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Top 10 Ways to Have An Unnecessary Cesarean

In “honor” of Cesarean Section Awareness month, this post has been making the rounds, with a new “way” being added by each blogger.  I first saw the list in “Faint Star Light” with 7 reasons.  Then “Nursing Birth” joined the party, and finally “Enjoy Birth” jumped on the band wagon.  And now…me.  ;-)  (you should note that each author has put her own spin on the text–so go read them all!)

#10 Only take the hospital sponsored childbirth classes, or no classes at all.  After all, an independent viewpoint isn’t important–you’d accept a Ford dealer telling you that the Ford Windstar is the ONLY option for a family vehicle, and never consider a Honda Oddessy or Toyota Sienna, right?

 

#9 Choose a care provider without research – Some OB’s are cesarean happy.  Some OB’s say they support vaginal birth or VBAC’s but their statistics don’t back it up.  Make sure to ask your care provider about her cesarean rate–if it is over 20%, she ISN’T committed to avoiding cesarean–and that is being generous!  My OB practice in my first pregnancy had a 16% cesarean rate (and they aren’t VBAC friendly, despite “talking the talk”), so I know it is possible for even an OB to have such a rate. 

 

#8  Agree to a labor induction without medical indication. – This is a sure fire way to make a birth more of a challenge.  Ask LOTS of questions.  Or, the variation on this, the “back door induction“…allow yourself to be convinced that you are in labor and in need of “augmentation” when you aren’t really in labor.

 

#7  Go the hospital in the early phases of labor.   Because hey, what helps you to relax and allow your body to “do its thing” more than entering a bright, noisy environment where people you’ve never met before want to touch your most private parts.  Remember…(assuming you conceived naturally)…the environment that was necessary to get the baby *in* is the best one to get the baby *out.*  Including some smooching if you are so moved.

         

#6  Don’t eat or drink during a long labor.   Because you really don’t want to do what I did.  I mean really, eating a breakfast befitting a lumberjack while having contractions 3 minutes apart was just CRAZY.  I didn’t have a crystal ball that told me I wouldn’t eat again for nearly 24 hrs.

         

#5  Get an amniotomy too soon.  Because hey, after having 2 or more vaginal births, it’s fun to have an emergency cesarean for cord prolapse (yes, despite what one of my cousins is being told to scare her into a primary cesarean with her second baby, it is QUITE common for babies to still be “high and floating” until a multipara is in active labor–even my 5th baby, who was a petite 6 lbs 3 oz didn’t “engage” until well into labor).  Scaring all your family half to death is fun!  (Yes, I do know someone who had this happen–and frustratingly enough, the family was singing the praises of the Dr. who broke the water because he knew just what to do to save the baby!)

          

#4  Accept pitocin to induce or stimulate contractions.

          

#3  Request an epidural.  Despite having 5 babies with nary a pain medication on board (okay, I did take one dose of Tylenol with Sophie after my midwife confirmed that I wasn’t making progress), I don’t begrudge women epidurals.  I just think women ought to be aware that being restricted to bed increases your risk of having a posterior baby, which increases your chance of cesarean.  Having an epidural (or Pitocin) also means constant fetal monitoring, which has also been shown to increase the risk of cesarean–without improving fetal outcomes.  And finally, I’ve had clients who needed to change positions in order to birth–two in particular needed to use hands & knees.  If they hadn’t been able to get into that position, they would have either needed a cesarean, or had a very poor fetal outcome (9 lb 11 oz baby with shoulder dystocia–mom flipped to hands & knees and the baby slid right out with no tearing.  Had she been stuck on her back she would have needed a big episiotomy and possibly forceps).

          

#2  Accept hospital staff’s comments on lack of progress without challenge.  Don’t concern yourself with stats that shown that “failure to progress” cesearans are much more likely to be performed at 4 p.m. than 4 a.m.–its not that your care provider is just wanting to get home for dinner. 

          

#1 Just ask – or Failure to Ask Questions! – Sure, some moms ask for cesareans, though despite media reports that make you think it is common, survey research indicates that it is very rare.  It is more likely that moms are told they need a cesarean because of xyz (breech baby, twins, big baby) and they don’t ask questions, get second opinions, etc. 

Tags: cesarean, Childbirth classes, chose care provider, fetal monitoring, Induction, pitocin