Thursday, March 24, 2011

The "necessary" cesarean


I am so sick of listening to people talk about how they needed a c-section.  Every time you try to have a discussion about the over use of cesarean sections in this country, you will get women adamantly defending the fact that their cesarean was of course one of the necessary ones.  For whatever reason they give, they all have some explanation for why they had to have one.

Now let me just start off by admitting that I do believe a small number of c-sections are not only necessary, but save lives.  I am not crazy, I know there are cases out there where a c-section was very necessary.  But that being said, they are being grossly overused and even caused by irresponsible choices made by both doctors and patients.

The United States has one of the highest rates of maternal death (death of the mother after birth) with 40 other countries having better survival rates for mothers.  Not surprisingly, the highest cases of death are in women that have had cesarean sections, a major surgery that greatly increases the odds of experiencing infections as well as fatal hemorrhaging and blood clots.

The c-section rate in this country is now 32.9%.  That means that 1 in 3 women that give birth in the United States do so by having the baby cut out of them.  The World Health Organization recommends that the rate of cesarean sections in developed countries should fall between 10-15% of all births.  That means that the US performs at least 2 to 3 times the number of recommended c-sections with some hospitals, doctors and areas having over 50% rates!

So why are so many women having c-sections?  The cold hard reality of the matter is that most c-sections not only could have been avoided, but were probably caused by the choices the mother made or allowed to be made for her.  Yes, at the risk of pissing off a lot of women, I am saying that I believe you may have actually caused your c-section to be “necessary”.

Think I’m wrong?  Prove it to me.  If you can read this and you don’t fall into at least one of these categories and made at least some of these classic mistakes, then you might actually be one of the 10-15% of women that “should” have had a c-section.

Here are some of the classic reasons women give as to why their cesarean section “necessary”:

My baby was too big.
Wrong.  I am so sick of hearing doctors and women telling other people that their hips are too small or their baby is too big for vaginal birth.  Tiny women all over this world give birth to large babies.  This is not the 19th century where malnutrition, rickets, and polio are causing women to have malformed pubic bones.

The reality is that women and doctors are making choices that make it harder for babies to fit through the birth canal.  A semi reclined position where a mother is sitting on her coccyx, one frequently taken while in the pushing stage when baby’s head needs to most room to maneuver through the birth canal, does not allow the pelvic to open naturally and is a huge factor in how wide the pelvic is.  Squatting can actually widen the pelvic opening by 30%!

Also, in cases of a big baby, women are often encouraged to induce as to not allow the baby to gain any more weight.  Not only does the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) not recommend inducing a baby because it is suspected to be a large or macrosomic, studies show that induction for this reason does not lead to better outcomes for the baby and also nearly doubles the risk of having a cesarean section.

My labor stalled/I had failure to progress.
Translation, my body wasn’t ready to deliver.  Often this is because the mother was induced for some reason or another without understanding the risks involved.  We may be able to artificially start labor, but we can’t always make the body fully cooperate.

Dr. Sears has this to say about failure to progress:
“Most cases, though, are due to inadequate support for the laboring woman and violation of the basic physiology of labor. Of all the reasons for a cesarean, "failure to progress" is the most under your control. No other system in your body "fails" 25 percent of the time. Why should your "delivery" system? Emotional and physical support for the mother, walking during labor, upright pushing, along with the prudent use of medication and technology will help labor progress by increasing the efficiency of uterine contractions rather than interfering with them.”
Some “failure to progress” isn’t a failure at all and is actually just a natural part of labor called the natural alignment plateau, or N.A.P.  This lack of dilation we see during a N.A.P. does not mean the labor stalled at all, but that the mother’s body is actually allowing something else to happen.  Sometimes the mother needs rest or calories, but a woman’s body will also stop dilating to allow the baby to get into a better position or slow things down if that baby needs that so they don’t get stressed.  If you give yourself and your baby some time, you will start dilating as soon as you and your baby are ready.

But what usually happens once you get labeled with “failure to progress” is that steps are taken to force things to move along at a more acceptable rate.  Usually this involves breaking the bag of water or giving Pitocin.  Speeding things up is exactly the wrong thing to do when your body is trying to slow things down.  The baby can get stuck if they were in a bad position and needed to move, or they become stressed by the stronger unnatural contractions brought on artificially when the mother’s body was trying to allow the baby to rest.  Which brings me to the next one…

My baby was in distress.
Well of course they were!  When we force a baby to endure labor before they were ready, or we cause unnaturally strong contractions using Pitocin and other drugs, they are going to become stressed!

The contractions caused by Pitocin differ from the way a uterus naturally contracts.  Contractions from Pitocin are stronger and more stressful on the baby.  You don’t get the slow, gradual buildup like with a natural contraction, and it causes the uterus to contract all at once squeezing from all sides instead of gently pushing the baby down into the birth canal.  This causes the baby to have a much harder time coping and recovering from the contractions and can cause the oxygen levels to drop sending the baby into distress.  This is why you much have electronic fetal monitoring of the baby at all times when on Pitocin.

We frequently cause our babies to go into distress when we do not allow labor to progress at the natural pace set by the mother and baby.

The cord was around the baby’s neck.
I just had to throw this one in there because I heard it just the other day and I couldn’t help but actually roll my eyes.  I am not trying to offend anyone, but this was just the icing on a very frustrating conversation about birth where another baby had to be saved via c-section for completely “necessary” reasons!

So because the cord being around the baby’s neck just sounds so incredibly frightening, let me start off by saying that one in three babies have a cord wrapped around the neck at birth.  This is not dangerous at all and very, very common.  Babies are born every day with cords around their neck and the doctor or midwife simply unwraps it once the head is out.  There are extremely rare cases where it can be an issue for some babies, but chances are, it was not dangerous for your baby.

I had a c-section last time and I think it’s just better to have another one.
If you don’t want to bother educating yourself about the risks to you and your baby and the many reasons why you might want to at least try to avoid another c-section, then that is probably why you had one in the first place.

I know that is harsh, but it is time to accept responsibility.  Too many women hand over control to doctors and other people to make their decisions for them so that they don’t have to take responsibility for their choices.  So many people spend more time researching what camera or car they should buy and don’t bother to find out anything about birth.  Well guess what, there is a really good chance that your choice to not educate yourself and make blind decisions is exactly what got you into that operating room.  You can tell me all the reasons you want as to why you needed a c-section, but the reality is that there were probably choices made along the way that caused the exact “emergency” that led to your c-section.


So now what?
Now that you know that some c-sections can be avoided, what do you do?  Here’s a few simple suggestions.  They may not prevent every c-section, but you are a lot less likely to end up in a position to need a c-section if you just do these simple things.

Educate yourself.
This is probably the most important advice I can give you.  Educate yourself.  Educate yourself about labor, birth, and what to expect.  Educate yourself about the way medical procedures and technology can help when used properly to aid labor when necessary or harm when misused and allowed to interfere with the birth process.  Educate yourself about the risks and side effects of commonly used procedures since most doctors do not thoroughly explain them.

There are many, many resources out there.  Read books.  Take a birth class like Bradley or Brio.  Knowledge is a powerful tool in the birth process.

Hire a doula.
A doula is a support person that is there to help a mother during the labor and birth process.  The emotional and physical support a woman can give another is invaluable.  It’s extremely helpful to have a person ready to back you up physically and emotionally while adding their vast knowledge and experience to help you through labor.  Generally speaking, women that have doulas present at their birth have a lower rate of interventions, including the need for pain medication, Pitocin, vacuum or forceps extraction, and a lower occurrence of cesarean sections.

Don’t get induced.
Induction is frequently done by breaking the bag of water or using other powerful drugs to interfere with the body’s natural progression into labor by causing or trying to speed it up.

Being induced increases the odds that your baby will experience fetal distress, abnormal heart rate, shoulder dystocia, and need to be admitted to the NICU.  It also increased the odds that a vacuum or forceps will be used to deliver your baby.  If that is not enough reason to avoid being induced, recently, a study found that being induced more than doubles your chance of having a c-section.  Woman who are induced are twice as likely to need a c-section as women that are not.  (click here find out more about the study)

Move.
Women are often forced to stay in bed because of all the equipment they are plugged into.  They don’t always force you flat on your back anymore, but they still don’t want you walking around or crouching on your knees, especially once labor progresses.  Being free to move around helps during both the labor and the birth.  Labors progress better when the mother can move and movement is an important part of coping with the contractions.  Baby also has more room to fit and maneuver through the birth canal when you are not confined to a bed while sitting on your coccyx.  If you must be in bed, try to at least kneel, crouch, or lie on your side to allow for a more open pelvis.

And finally…
Trust your body.
When we interfere with the natural progression of labor, we are asking for trouble.  A woman’s body is designed to give birth.  It knows when to start labor, when to slow it down, and when to move.  Unfortunately, women are taught not to trust their bodies and allow doctors, nurses, and machines tell them what they should be doing.


Moral of the story…

Take responsibility.  No one is telling you that you need have to have an unmedicated birth.  No one is telling you that you can’t have Pitocin or even an elective cesarean section if that is what you want.  But it’s time to stop acting like a victim.

Sometimes there are cases where there is absolutely nothing anybody could have done to change the outcome of a birth.  But more often then not, the choices you do or don’t make will affect your birth.  If you refuse to acknowledge that you can greatly influence the outcome of your birth, then at the very least, stop telling people that you had to have a cesarean section, not because I think you are wrong, but for every pregnant woman or future mother within hearing distance.

With the c-section rate in this country being so high, one in three birth stories a woman will hear is going to be a cesarean, even more in some crowds.  Every time you tell some pregnant woman about how you had to have a c-section because your hips were too small or you just never fully dilated, you are perpetuating the myth that women need all the medical help they can get to deliver their baby.  You are planting seeds of doubt in the ability of women to birth their baby naturally.

On a positive note, I know many women that have had two, three, and even more babies, all vaginally, many very big, and without any complication or need for major interventions.  This is just more evidence that if you educate yourself and can avoid having a c-section the first time around, you greatly decrease the odds that you will end up with one in the future.  By making choices that reduce your risks, you can repeatedly avoid being that 1 in 3 women that ends up with a cesarean.  And if you do end up needing one, at least you’ll know you did what you could to avoid one.


Articles, Referances and Resources:

Dr Sears:





Childbirth Connection: Cesarean Section





The Unnecesarean.com: Avoid an unnecesarean



DONA International: Doula FAQ



Books:


The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth by Dr. Sears

Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth by Pam England

Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper

The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Monday, March 7, 2011

Manipulation or Communication?


There is a perception out there that babies will “manipulate” their parents.  A baby’s cries can manipulate you into picking them up when you hadn’t intended to, but that does not make the baby manipulative.

When a new baby cries, it is because they have a need they want met, it is a simple as that.  There is no thought behind it, it’s an instinctual action for them.  Over time, your baby becomes aware of this form of communication and knows that crying will get their needs met.  At this point, a baby that is hungry, cold, or even board will cry with anticipation that you will respond.  Some parents perceive this as manipulation, but the truth is far from it.

A 6 month old has no words to tell you how they are feeling and don’t even necessarily understand what they are feeling.  They cannot tell you they are wet, or gassy, or lonely.  They have a limited number of ways to communicate with you and crying is their strongest tool.

We are programmed to respond to our baby’s needs, and crying causes an immediate emotional and physical reaction in a mother.  Women actually experience biological changes when they hear their baby cry and our natural instinct is to pick them up.  Over time, women who allow their babies to cry can desensitize themselves and override their natural instincts.  When this happens and baby is repeatedly shown their cries will not be answered, they lose trust that their caregiver will meet their needs and learn that their communications are in affective.

When a baby cries because they have learned they will be picked up, they are not manipulating you any more then they are when they wiggle with excitement and smile when they see you, they are communicating.  The strong emotional need to comfort your child is a natural reaction and you are not being manipulating, you are reacting with your instincts.  By responding to those cries, you are reinforcing their attempts of communication and trust they have in you to care for them.

Another thing to remember, is the desire to be held close, to feel comforted by the one they love and trust is as much a need as needing a diaper change or to be fed.  Many people are told that if their baby has been fed and doesn’t “need” anything, then that child is just trying to manipulate you into getting what they want.  That is a sad, old fashioned, over simplification of the complexity of another human being.  Just like us, babies can feel sad, lonely, board, frightened, etc.  Even if their physical needs have all be met, a 8 month old baby may just need you or a change of environment, even when they are “fine”.

So the next time someone tries to tell you that you are spoiling your baby, being manipulated, or letting your baby rule your life, ask them how they would feel if they were scared and left alone while their loved one sat outside the door because they were “fine” and aren’t going to be manipulated into letting them out.  Tell them with confidence that you are not being manipulated, but are in fact teaching your child that not only are their communications understood, but that their emotional needs are as important to you as their physical ones.  And most importantly, know that your baby needs and loves you and that you are doing the right thing for both of you.


Related articles:

Parenting Redefined - Letters from Baby: Please don't let me cry

Woman Uncensored -  Just let her cry

Dr. Sears - 7 Things Parents Should Know About Baby's Cries

Dr. Sears - Science Says: Excessive Crying Could Be Harmful to Babies

Dr. Ben Kim - Cry It Out: The Potential Dangers of Leaving Your Baby to Cry

The Natural Child Project - The Con of Controlled Crying

Dr. Stephen Juan - 'Crying it out' may damage baby's brain

PhD in Parenting - Cry it out (CIO): 10 reasons why it is not for us

Peaceful Parenting - Should Baby Soothe Himself to Sleep?

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Try not to Hide


Nursing in public can be socially awkward.  People don’t know how to react when they see a nursing mom.  I have always been a huge supporter of nursing even long before having kids myself, but I also vividly remember glancing over and seeing a mother nursing her infant and quickly looking away so she wouldn’t see that I had seen her.  At the time, I was confused that she had chosen to nurse there and not somewhere more out of sight.

Then I had my first baby.  I loved nursing and nursed on demand.  If my baby was tired or hungry, I would nurse him, no matter where we were.  It was easy enough to stay covered and as long as no one could see anything, I didn’t worry about it.

I never used a blanket while nursing at home, so both my baby and I found using them in public frustrating and I eventually stopped trying.  It didn’t really matter though because it was easy enough to be discreet.  Then, around 5 months old, my baby started suddenly pulling off to investigate every person or sound nearby.  I tried pumping and bringing bottles with me, but my baby wouldn’t drink from them.  So since I didn’t use a blanket, I started nursing in the car.  It was quiet and if he pulled off, I didn’t have to worry about flashing anyone.

Then everyone kept asking me if my baby was weaned yet, starting at a pretty young age.  This is a totally different topic for a different day, but by the time my baby was 9 months old, I hardly ever nursed when we were out and always did it in secrecy when I did.  I continued to nurse him through the toddler years, but always at home where no one would know.

It makes me sad that I let my perception of what was socially acceptable affect me so greatly.  Luckily, shortly after my second was born, I met a wonderful group of moms that shared a lot of the same parenting philosophies (see Finding Your Flock).  I was amazed at how many of them openly nursed in public.  Even toddlers.  And without using a blanket!

I quickly learned that there were laws in our state that actually protected a woman’s right to nurse her child anywhere she was allowed to be, private or public property.  (find out about the laws in your state)  But more importantly than knowing the law, just seeing that I was not alone, that other mothers also nursed their babies in public, when they were hungry, and that they did so with confidence and without hiding is what made the biggest difference for me.  This group of women gave me the courage to do what I already knew in my heart was the right thing for my baby. 

I now confidently nurse my babies and toddlers in public whenever they need it.  I don’t hide, I don’t ask, I just sit down where ever I feel comfortable and feed them.  I am sure there have been times when my 5 month old has flashed entire restaurants when someone drops a plate.  People at the zoo have probably seen my breast when my toddler suddenly decides they are ready to see the elephants.  I can’t say that I am immune to being embarrassed, but I think it is important to nurse in public anyway.

I nurse my child in public because they need to.  But I nurse in public confidently because that is what society needs, even if that confidence isn’t quite as solid as I make it look!  I honestly feel it is important for me to look people in the eye, smile, and send a message that we don’t have to hide.  I am nursing my baby, but I am also helping a new mother find her confidence and showing young girls that nursing is a natural, beautiful thing to do.  I want to help other mothers the way other women were able to help me.

So whether you use a blanket or not, know that you are doing more than just nursing your baby, you are influencing the mothers and fathers of the future one feeding at a time!  Try not to hide, nurse with pride!