Elective C-Sections: Risky

A growing number of pregnant women are choosing to give birth by caesarean section, even though there's no medical need to.

And one expert says they are exposing themselves to numerous risks associated with caesareans.

Some women schedule C-sections to avoid the pain of labor and others do it simply for convenience.

But The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm, who's had three caesareans, says she can personally attest to the pain involved with caesareans.

"I mean, even to walk is enormously painful. You need a lot of medication," Storm says.

Dr. Catherine Spong, who heads the Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), points out that there are numerous risks and other disadvantages to having the procedures.

"Clearly," Spong says, "the most common reason for caesarean birth is a medical or obstetrical indication. Yet there are some women who choose or request to have a caesarean either because they're concerned about the childbirth process, the pain associated with labor, (or have) an interest, perhaps, in timing the delivery, or with the hope that by having a caesarean they could prevent future complications such as incontinence, sphincter damage or prolapse."

But, Storm says, "The bottom line is that this is major abdominal surgery." Risks include infection, hemorrhage, damage to internal organs, scar tissue, secondary infertility and longer recovery periods.

"Labor itself a normal process and is beneficial for both the mom and the baby," Spong says. "Not only does the mom have a shorter recovery time, but she has the benefit of not bleeding as much and not having risks of infection or (the other risks Storm mentioned).

"In addition, there's a better bonding for the mom and the baby. The baby, by going through the labor process, is able to transition better to life outside the womb by decreasing the amount of fluid in the baby's lungs and, in fact, the whole process itself and the changes improve the baby's ability to feed and may decrease the risks of infection, as well as allergies and asthma later in life."

Storm asks: "What about subsequent pregnancies and deliveries. Once you choose to have a c-section or you have an emergency c-section, doesn't that box you in for your choices later?"

"It depends on the indication for the caesarean," Spong says. "Clearly, there are women who can attempt to have a vaginal birth after caesarean. There was a large study last year showing that, relatively, that was a beneficial thing and not harmful for the mom and the baby.

"But clearly there are risks, and the risks are higher in a subsequent pregnancies as well as lifelong to both the mom and baby just from undergoing a caesarean birth."