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April is Cesarean Awareness Month!

At this point, we probably all know at least a few women who have successfully given birth by cesarean. So why is it a concern?

A few things that are coming to mind are:

Subsequent pregnancies can be affected by a cesarean birth. It is not common, but it is possible for the placenta to attach over scar tissue in the uterus, leading to complications.

Breastfeeding is more difficult for mothers/babies who have a cesarean birth. Is it the medication? Time apart? Physical discomfort? IV Fluids? A combination of factors?
It takes longer for the milk to come in with a cesarean birth, which can cause the baby to lose weight and then receive supplementation with formula, which interferes with nursing.

Finding a provider who will help you to have a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean(VBAC). If you are pregnant and had a cesarean for your previous birth, be sure to ask your potential care provider right away about VBAC, because there are care providers out there who refuse to "allow" them. How will your provider help you to have a vaginal birth? Do they encourage women to have a VBAC? Or encourage them to have another surgery?

A general problem that I have with the Cesarean Trend:
20-40% of women's bodies have NOT CHANGED in some drastic way that would not permit vaginal birth. It is the way that we TREAT women's bodies that HAS CHANGED.

By KCdoula at 04/01/2008 - 7:31pm | KCdoula's blog | add new comment | email this page

31.1% of American babies are

31.1% of American babies are delivered by cesarean section, major abdominal surgery. The World Health Organization has been saying for years that rates above 10-15% for ANY nation (including ones with poor prenatal care and living conditions) are high enough that the risks of the surgery outweight any possible benefits. This means that as much as 20% of new mothers and babies are being put at unnecessary risk.

April has been designated as Cesarean Awareness Month. Take the time this month to learn more about the cesarean rates in the United States, in your state, and in your local area. Visit the International Cesarean Awareness Network's web site and get involved.
http://www. ican-online. org.

Consider too, getting involved in fighting for VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) by writing to your senators and hospitals that do not "allow" VBAC. In Colorado, the majority of Western Slope hospitals now have VBAC "bans" in place, directly interfering with the human rights of women to birth their babies as nature intended, physiologically. Research has proven time and again that VBAC is safer than an automatic repeat cesarean for the vast majority of women. Medical law makes such bans illegal because they remove a woman's right to choose what will be done to her body. It is a fight worth fighting. Again, the ICAN web site is one to visit to read about this issue.

Get involved. Make change. The health of women and babies depend on it.

Saffron Doula
Colorado Springs, CO

By saffrondoula at Thu, 04/03/2008 - 2:39pm | reply | email this page

April is Cesarean Awareness Month

Thank you for your input.
I gave birth on the Western Slope, in my little house, in a lovely valley where many women gave birth at home and breastfed their babies. I'm grateful for those mamas who taught me so much!

I haven't been to a hospital there and didn't know that there was a "Ban on VBAC." That's very unfortunate and we do need families to fight this reduction of health care options.

Usually it's not vaginal birth itself that is dangerous. With VBAC and first labors, the risks of complications are increased by giving/using drugs (pitocin, misoprostil) that cause the uterus to contract abnormally.

The International Cesarean Awareness Network has a great website, with a forum for mother's to share their stories about VBAC. There is support for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean.

By KCdoula at Fri, 04/04/2008 - 3:23pm | reply | email this page