Cesarean Awareness Month - My Challenge

April is Cesarean Awareness Month.

Learn about C before you step foot in a hospital!

This is a very important issue to me, so my goal is to post one idea about C-Section every day this month. Please send this link to every child-bearing person you know, including the Daddy!

For those of you who don't know me, our first son was born via c-section in 2003 after an induction at 42 weeks and long labor. Reason was failure to progress. If I had waited a few days longer, tried other positions, walked, and let nature help instead of doctors I don't think I would have had that unfortunate first cut. The surgery was not traumatic, but it set me up for increased risk with future births, and carried its own risks. I was very naive then but began to educate myself.

In 2004 I was induced via pitocin at 41w3d and gave birth to our daughter at 9lbs 2oz. I had to engage in an unpleasant and discouraging political battle with my OBs as the establishment was strongly against VBAC. I am well aware that pitocin induction carries certain risks, and is worth avoiding if you can, but I still felt it was better than a 2nd c-section. Read up on the relative safety of VBAC.

In the 34th week of my 3rd pregnancy, my doctors proclaimed "absolutely no VBAC induction" and "natural labor by 40w3d or automatic C-section". They were also generally discouraging about VBAC overall and loved to regale me with horror stories. Given my history of long pregnancies, I felt cornered by the new rules (now becoming more common across the country) and began looking for alternatives, going into major research mode. VBAC bans nationwide are reaching hysterical levels, and are based on insurance and malpractice issues instead of on the health of mother and baby. By the way the "ban" is a bluff - you can do what you want if you push back hard enough - patient's rights. I gave birth to our third child, a son 7lb15oz, at home in the hands of my husband, sister and experienced midwives. It was as perfect as childbirth can be (yes it hurt a little!)

My best advice is to put down What to Expect When You're Expecting, and spend much of your pregnancy gaining knowledge about nutrition, birth, minimizing interventions, and avoiding c-sections. Women were created to birth successfully, and in most cases that is the healthiest way to go. Avoid that first cut for the best long term reproductive health! C-section is a true life-saver in a true emergency, but these are not so common. Have faith in your body's ability to birth a child. Get your husband or SO involved in the learning process! Find your inner cavewoman!

I am not a medical professional or birth professional, just an experienced and self-educated Mom. That is why I am providing links so you can learn it from the pros.

International Cesarean Awareness Network
ICAN Online Link
The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth.