Necessary cesarean sections can be life saving for mama and baby, but like any surgery, they carry risks. A cesarean section is a major abdominal surgery, and taking steps to decrease the likelihood that you will have one is incredibly important. You may think there is nothing you can do to influence this outcome, but indeed there is. Here is a short list of some of the best ways to boost your odds of a normal vaginal delivery.
1) Deliver in a setting with a reasonable cesarean section rate. If you deliver in a hospital with a 40% cesarean section rate, there is a 40% chance that you will have a cesarean section. For NYC mamas you can research the cesarean section rates (as well as episiotomy rates, epidural rates, rates of midwife assisted births, etc…) for New York county here, and Brooklyn (King’s County) here.
2) While you’re at it, research to find a provider with a cesarean section rate you can live with. Midwives often have lower cesarean section rates than ob/gyns, even when adjusted for the fact that ob/gyns take higher-risk patients. While ob/gyns are specialists in high-risk pregnancies, midwives are specialists in normal physiological birth. So if you’re not sure what kind of provider you would like, definitely look into these highly skilled birth professionals.
3) Hire a doula. Research shows that women with doulas are 50% less likely to have a cesarean section. Want more info? Here’s my Doula 411.
4) Avoid induction. Induction increases the risk of a cesarean section significantly. Tons more info on induction here.
5) Stay healthy. You need to exercise regularly (everyone loves prenatal yoga!) and be well rested, fed, and hydrated throughout your pregnancy to be at the top of your game for the big day. Staying healthy is also important because if you do end up having a cesarean section, it will decrease your risk of complications and increase your ability to heal quickly and completely. Want some tips for how to stay healthy in pregnancy? Check out this post: Tips for a Holistic Pregnancy and Birth.
6) Educate yourself. Take a childbirth education class with your birth partner, watch videos like The Business of Being Born and Orgasmic Birth (both available on Netflix), read a book by Ina May Gaskin. All of these things will help you make the best decisions for your birth and empower you to trust in the process.
Based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization, Lamaze International has created a similar list of ways to support normal birth (much of which you saw echoed above). To find out more visit the Lamaze International website.
Lamaze Care Practices That Support Normal Birth:
- Labor begins on its own
- Freedom of movement throughout labor
- Continuous labor support
- No routine interventions
- Spontaneous pushing in upright or gravity-neutral positions
- No separation of mother and baby with unlimited opportunities for breastfeeding
Here’s wishing you a healthy, happy birth!
