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April 2014 Moms
LittleLady77
member
Rise in C section rates in the US
LittleLady77
member
So it's clear to everyone that the US pushes c sections unnecessarily. I'm certainly not saying all C sections are unnecessary, just that we have higher rates. I was talking to a friend of mine who's a doctor about it he threw out a few interesting reasons. Keep in mind him and I were just speculating, so no real facts here but I thought it was interesting enough to share.
- Rise in STDs like Herpes. There is a medication women can take to prevent an outbreak during labor but some women opt out or forget
- Rise in obesity- he said this is a huge factor
- Rise in twins or higher order multiples (both from fertility treatments and women having children later in life)
- (the big one) Hospitals get more money from C Sections
EDIT... I forgot one... some jobs offer longer maternity leaves for c section moms
- Rise in STDs like Herpes. There is a medication women can take to prevent an outbreak during labor but some women opt out or forget
- Rise in obesity- he said this is a huge factor
- Rise in twins or higher order multiples (both from fertility treatments and women having children later in life)
- (the big one) Hospitals get more money from C Sections
EDIT... I forgot one... some jobs offer longer maternity leaves for c section moms
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Rise in C section rates in the US
I've had a C Section too, the decision was between me and my doctor, and I am fine with it.
And it wasn't 'cause I'm fat, old or have herpes and I don't believe it was so the hospital could make more money, the hospital didn't have anything to do with it.
I don't want a c section at all and I'm having twins. My doctors were very clear with me... as long as Baby A is head down and larger or the same size as baby B then I should be good to try it (barring major complications). The only thing that is even remotely interesting about a c section birth is that I get two weeks longer on my paid leave, but I don't think it's worth it.
Yes. Couldn't have said it better myself.
The cause of it is likely due to the increase in *interventions* leading to more interventions and more until c/s is deemed necessary - for example, induction before due date (or incorrect dating) and before the body is ready --> pitocin --> more pitocin --> manual water breaking --> epidural --> blood pressure issues --> baby is in distress --> time got caesarean. (Not that that happens in every induction scenario, just one example).
https://www.policymic.com/mobile/articles/45919/are-c-sections-bad-for-babies
I'm a C-section mama. I'm proud of it. I don't feel the need to defend it. You can judge it, but I think it would ultimately make me just laugh at you.
I feel like women should be given better labor preparation. There are sooo many pregnant women who don't seek education or knowledge on birthing options. I was one of them with my first baby.. I was barely 19 years old and had NO CLUE what I was doing.. My doctor, was amazing, but she only focused on prenatal care, there was no discussion on the actual birthing experience. I had the mind set of, "women have given birth for thousands of years, I don't need to learn anything about it because my body will just know what to do." ... which is true to an extent, but you can't just go into it blindly or else it will end in disaster.
I think that there should be AT LEAST one 3rd tri prenatal visit totally focused on labor & delivery, where OBs counsel patients on all their options, what to expect, as well as basic laboring positions and techniques.
edit: spelling
DD1- 2009, M/C- 2011, M/C- 2012, DD2- 2012, DD3- 2014
diagnosed with unexplained infertility, regular cycles
Baby #1: ttc naturally for 3 years, 6 yr old daughter
Baby #2: ttc naturally for 2 years, 2 yr old son
Baby #3: ttc naturally since August 2016
So.. you're saying that even though an OB is the one delivering your baby, they are not qualified to go over labor and delivery with patients? That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard.
You do realize that birthing classes cost money right? The going rate in my area is $80-$125.. So, if a low income family can't afford a birthing class, they are just SOL?
DD1- 2009, M/C- 2011, M/C- 2012, DD2- 2012, DD3- 2014
I think most obs don't know much about the various stages of labor and definitely not about different positions, etc. they're trained to spot and treat abnormalities in labor and delivery and less in normal and healthy pregnancy and labor. Oh yeah and a lot of time they're men or women who've never had children. How about instead of requiring an ob who makes an absurd amount of money a hour to spend hours (my child birth education class was something like twelve hours total) talking to women about what labor would be like we make comprehensive child birth education more accessible for low income women?
and she didn't even get to take home her baby. imagine if she had had a newborn in the middle of all of that.
i know, i know... she's one person, one terrible story, etc. she doesn't represent every c-section mom. but i share her story to make the point: cesarean sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY. don't ever wish you could have one! have one if you truly need one, that's why they exist. but i promise you, a vaginal birth (no matter the anxiety, which is momentary in the grand scheme of things) is going to be better all around in 99% of cases.
So.. you're saying that even though an OB is the one delivering your baby, they are not qualified to go over labor and delivery with patients? That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard.
You do realize that birthing classes cost money right? The going rate in my area is $80-$125.. So, if a low income family can't afford a birthing class, they are just SOL?
I think most obs don't know much about the various stages of labor and definitely not about different positions, etc. they're trained to spot and treat abnormalities in labor and delivery and less in normal and healthy pregnancy and labor. Oh yeah and a lot of time they're men or women who've never had children. How about instead of requiring an ob who makes an absurd amount of money a hour to spend hours (my child birth education class was something like twelve hours total) talking to women about what labor would be like we make comprehensive child birth education more accessible for low income women?
Honestly, I think L&D nurses would be 100x better at doing childbirth education than OBs. OBs and CNMs are usually only there for the actual birth. L&D nurses see it all. And they aren't nearly as highly paid as OBs, so they'd be a better option cost-wise. If OBs taught childbirth, someone would be paying for it somewhere, and the cost would be way more than a private class or a hospital class taught by a L&D nurse.
Child-birth educators also have their place, and I got a lot from the class I did with one. She had given birth 4 times herself and attended many births as a doula. You don't need an MD to teach about childbirth. . . I bet she even adjusts her rates for low income mamas.
Our life - est. 2007
So.. you're saying that even though an OB is the one delivering your baby, they are not qualified to go over labor and delivery with patients? That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard.
You do realize that birthing classes cost money right? The going rate in my area is $80-$125.. So, if a low income family can't afford a birthing class, they are just SOL?
-------------------------OBs are trained, specialized surgeons, first and foremost. Most are barely present until the pushing stage -- some not even until it's time to "catch." They know a lot about delivery but it's the LABOR part that birthing moms and partners need information on -- things like pain management, stages of labor, positions to help baby travel downward, etc. Frankly, OBs aren't really worth shit for that kind of information.
And, FWIW, we took a very detailed birthing class (we met once a week for 5 weeks, 3 hours per session) and we paid $100. I think that was an absolute STEAL of a deal, and I definitely remember the fee could be waived in certain need-based circumstances.
But, ugggg, c-sections... I have ALL THE FEELINGS about my c-section. Which I constantly feel I have to couch with "due to rare-ish cord/placenta issues, DD would have bled out in minutes had my water broken naturally blah blah blah MINE WAS NECESSARY." I hate that I feel I have to say that. Although I recognize I'm usually projecting my own issues when I'm discussing my experience.
I guess...um, at least we don't live in Brazil?! What is it now...like NINETY SEVEN percent or something in fathomable?