery, we will proceed immediately to ensure the safety of the mother and baby. In other cases, there will be propaganda and guidance for families to choose the appropriate and safe time for surgery.”
According to Dr. Nguyen Co Thach, normal birth (vaginal birth) is still the most natural and safest method for both mother and baby. This form of birth brings many practical benefits, helping mothers recover faster, reducing the risk of blood loss, postpartum infection, early milk secretion and saving costs. For babies, normal birth supports the process of adapting to the outside environment better. Thanks to the pressure of contractions during labor, mucus in the lungs and respiratory tract is pushed out, reducing the risk of respiratory failure. Babies are exposed to beneficial microflora from the mother's vagina, helping to develop the immune system and digestive system.
Instead of placing too much emphasis on "good timing", doctors recommend that the health and safety of mother and baby should be the top priority. Cesarean section should only be performed when there is a clear medical indication, to limit risks and complications.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/he-luy-chon-ngay-gio-tot-cho-con-chao-doi-bang-sinh-mo-post294660.html
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