How dangerous is it to give birth by cesarean section at a 'good time'?

According to the National Children's Hospital, a cesarean section performed to 'choose a good date and time' can seriously affect the health, even the lives, of both mother and newborn.

The National Children's Hospital ( Hanoi ) recently admitted a 2-day-old newborn, who had previously undergone a cesarean section at week 37 at the family's request due to "good timing". Immediately after birth, the baby showed signs of respiratory failure, had to be given oxygen and was urgently transferred to another hospital. When arriving at the Neonatal Center of the National Children's Hospital, 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 rate of cesarean section in Vietnam is higher than WHO recommends.

According to the Ministry of Health 's 2022 maternal and child health care summary report, the cesarean section rate accounts for nearly 37% of the total number of births (in some hospitals it is up to 50-60%), much higher than the 10-15% recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The increase in cesarean section rates is due to many reasons, in many cases due to families actively choosing the date and time of birth. Doctors note: Caesarean section has more potential risks than normal birth, causing long-term health concerns for both mother and baby. Only high-risk labor cases are usually prescribed by doctors to ensure the safety of mother and baby. Therefore, cesarean section should only be performed when there is a clear medical indication.

Normal babies can easily have skin-to-skin contact with their mothers early, helping them develop physically and emotionally from the first hours of life.

PHOTO: PHUONG AN CREATED BY GEMINI AI

Doctors at the National Children's Hospital have recorded similar cases to the above-mentioned child. Newborns fall into critical condition after being delivered by cesarean section without the mother going into labor, simply because the family wanted an "auspicious date and time".

Incorrectly indicated cesarean section will increase the risk of surgical complications: bleeding, surgical site infection, bladder and bowel damage, deep vein thrombosis; increased risk of placenta accreta and uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies (the risk of placenta accreta increases 3-4 times after each cesarean section). In addition, the mother will recover longer than with normal birth, will be in more pain, and will affect the ability to care for the newborn. Neonatal respiratory failure is a possible complication, due to failure to go into labor, causing fluid retention, decreased ventilation, etc.

BENEFITS OF NORMAL DELIVERY

According to recommendations from medical experts, natural 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 production and saving costs. In particular, natural birth helps mothers fully experience the journey of "giving birth" in a sacred and meaningful way.

For babies, normal birth helps them adapt better to the outside environment. 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 microorganisms from the mother's vagina, helping to develop the immune system and digestive system. In addition, babies born naturally can easily perform skin-to-skin contact and breastfeed early in the delivery room, thereby enhancing emotional bonding and supporting physical and emotional development from the first hours of life.

Caesarean section should only be performed under medical advice, when normal delivery is not safe for the mother or fetus.

Caesarean section is often indicated when: the fetus is too large (over 4 kg); the fetus is in an abnormal position (transverse, breech...); monoamniotic twins, multiple pregnancies, fetal distress, fetal malformations; the mother has a serious medical condition (cardiovascular, diabetes...), has had a previous caesarean section, has a previous uterine incision, a narrow pelvis, or uterine or vaginal abnormalities.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sinh-mo-chu-dong-theo-ngay-gio-dep-nguy-hiem-ra-sao-185250816210617243.htm