Top 10 To Avoid UNNECESSARY

Cesarean Birth & Improve Maternal-Child Health

In the past, a lot of cesareans were scheduled by doctors who needed to go on vacation so it was convenient for them however; if a woman wants to prevent this, she should work with a licensed obstetrician who works with midwives and doulas

Healthier outcomes occur when the person giving birth is educated about what's happening to their body and how to give birth. Studies prove that when people giving birth are educated or ask questions about the care they're receiving, C-section rates are lower.

There are ways to reduce the chances of having a cesarean birth and improve maternal-child outcomes:

#1 Interview your Care Provider

Some of the practices used on laboring women today are based on research from many years ago. It's perfectly acceptable to ask your doctor:

How they measure cervical dilation

How they assess when labor is slow vs. stalled

How long they will allow labor to unfold as long as both mom and baby are doing well.

For their personal C-section rates: If they aren't forthcoming or if they don't know off-hand, take it as a warning sign. Shop around for a doctor that has lower rates of a cesarean.

#2 Find out your Hospital's Rate of Cesarean

Call the hospital and find out their rate of cesarean. It will shock you that some hospitals in the same city will have such varying rates of cesarean birth. If those rates are high, that's a red flag. The WHO estimates medically necessary C-section rates to be around 10-15%. If your care provider's rates are anywhere close to that, you've found a good one.

#3 Stay Home in Early Labor