Introduction
Childbirth is an extremely complicated and essential procedure that can determine the future development and health of any child. It has always been considered that natural birth is the best and the least dangerous way to deliver a baby; however, many women have to go through a cesarean section due to medical concerns. Therefore, the following paper will discuss the phenomena od of cesarean section in more detail and suggest why the increasing popularity of this procedure in the United States is a problem.
Topic Explanation
Cesarean section, which is also known as a C-section, can be defines as the surgery used to deliver a baby. This kind of childbirth is usually assigned to women in case there is a risk of complications during the natural process, a mother has a special medical condition, or a child is not positioned appropriately. In the contemporary medical environment, cesarean section is implemented for a variety of reasons which leads to its rising popularity. Due to the fact that the procedure is also is associated with many issues following the delivery both for the mother and her child, it is considered to be a problem in the United States.
Literature Review
The increase in cesarean sections is caused by different medical, psychosocial, and cultural factors. If before the procedure were performed by the doctors only when a child or their mother were in danger, now there are many other elements involved. As mentioned by Mylonas and Friese (2015), emotional distress, anxiety, and women’s personal beliefs are also taken into consideration when deciding to the delivery type. Thus, the increase in essential factors also results in the growth of cesarean sections.
While cesarean section can save lives of both a mother and her child, it can also lead to specific complications after the delivery. For instance, it is proved that children born through surgery are more likely to suffer from illnesses connected to immune function (Kristensen & Henriksen, 2016). At the same time, women can experience severe organ injuries that might prevent them from having other children (Mylonas & Friese, 2015). Hence, despite its advantages, this surgical procedure should be used with caution.
Relevance to Nursing
The concept of cesarean section is extremely relevant to nursing. Nursing professionals need to possess enough knowledge about this topic in order to be able to make recommendations to their patients and create appropriate treatment plans for those going through the C-section. In addition, by understanding this topic and constantly learning more through observations and analysis, nursing departments have an opportunity to advance their operations in the area of childbirth.
Patient/Parent Education
It should also be mentioned that doctors and nurses should not be the only ones to understand the elements involved in the process of a C-section, indicators for its implementation, and possible negative consequences. Patients, their parents, and relatives should also stay educated about the process and results of a cesarean delivery. Their interest should be based on the idea that if implemented, the procedure will have a direct influence on the health and well-being of a mother and her child.
Nursing Interventions
The main role of nurses in the situation when the cesarean section is needed or the mother wants because of psychological reasons is to provide emotional help. Nurses need to establish strong trustful relationships with the patients and engage in open communication regarding the risks and possible complications after the procedure. In this case, medical specialists can ensure that their patients will feel secure and trust their healthcare providers during the whole process of delivery.
Impact on the Health of Women and Newborns
The main reason why the rising popularity of cesarean sections is considered to be a problem for the United States is the fact that it leads to a variety of complications both for women and their children. As mentioned earlier in the paper, children deliver by C-section are at higher risk of suffering from immune-related illnesses, and women can experience serious organ injuries. In addition, some researches revealed that caesarean section increases the likelihood of asthma in infants (Huang et al., 2015). These are only a few of the many complications that can be caused by the procedure. That is why the United States healthcare industry is worried about the increase in the number of C-sections.
Ethical/Legal Considerations
There might be some ethical and legal considerations connected to the concept of cesarean section. Even though the procedure is considered to be moral for most people all around the world, specific cultures can state that children should be born only through a natural process. At the same time, there are no legal regulations that would prohibit a C-section since it is an official medical practice that is recognized by healthcare specialists.
Suggestions for Future Research
It is essential to continue conducting research regarding cesarean sections because it can make a contribution to the advancement of healthcare industry. While having knowledge about the conditions which require this procedure and its advantages and disadvantages, there should be more information about the risk factors that determine whether the outcome will be negative. This strategy might help to decrease the number of people and children who suffer from detrimental outcomes of a C-section.
References
Huang, L., Chen, Q., Zhao, Y., Wang, W., Fang, F., & Bao, Y. (2015). Is elective cesarean section associated with a higher risk of asthma? A meta-analysis. Journal of Asthma, 52(1), 16-25.
Kristensen, K., & Henriksen, L. (2016). Cesarean section and disease associated with immune function. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 137(2), 587-590.
Mylonas, I., & Friese, K. (2015). Indications for and risks of elective cesarean section. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 112(29-30), 489-495.