Giving birth, for a staggering 29.1% of all women nationally happened by cesarean section in 2004. These latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control showed the rate of vaginal birth and vaginal birth after cesarean declining and c-sections increasing by 40% since 1996. In certain regions of the U.S., we are seeing that 1 out of 3 women is giving birth surgically, by c-section. Though a cesarean section can be a life saving operation, common sense would tell us that giving birth through a surgical incision isn’t ordinarily preferable to the normal design of vaginal birth! So, are there ways to avoid c-section and achieve vaginal birth? Absolutely!
The first key to avoiding a c-section when giving birth is to understand what the real risks of cesarean delivery are. It is easier to decline unnecessary surgery if you have all of the facts ahead of time. The recent landmark survey, reflected that women did not feel fully informed of the risks of c-section by their doctors and that, despite claims of “maternal choice” by physicians, only one woman in the survey chose giving birth surgically with no medical reason. Some of the risks of c-section for the mother include infection, injury to surrounding organs, chronic pain from scar tissue, hysterectomy and in rare cases death. Some of the risks of c-section for the infant include respiratory distress, prematurity, surgical injuries and early breastfeeding difficulties. Perhaps one category of risk not often talked about is the risk to future pregnancies including placental problems, unexplained stillbirth and uterine rupture.
The second key to achieving a vaginal birth and avoiding a c-section is to choose the proper labor support, care provider and care setting. Klaus, Kennell and Klaus document in “Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth” (1993), that hiring a doula can decrease your chances of having a cesarean by 50%. Hiring a doula is particularly important if you will be giving birth in a hospital. Choosing a midwife as your care provider will not only give you the benefit of a personal, emotionally connected relationship with your birth attendant, but your chances of experiencing the cascading effects of technological interventions, including c-section, will be significantly reduced. Having a midwife attend your birth out-of-hospital, in a birth center or in your home, should be an option that all women with low risk pregnancies consider.
Giving birth is an intensely personal and life changing experience in a woman’s life. Become educated about normal vaginal birth and c-section. In the unusual circumstance that a cesarean section becomes medically necessary, you can feel confident in making the decisions that are in the best interest of you and your baby. Have confidence in your body’s ability to do it’s job and surround yourself with people who support and affirm a philosophy of giving birth in the manner it was designed to be.
To learn more visit
http://birthdefectcauses.blogspot.com
http://www.pregnancy-guidelines.com
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