Ten Ways to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean

10 Ways to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean
Chukwuma I. Onyeije, M.D.
http://maternalfetalmedicineblog.com
http://onyeije.net/present

Is there such a thing as an unnecessary cesarean delivery?

Cesarean Rates Have Been Increasing in the U.S. 6 Percent 6 Percent 6 Percent 23 Percent 30 Percent 17 Percent

Reasons for the Increased Rate of Cesarean Delivery
Fear of malpractice claims and lawsuits
Incentives for physicians to practice in a manner that efficient
Casual attitudes about surgery
Refusal to offer or provide information about VBAC

Subtopic Goes Here
Your chance of having a Cesarean depends on where you live...

Fewer VBACs means More Cesareans

There are many factors related to the chance of cesarean Cesarean Section Rate Induction of labor Time of day Vitamin D deficiency (?)‏ Physician's Cesarean Section Rate Mother's Age Type of Practice Nature of previous Pregnancies Availability of VBAC

The Public Citizen Health Research Group has estimated that half of the nearly one million cesareans performed every year are medically unnecessary.

Many Cesarean Deliveries Are Necessary
Elective deliveries
Cesarean deliveries due to medical emergencies
Cesarean deliveries where vaginal birth is not possible

5 Ways to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean Before Labor Adapted from: Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE http://pregnancy.about.com/od/laborbirth/a/avoidcesarean.htm

#1 Educate Yourself About Labor, Delivery and Childbirth

#2
Select your care provider wisely.

#3 Avoid induction of labor (if possible)

#4 Use labor interventions wisely

#5 Bring support for labor

5 Questions to Ask to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean During Labor Adapted from: ---- at CNN.com http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/17/birth.plan.tips/

#6 "Doctor, is this an emergency, or do we have time to talk?"

#7 "Doctor, what would happen if we waited an hour or two?"

#8 "Doctor, are you sure the baby is too big for me to deliver?"

#9 "Doctor, is there something else I can try before having a C-section?"

#10. "Doctor, can we talk more about the baby's heart rate?"

Conclusion
Physicians want what is best for any pregnant woman and her baby.
Unfortunately, some factors in modern obstetrics have the effect of placing the desires of patients are at odds with their doctors.

Conclusion
As a patient, the way to avoid an unnecessary cesarean is to keep the lines of communication open with your provider

More Information: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/17/birth.plan.tips/ http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10456 http://bit.ly/51eBe7 (Academic Thoughts on VBAC by @hilseb) http://bit.ly/4L9w1q (Ten thoughts on VBAC by Nicholas Fogelson)

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Ten Ways to Avoid an Unnecessary Cesarean

by Chukwuma Onyeije on Dec 20, 2009

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