photo credit: SantaRosa OLD SKOOL

The New York Times had an article his week:  Majority of Cesareans done before labor

It looked at a study by Dr. Zhang.   Dr. Zhang was surprised that 1/3 of first time moms were having cesareans.  It has been thought that one reason the cesarean rate was so high was repeat cesareans.  But this study shows that FIRST time moms have a 30% chance of ending up with a cesarean.

Inductions play a factor in the increase in cesareans.

In the study, 44 percent of the women who were trying vaginal delivery had their labor induced.

44% of moms being induced is CRAZY!  There is no way this many moms and babies have a medical need for induction.  I think that care providers are not sharing the risks of induction with their patients and even telling them it is BETTER!

Here is my post on the SCARY yet telling page on an OB’s website about her induction policies.

When Caesareans were done after induction, half were performed before the woman’s cervix had dilated to six centimeters, “suggesting that clinical impatience may play a role,” the authors wrote. Full dilation is 10 centimeters, and a Caesarean before six centimeters may be too soon, the researchers said.

I think a lot of inductions are done for convenience and if it takes “too long” it is no longer convenient and it is much “easier” to just do the cesarean.

The sad but honest truth.

“Physicians and patients may be less committed” to the vaginal births, the authors said.

I think that about sums it up.  The sad but honest truth.  How can we change that?  I think a big part is about educating and empowering moms!  That is why I do what I do.