New Post C-Section Treatment Reduces Risk of Opioid Addiction

Health Wellness

Cesarean delivery of a baby is more commonly referred to as a C-section. It’s a surgical procedure where a doctor makes an incision into the abdomen of pregnant woman and then makes a second incision into the uterus. This provides direct access to the baby for immediate delivery and then the incisions are sutured closed.

The majority of C-sections these days are performed for first time mothers. The reasons vary. Sometimes they are performed because labor is not progressing properly, or the baby is in distress. Sometimes they are due to the baby being in the wrong position or a woman carrying two or more babies. Other reasons for a C-section include the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck, a problem with the placenta or any other health concern that could make a normal vaginal birth difficult or dangerous.

Some medical experts believe that C-sections are performed far too often in the United States and are more due to convenience than for necessity.

I knew one woman who opted to have a C-section simply because she was told her baby was a week overdue. I know of another case where a woman was prompted to have a C-section because her doctor was going on vacation.

According to one source, 25.8% of births in the United States, as of 2017, used a C-section. The rate varies depending on what state one lives in. The states with the highest rates of C-sections are: Nebraska (34%) Louisiana (32%), Florida (31%), West Virginia (31%), Nevada (29%), New York (29%), Virginia (29%), Mississippi (29%), Texas (29%) and Alaska-New Jersey-Georgia (28%). The states with the fewest C-sections are: New Mexico-Idaho-South Dakota (17%), Minnesota (18%) and Oregon-Utah-Delaware (21%).

Since a C-section is major surgery, the new moms generally spend a few days in the hospital before being sent home. That’s largely due to the possible complications associated with C-sections, which include: infection, bleeding, reaction to anesthesia and blood clots. (Did you know that babies born via a C-section are prone to what is known as transient tachypnea – abnormally fast breathing. It usually occurs during the few days after birth.)

A major part of recovery for a new mom who has just undergone a C-section is dealing with the pain. After all, they had their abdomen and uterus cut open, spread and then sewn back together. That has to hurt once the anesthesia wears off.

Many doctors prescribe some form of painkiller that contains an opioid to help the mom cope with the pain. Sadly, this can and does lead to the mom becoming addicted to the opioid drug and we all know there is a huge epidemic of opioid addiction in the United States.

That’s why some doctors are turning to a device called ON-Q. it’s a pain pump that does NOT use any narcotics. It looks like a water balloon that has a catheter leading into the incision. The device uses the same type of local anesthesia that a dentist uses, so that it only numbs the site of the incision.

Women who have used the ON-Q tend to get out of the hospital sooner and have an easier time recovering at home. It also allows them to spend more time with their newborn and other children as well as prevents them from becoming an opioid addict.

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