Scary cesarean birth facts you need to know

Yesterday I posted some facts from the 2008 Milbank Report: Evidence-Based Maternity Care report. The report notes that women are not getting the best maternity care. While browsing the report I found some cesarean facts you need to know, especially if you're expecting a baby. The information below is from the report, and it's pretty scary stuff. Negative effects of c-section births on babies: When babies do not experience labor, they fail to benefit from changes that come with spontaneous labor; changes that help to clear fluid from their lungs. Because it's almost impossible to 100% know a baby's due date, and because often due dates are nothing more than an estimate, it's easy to bring a baby into the world too soon with a cesarean. Research shows that increased preterm birth rates have been associated with increased numbers of cesarean births. In comparison with vaginal birth, delivery by elective cesarean is consistently associated with increased risk of respiratory morbidity in near-term newborns and full-term newborns. Women are more likely to experience the following short-term problems if they have a cesarean birth:

• maternal death
• emergency hysterectomy
• blood clots and stroke
• surgical injury
• longer hospitalization and more likely rehospitalization
• infection
• poor birth experience
• less early contact with babies
• intense and prolonged postpartum pain
• poor overall mental health and self-esteem
• poor overall functioning

The report also notes that "Cesarean mothers were more likely to experience longer-term problems of chronic pelvic pain and bowel obstruction." The report notes that cesarean born babies are more likely than vaginally born babies to experience:

• respiratory problems
• surgical injuries
• failure to establish breastfeeding
• asthma in childhood and adulthood

The report further looks into how cesarean birth can impact a woman’s future reproductive life. Some of these risks to women include a greater likelihood of...

• involuntary infertility
• reduced fertility due to decreased desire to have more children
• cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy
• placenta previa
• placenta accreta
• placental abruption
• uterine rupture
• hemorrhage
• low birthweight in future babies
• preterm birth for future babies
• stillbirth of future babies
• maternal death

"The likelihood of many of these conditions was found to increase as the number of previous cesareans increased (Childbirth Connection 2006; Sakala 2006b)." Why this is news you need to know: While some women do actually need and thus have necessary cesarean births, research continues to note that right now, unnecessary scheduled c-sections and unnecessary emergency c-sections are much more rampant than they should be. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that no region in the world is justified in having a cesarean rate greater than 10 to 15 percent. Although WHO also states that 5% to 10% c-section rates correlate directly with the most healthy outcomes for mamas and babies, so even 15% is too high. Right now, in the U.S. our cesarean rate is over 30%. That's more than twice what it should be. With all the complications and risks to mothers and babies that are associated with c-sections, this news isn't good. If you're a mama expecting a baby make sure you research your care provider. His or her rate of performing cesarean births should be very low; the lower the better. Read this for tips: 19 Ways to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean