Most doctors I have met consider Cesarean sections to be almost routine. That is, it's no big deal to have the surgery. Your obstetrician talks about your recovery time in terms of days or weeks. But the truth is, you never recover. You have been sliced through by a knife. I still have minor pain in my incision area when I exercise. But that's not what I'm talking about.

This summer, my mother underwent surgery for peritoneal dialysis (inserting a tube in the stomach for dialysis) and the surgeon was worried the surgery would fail because there were so many adhesions, or scarring, from her cesareans and subsequent hysterectomy.

A cesarean also increases your chances of having to have a hysterectomy (which can lead to further complications and hormonal imbalance). It increases your chances of having placenta accreta in future pregnancies, in which the placenta adheres to the scar tissue.

Obstetricians won't take into account or discuss the long-term repercussions of the surgery because it is likely (s)he won't be dealing with the problems that may happen down the line.

But a cesarean is major surgery and don't let your doctor act like it isn't. You should be afraid.

Furthermore, your fears should be taken seriously. Your future reproductive and overall health should be factored into your care. You shouldn't be treated as if you are irrational or mentally ill, as Dr. Claudia Holland kept saying I was, because you disagree with an unnecessary cesarean. (I don't think an obstetrician should be commenting on your mental health, in the first place. Better to leave that to a psychiatrist.) You shouldn't be induced without your consent as I was by Dr. Holland. Dr. Holland said that I had to have a cesarean right that minute because the operating room might not be available at night, which is when I wanted to wait until. Is that a good reason for a cesarean?

My friend just gave birth and she said on e-mail, "They wanted to induce me on my due date, but I went early. I showed them!" She showed them. Her words reveal what she felt: that her doctor was an antagonist and not someone interested in her optimal care. It is really sad that pregnant women have to defend themselves from their own doctors. I wonder if the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is aware of this or if they care.