The American Congress of Obstetrics
Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery
“…. Although cesarean delivery can be life-saving, for the fetus, the mother or both, in certain cases, the rapid increase in the rate of cesarean births without evidence…. raises significant concern that cesarean delivery is overused….” Increasing a woman’s access to nonmedical intervention during labor, such as continuous labor and delivery support, (aka Doulas) also has been shown to reduce cesarean birth rates.”
“Therefore, it is important for health care providers to understand the short-term and long-term tradeoffs between cesarean and vaginal delivery, as well as the safe and appropriate opportunities to prevent overuse of cesarean delivery, particularly primary cesarean delivery.” Thus, a prolonged latent phase labor (eg, greater than 20 hours in nulliparous women (first time pregnant women) and greater than 14 hours in multiparous women (a woman who has birthed before) should not be an indication for a cesarean delivery.”
“Safe reduction of the rate of primary cesarean deliveries will require different approaches for each of these, as well as other, indications. For example, it may be necessary to revisit the definition of labor dystocia because recent data show that contemporary labor progresses at a rate substantially slower than what was historically taught….
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So Mamas-to-Be, modern medicine is now admitting some things and this is confirmation for so many midwifes, doulas and childbirth educators out there. Although, we knew this, but it is nice to see progressive scientific medical research backing us up! I encourage you pregnant mamas to do the work during pregnancy so you can have a trauma free birth experience. Be careful of the the pressure to be induced, based on the concept that your baby is late, too overdue, too big, or your own restlessness, doctor’s schedule, your physical discomfort, other people’s impatience that may influence you and lead you down a road of making impatient and fear-based choices. Such as; induction methods: cervical swipe, breaking of waters, prostaglandin gel, Pitocin, etc. etc. etc.) If you are a healthy pregnant woman, carrying a healthy child, early medical intervention may lead you right down the rabbit’s hole to an unwanted cesarean. Perhaps this “seeming late birth arrival” is calling you forth to be more patient during these remaining days of your pregnancy? Just something to think about.
