Record year for c-sections, unwed births

Hmmmmm..... the c-section rate increased and at the same time low birth weight rates rose, what an earth shattering correlation. Maybe people should take a moment and realize that the c-section is major surgery that should be used in cases of extreme medical need not a tool to allow you to pick the date you want your child to be born so the birth process doesn't interfere with the mother or doctors oh so busy schedule. Maybe if more babies are allowed to be born when they are ready to be born instead of when some doctor says so we could see some actual improvement in these stats instead of continuing to see them decline. The birth of a baby is a natural process that women have been capable of handling since (obviously) the moment the human race began yet some how it has turned into this ridiculous process where women have been brainwashed into thinking they are not strong enough to handle and (even worse) brainwashed by doctors and the media into thinking that the c-section is a safer, easier route - it is not. In the vast majority of cases it is not - it is not better for you and it is not better for your child. Before you go and schedule that c-section because you’re afraid of labor or so your baby can be a Leo instead of a Virgo EDUCATE yourself. Read everything you can on the birth process - what incredible beneficial things happen to a baby during a normal vaginal birth that don't during a c-section. EDUCATE yourself on the recovery time & possible serious side effects of major surgery (which a c-section is).

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C-section is not the be-all/end-all tool to reducing infant mortality that OBs would have us belive.


I also noticed in the report that suicide rates are going up.

Sad.

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These statistics generally get me "the look" from other moms when I tell them my son was born a c-section. No, I did not want a c-section. I educated myself, took birthing classes, practiced Lamaze, wrote up a birth plan, etc. When it was time, I pushed with all my might and pleaded with the doctor to let me try longer, which she did. But physics prevailed and the large size of my son's head compared to the small size of my pelvis won out. His poor little scalp was covered in abrasions from the effort.

I'm getting really tired of the raised eyebrow and the "well maybe you could have tried a different birth position" or "are you sure his head was too big" from other moms. Surely there are women who plan elective c-sections for cosmetic or selfish reasons, but don't just assume that is the case. Don't judge a mom because her doctor decided on an emergency c for both her and the baby's health.

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Amen, Stephanie. I too have gotten "the look" from judgemental folks. Isn't it irritating?


Personal anecdote: My husband's cousin criticized me for having a c-section with my first child. She'd had an easy time pushing out her 6 lb baby while my over 9 lb baby had gotten stuck (and changing positions and relaxing and giving it time wasn't going to make one bit of difference... and neither would dieting during the pregnancy... I only gained 27 lbs, just 2 lbs more than currently recommended). It was really annoying to be judged on the birth circumstances, rather than celebrating the arrival of healthy babies (also the fact that I was happily breastfeeding - "Disgusting!" - but's that's another issue altogether). Somehow, after she unfortunately needed help with her second child, it's now okay with her to have a c-section if medically necessary.

My point is: Don't judge and don't assume you know all the facts regarding the medical decisions of another person and their doctor. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't have to face what another woman did.

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Well just because when reading it that way there is a correlation, doesnt mean there really is. Maybe the C-section births werent the lower birth weight babies. They would have to break down the numbers by the weight of each type of delivery and then by the circumstances of the low birth weight to see if there really is any kind of a correlation.

Just looking at that is apples and oranges.

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Kristin, was Nolan's birth story on your web site (before it password-ed?) I used to read it a lot but can't remember seeing his story.

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I'm sorry to hear that mothers are the ones getting "the look" over c-sections. Personally, I would reserve "the look" for the doctors. It's pretty well known by now that the c-section clock starts ticking the moment a laboring woman enters the hospital. If you aren't done on their timeline, you're suddenly a candidate for a c-section. I have two friends that ended up being bullied into a c-section after about 1 1/2 - 2 hours of pushing (I am NOT minimizing how much effort that is!). Neither of them really believes it was necessary. They were tired, in pain, and focused on getting the baby out. Not really a lot of spare energy left to argue with the doctor.

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In addition to women choosing to become single moms (usually with an anonymous sperm donor), many more women are beginning to take advantage of egg freezing so that they can defer having a family until they meet the right partner. In a recent study of women who chose to freeze eggs, it was interesting that 40% said they were unwilling to be single parents, 40% would choose to use their eggs as a single parent after age 40, and 20% were undecided. Here is a link to the study results: http://www.extendfertility.com/downloads/documents/poster_5.pdf

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Cheers, CLM. It is a shame that the docs aren't the ones feeling the ire. Moms don't have a really good chance in it all. Even educated women fall victim to the medical birth model. It is a very vulnerable time in life. A confrontation while in labor only hurts the labor process. Even if the woman "wins" that particular battle (for no IV or walking during labor or *gasp* eating), the hormones released during the fight/discussion can really impede the labor.

While each person is responsible for her own judgemental comments, there wouldn't be as many if the medical community got smarter on birth. Same goes for breastfeeding...there are tons of women who can't do it...not because there is something wrong with them but because there isn't enough support.

Ladies, if you had a c-section and it was medically necessary, just move on. Realize that the woman judging you simply doesn't know. I would think that they tend to be younger...everything is black and white when you're young. It isn't until you age a bit and meet more people with more varied stories and experiences that you realize that life really is different for each person.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all safely assume/know that every c-section was necessary? If all of the formula fed babies really did need it? Moms in these situations wouldn't need to be defensive. They would know that they and their doctors did all that they could and it just didn't work out. There's no shame in that...that's just the way life goes.

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I fall into the unwed catagory and I choose to stay that way. We have certian issues (finacially) we are working out BEFORE we get married. We are VERY close to our goal just a few more years. I say about one or two.

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