Celebrity C-Sections

[Christine]

I've been pondering this for a few weeks now, following the recent spate of celebrities giving birth: Madonna, Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani to name a few. Each and everyone of them had a planned (most likely elective) C-section. Why? They aren't the only ones either. They are the only ones I can think of right now.

I have my theories on this--which are probably TMI to post here. There are a few reasons that I know of to choose a C-section. But most of us average women would not be allowed to do so because our insurance companies would frown on it. But I guess when you've got money and fame (or you're paying your own medical bills) you can do what you want.

So, why do you think they are all doing this?

 

[Marseeya]

I don't know, it just doesn't seem healthy to me! I had two c-sections and, trust me, I'd rather have had to recover from a delivery.

Maybe they want to have that element of control, down to planning the day and moment that the baby is born. Maybe it fits more "conveniently" into their schedules. They could certainly have labor induced, but you still wouldn't know how long it would take to deliver.

 

[Christine]

I once read an article (which was speculating on the same thing) that said that it was mainly done for "pelvic floor" issues and keeping things "intact." And that's about all I'm gonna say!

 

[drgnfly30]

I've heard that they get a 2fer.... C-section & Tummy Tuck all in one...

 

[Divamomto3]

I was thinking the same thing Christine and I have no idea!! I would think the recovery from a non C Section birth would be much quicker than a
C Section. I've never had a section, but I can imagine that an incision through your abdominal muscle must hurt and possibly cause a saggier tummy...but then again they can just get a tummy tuck.

 

[Christine]

I've heard that they get a 2fer.... C-section & Tummy Tuck all in one...

I didn't think you could do that at the same time.

 

[Kae]

I didn't think you could do that at the same time.

Yup you can. I have a friend that did it. And also had been thinking the same thing, all you ever here is the % of unnessary C-Sections & then all the "stars" have them And I agree with all the above theries.

Kae

 

[diznygirl]

I blame the drs, not the patients. They can't do it unless their dr lets them. And too many drs are more concerned with malpractice or a regular delivery upsetting their own schedule..... As soon as you get to 35/36 weeks drs start talking about "options." And pregnant women, who are sick and tired of being pregnant, are willing to induce or schedule a c-section to get it over with.

 

[pixiemomma]

I think the Jolie and Stephani babies were breech. I would not want an elective c-section but have no right to criticize since I had two voluntary inductions (very easy labors as I was already a good bit dilated before I went in) and it would not break my heart to have a third induction on or before my due date.

 

[Christine]

I think the Jolie and Stephani babies were breech. I would not want an elective c-section but have no right to criticize since I had two voluntary inductions (very easy labors as I was already a good bit dilated before I went in) and it would not break my heart to have a third induction on or before my due date.

Actually, I'm not criticizing them at all (don't know if you thought I was or not). I just thought it odd that just about every single one of them lately was having a C-section.

I also had an induction with my second child and would do it again with any other child I had if it worked for me. My son's due date was on Christmas Day and I did not want to have him that day. So we did it on the 22nd.

Not sure if I would have an elective C-section or not. The cutting of the ab muscles makes me squeamish; however, after my second child (regular birth) I did notice some, ahem, changes.

 

[Divamomto3]

I think the Jolie and Stephani babies were breech. I would not want an elective c-section but have no right to criticize since I had two voluntary inductions (very easy labors as I was already a good bit dilated before I went in) and it would not break my heart to have a third induction on or before my due date.

I hope this isn't too judgemental against health care in other countries, but if you were giving birth for the first time and your baby was breech and you were a multi-millionaire, would you chose to have your surgery in some clinic in Namibia for God's Sake? Unless of course, she flew in her OB from Cedars-Sinai in L.A. and he brought his own sterile surgical supplies.

 

[magicmouse2]

I think babies should be born naturally unless there is a medical complication. There is that magical spark of life that starts the labor off when the time is right. Not when it fits into someones schedule. I had 3 natural childbirths and no regrets. If celebs are worried that much about their 'pelvic floor' why not get it tightened later ? Im sure it is less traumatic and less riskier than going through a Caesarian.

 

[pearlieq]

I'm guessing it mostly has to do with convenience issues. I can imagine the stress of trying to fight your way through a throng of photographers camped outside your house when you go into spontaneous labor. That and I'd probably want to stick with the doctor I trust, rather than take a chance that I'd get whoever happened to be on staff that day, not knowing how much they'd respect my privacy.

That being said, I have no problem with voluntary c-sections. What business is it of mine? Plus, there are definitely upsides to the idea. I would strongly consider one for myself. I've already had a similar kind of surgery, so the idea of it doesn't really bother me.

BTW, I got a chuckle out of a previous poster. Nambia might not be at the forefront of technology, but I think they've figured out how sterilze surgical instruments in the last hundred years!

 

[raammartin]

I thought maybe it was because they don't want to go through the pain of labor. ?

 

[Christine]

I hope this isn't too judgemental against health care in other countries, but if you were giving birth for the first time and your baby was breech and you were a multi-millionaire, would you chose to have your surgery in some clinic in Namibia for God's Sake? Unless of course, she flew in her OB from Cedars-Sinai in L.A. and he brought his own sterile surgical supplies.

I was going to say the same thing but figured that the DIS PC-Police would be all over me.

 

[funhouse8]

Marseeya-

Maybe they want to have that element of control, down to planning the day and moment that the baby is born. Maybe it fits more "conveniently" into their schedules.

This is correct. My sister was a labor & delivery nurse in a very upscale hospital and she told me most of the patients were scheduleing c-Sections so as not to inconvenience themselves.

My first one was a c-section followed by three naturally. Why anyone sould want a C-Section is beyond me. I felt so much better after the natural births.

 

[jtnsami]

I've had 3 c-sections. First 2 were emergency, and the last one was elective. I went through 12 hours of natural labor with my first. OUCH! I can't imagine going any longer than that. Anyway, he had the cord around his neck x2. Second was a complete shock. She was my 31 week preemie. Third was scheduled. I might not have been able to smile, cough, laugh, or sneeze (all muscles feel like they are connected to the abdominal muscles) for a couple of days, but at least I could sit down without having pads and icepacks in my undies. I should add I work in a hospital and have seen the joy of natural child birth. It is a beautiful experience for everyone involved.

 

[lclark0621]

Both Angelina Jolie's & Gwen Stefani's babies were breech. So while the csections were planned, there was a medical reason for them. I also heard Gwen Stefani's doctor tried an External Version, which is a way to turn the baby. It is quite painful, and not always succesful.

 

[va32h]

I'm guessing it mostly has to do with convenience issues. I can imagine the stress of trying to fight your way through a throng of photographers camped outside your house when you go into spontaneous labor. That and I'd probably want to stick with the doctor I trust, rather than take a chance that I'd get whoever happened to be on staff that day, not knowing how much they'd respect my privacy.

I have thought the same things about celebrities and their C-sections, and I came to the same conclusion as above.

With a C-section, they can schedule the time and place, and probably hand-pick the medical staff and make them all sign confidentiality agreements or something. Most of the time, the media doesn't know the baby is born at all, until they announce it.

All the celebrities mentioned in the OP are high-profile tabloid targets. I'm sure the tabloids would pay a for pictures or gossip about them during labor, and that would just create more chaos for the drs that are trying to do their job.

Also, think of the other people in the hospital. Can you imagine trying to visit your dad, after his gallbladder surgery or something, only to find a mass of photographers outside the hospital, because they followed Britney Spears there or something?

Personally, I would not schedule an unnecessary C-section. My dr. suggested an induction, and I refused that too. But I don't have the unique concerns that a celebrity does, so I won't criticize their decision.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Angelina had a breech birth and that was not a planned c-section at all.
Her OB was out their with here anyway.

Babies can change position well until the 3rd trimester before settling down.

My SIL had a breech baby and it was somewhere in month 9 that she was giving the option to try and turn the baby or not. But due to some other issues that I do not recall--she was not a candidate for turning and a c-section was schedule.

But yes I do think that schedule c-sections occur at a much higher rate on celebrity births--but there are some celeb moms who do need it medically and others who have the baby via the non-surgical way.