A Vote for C-Sections

The commentary by Doris Fuller is faulty (“Medical Community Is Delivering a Disservice Through Unnecessary Cesareans,” Jan. 8). She implies that Cesarean births are performed for economical reasons. I do not believe that is the case. Since doctors would be suspect if they replied to this tirade about Cesareans, I will respond by telling my experiences.

I delivered my children, the first vaginally and second C-section. I felt both doctors did what they had to do.

My first child and I went through a very difficult birth process. I was toxemic; it was not an ideal birth situation already. When I was fully dilated, I pushed for 2 1/2 hours. The baby was slightly transverse. Finally, when the baby was taken with forceps, the umbilical cord had been compressed as the baby was pushed. As the baby was delivered by forceps, the baby’s collarbone broke. The baby was later jaundiced.

My baby had a rough beginning, but my recovery was rough, too. I had a deep episiotomy, and very uncomfortable hemorrhoids and urine leakage from the experience. It took me six months to recover from the trauma. I still have problems.

The second birth was much easier on my body. My second baby would not descend during labor. My husband and I, the on-call doctor and my obstetrician all agreed that a C-section would be preferable to the scary and painful birth of my first child. It turned out that my second child had very wide shoulders also and would have had a broken collarbone or pinched nerve.

My stay in the hospital was shorter with the C-section. My recovery was quicker. I took me three weeks to get over most discomfort.

After experiencing a difficult vaginal birth and a C-section, my husband and I both agree the C-section was better. I’m sure many deliveries are not difficult and do not need a C-section. But if you trust and like your obstetrician, you will agree with their decisions.

Their decision is based on anecdotes such as mine. It was very difficult for me to walk and carry my first baby for six months. I absolutely trusted both doctors and agreed that with the information given them, these doctors made the best decisions they could. In hindsight, I wish the first had been a C-section, but none of us can have hindsight. Both my children are healthy, growing boys.

SUSAN GONZALES

San Diego