Get Your Hands Off That Knife and Step Away From My Abdomen
I just heard today about another birth where a first time mom was cut open because she did not have her baby fast enough.
What is sad about this oft repeated story? First, these c-sections are not really needed so often. Second, we seem to forget that we are talking about women and infants. We are literally damaging them, body and soul for no good reason.
Now PROOF that PATIENCE is an important part of labor and an often forgotten aspect of medical training.
This recent study is a great example. You can read an article about the study here
Some of my favorite quotes from the above mentioned article:
"...almost half of the cesareans that took place after labor had started were due to "failure to progress," and the study suggests that doctors aren't acknowledging that labor takes time and doesn't follow a predictable pattern in women, especially first-time mothers. A high proportion of these C-sections were performed before the women's cervix had dilated to six centimeters, which is still considered an early stage of labor, and among women who had been in active labor for only two or three hours."
Yes- labor takes time. And no, all women do not do it in the same way.
"...found C-section rates were twice as high after induction of labor compared with women undergoing spontaneous labor. Labor is often induced to speed up labor and delivery."
And yes, induction does increase c-sections. But you have probably heard me talk about that before.
When will this change? What can we do to change it? Maybe the first step is to
1)Simply enjoy your pregnancy. If we like it (and yes I know it is uncomfortable) and enjoy some of the special moments of pregnancy rather than just focusing on the negative, maybe we won't be so quick to jump at an induction.
2)We can carefully choose our care providers.
3)We can exercise and eat well to stay low risk and keep our blood pressure normal and all other signs good.
4)And one important thing we can do, is to just not go to the hospital so early. If we go and we are still in early labor, just go home. Enjoy the beauty of labor on your own turf. There is no pitocin at home.
Birth DOES NOT have to look like this:
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