Professional Documents
Culture Documents
At that time, I vowed to share what I had learned about the risks of C-sections
and the possible motivations behind promoting them with as many expectant
parents as possible. Although I have stuck to this vow while in private practice
for the past ten years, it has been discouraging to see the rate of C-section
deliveries continuously climb over the years.
To be fair, there is some evidence in the medical literature that indicates that a
planned C-section delivery may provide the following benefits:
Cord prolapse
Breech presentation that doesn't respond positively to manual
manipulation
Abnormalities with heart rate
Inflammation and possible infection of the membranes that
surround the fetus (chorioamnionitis)
But these potential benefits are, in my opinion, far outweighed by the potential
risks of unnecessary C-section deliveries.
A major new study published in this month's issue of the Canadian Medical
Association Journal warns that C-section deliveries may be three time more
dangerous for healthy mothers than natural vaginal deliveries. The study
indicates that the most common health risks for women who undergo a C-section
delivery are:
Other studies have shown that planned caesarean deliveries are associated with
an increased risk of death or health complications in the newborn. Two recent
studies published in Obstetrics & Gynecology (2006) and the American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology (2005) found that full-term babies whose mothers
chose to have a C-section before experiencing labour were at higher risk for the
following:
As Dr. Robert Liston, a lead author of the most recent study cited above, has
said, "Look, caesarean section is not just like falling off a log. There are health
issues that result from the operation, significantly more so than a planned
vaginal delivery."
Expectant mothers need to know that there are serious risks to choosing to have
a C-section. Ideally, such a choice should not be made because of a busy
schedule, vanity-related issues like fear of weight gain, or the desire to avoid
pain associated with childbirth.
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Excellent for those seeking support for a natural
childbirth.
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and
Healing - Provides useful information on a variety of women's health issues.
Reclaiming Our Health: Exploding the Medical Myth and Embracing the Sources
of True Healing - One of the best books I have ever read in this arena.