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Pregnancy &
Parenting Home > Pregnancy & Childbirth
12 Things You Can Do to Avoid
Having a C-Section
  Recent
data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the
cesarean rate is at an all-time high of 29.1 percent. Studies
estimate that as many as half of cesareans performed may be
unnecessary. This type of intervention can needlessly increase the
cost of childbirth, and worse, may actually increase the medical
risk for mothers and babies.
According to Judith Lothian, co-author of “The
Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence,”
“Many common medical interventions can hinder the process of birth
by prolonging labor, discouraging you, and interfering with your
ability to find comfort. These interventions can certainly be
beneficial if they’re used appropriately, when complications
develop or the risk for complications is high. But they’re often
used inappropriately on healthy women whose labors are progressing
normally.”
In fact, many common interventions such as Pitocin
(used to stimulate contractions) and epidural anesthesia can
increase your risk of having a cesarean section.
From Judith Lothian and Charlotte DeVries, co-authors of “The
Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence,” (Meadowbrook
Press, $12) here are 12 things to do to help avoid needless
interventions or an unnecessary c-section:
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Let your labor start and progress on its own
unless there are clear, compelling health reasons to induce labor
or speed up labor.
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Discuss intermittent (instead of continuous) fetal
monitoring with your caregiver.
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Remember that your body knows how to give birth.
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Plan for excellent labor support.
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Move and change positions often during labor.
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Labor at home for as long as possible.
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Work actively with your contractions.
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Keep up your energy by eating and drinking.
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Try lots of non-drug comfort measures before
considering an epidural.
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If you have an epidural, let it wear off before
pushing.
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If you’ve had a previous cesarean, visit the
Maternity Center Association (MCA) Web site at
www.MaternityWise.org and check out the “Should I
Choose VBAC or Repeat C-Section?” page. Choose a caregiver who
supports your decision to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after
cesarean).
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If your baby is breech, discuss external version
(manually turning your baby head-down) with your caregiver.
“The
Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence”
is the first and only pregnancy and childbirth guide endorsed by
Lamaze International. It presents practical information to help
expectant parents achieve a healthy, happy and fulfilling birth
experience.
Author: FeatureSource Staff
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