For further information, contact Melissa Maimann at Essential Birth Consulting.
The number of … Florida babies born by cesarean section is rising so fast that even some obstetricians say surgical births are out of hand.
… 43 percent of Broward County births and 41 percent in Palm Beach County were done by C-section … Florida, at 39 percent, ranked second highest behind New Jersey.
… cesareans cause … more complications … than do natural births, and they pose increasing risks with every subsequent pregnancy …
“Absolutely, something has to change,” … “The C-section rate is three times higher [than 20 years ago], yet babies are not healthier. It’s not helping.
… C-section rates vary sharply. A few South Florida doctors deliver three-fourths of their babies by cesarean, and a few do almost none … About half the births at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale and Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee were by C-section, yet others do two-thirds naturally.
There are medical malpractice fears. Obstetricians and hospitals … order C-sections for any irregularity before or during labor … Almost no doctors let women try natural birth after a prior C-section …
Doctors also may push mothers to C-sections if the labor drags on for 12 hours, if drugs fail to induce the baby or if the baby is big …
… Doctors contend they are under pressure to deliver surgically. If they don’t and something goes wrong, they are sued. As a result, almost no doctors do natural delivery for breech or multiple births.
“If there’s any untoward event, the first thing they ask is, ‘Why wasn’t there a C-section?’” … “If there’s any doubt, there’s no incentive to take a chance.”
… “The philosophy is, you will never be sorry you did a C-section, but the reverse is not always true.”
… Babies born by cesarean are more likely to go to intensive care … Surgical births … risk infections and anesthesia reactions. And mothers who have repeat C-sections are more prone to have abnormal placenta growth that causes bleeding and complications.
The first cesarean is now the key decision … “Patients have the conception that C-section is a simple surgery … “Every subsequent surgery for C-section has more risk. “About 95 percent of Florida women who have cesareans will deliver every other baby that way. Most doctors and hospitals refuse to perform … VBAC, saying the stress can cause uterine rupture, a complication in less than 1 percent of births.
… Nermarí Broderick said her doctor pushed her toward a cesarean even though she didn’t want it and had no medical risks. So she had two sons at a natural birth center.
Melissa Maimann, Essential Birth Consulting 0400 418 448
I too am concerned at what appears to be the propensity to cut first, answer questions later that is permeating birthing. My daughter had her first caesarian after being 10 days late, based on her dates. The second baby was described as being bigger than the first as so he too was delivered by C section. He was more than 500gms smaller than his brother. There was no sound reason to have given my daughter a C section. Now expecting here third (and last) child, there is no possibility of delivering vaginally. This is an experience she will never have. I believe there are many psychological effects of giving birth which prepare the bonding relationship so necessary to infant health. I am fearful for women now as they really are vulnerable to the other forces driving excessive section use today.
Dear Veronica,
Yes, there’s a propensity to cut first, but often the questions are not asked later.
Your daughter has every chance of having a vaginal birth, even though she has had 2 caesareans. Many women have gone on to have vaginal births after multiple caesareans.
The key is to employ a private midwife and either plan a home birth, or birth in hospital, either with a private OB or as a public patient.
I recently birthed with a woman who was planning a vaginal birth after 5 caesareans, and it has been done before.
I completely agree that there are many psychological aspects of giving birth that prepare the bonding relationship that is necessary for the health of the baby. There are also physical aspects of vaginal birth that are important. Caesarean increases the baby’s risk of developing diabetes, asthma and allergies – this is all related to the lack of immune protection / development that is afforded to the baby by vaginal birth.
Melissa.