Avoiding cesarean birth?

Question

Well my main fear for birth is that i dont want a cesarean. While i know that sometimes there is no way to avoid it. What are some things i can do to lower my chances.

Answer 1

first and most important is to get a midwife over an ob. midwifes' have lower c-section rates. second would be to have a home birth, but if that is not an option or a path you would be intrested in the next step would be to stay at home and labor as long as you can. recent studies show women that show up to hospital early in labor have higher rates of c-section as do women that have induced labors. next would be avoid IV, Pitocin, Epidural. these things are interventions that cause a woman to sometimes "stall" in labor. this is one of the main reasons for c-sections. also move around during labor do not lay flat on your back. also eat and drink as needed. if you are hungry or thirsty eat. do not follow the hospital policy of no food or water only ice chips... this can lead to dehydration... which can then lead to IV which can then lead to them putting drugs in your IV. don't let anyone put anything inside your vagina or check you once your water breaks (hospital policy is you have to deliver with in 24 hours of water breaking... due to infection risk although if nothing is inserted then the risk drops). so before labor talk to your care provider and tell them you do not want a c-section make sure they are clear on this. there is only a few true emergency needs for c-sections such a as prolapse cord, a placenta abroption and a few other. even breach babies can often be delivered naturally with an experience midwife... check out the farm in Tenn.(group of experience midwifes running a birth center) if this is a problem in the future. but if you are delivering in a hospital also keep in mind you have final say in everything it is your health your body. you can refuse anything you want... you can refuse a c-section. one thing to keep in mind is when you go to registar for your birth ahead of time at the hosptial or even when you arive they try to get you to sign a waver form saying they can do anything they feel is needed.... don't sign it or sign it with acceptions saying what you want and don't such as no episiotomy for example. the use of pit, episiotomy, and many other interventions are covred under this broad concent form you sign... so if you sign it they have a legal right to do them... if you don't you can sue them if they do anythign against your will. good luck i hear you on this one. its so scary and sad that women have to fight to not be cut open to have a baby. a c-section rate of 26.6% is to high... the WHO (world health orginaztion) says it sould be below 15%. some states such as NJ are as high as 33% or 1/3! that is crazy. good luck i hope it works out for you.

Answer 2

As long as, you are healthy and your pregnancy is going well, there is a great chance that you should have a normal vaginal birth. I would highly advise letting nature take it's course and do not have an induction. There is a higher incidence of caesarean sections with women that are induced, because, the labors tend to be slow (and painful) and women often cannot make it through the actual birth. Talk to your doctor and discuss a birth plan that includes how you want to manage giving birth and when caesarean is necessary. You will feel better knowing that you are in control!

Also, don't feel pressured to give birth in a specific time period. As long as, the baby's heart rate is normal, you can birth as long as needed. With my youngest, I spent three hours sleeping with my baby ready to push out, but, I just didn't have the energy right away. Do what you feel is right and what your doctor will allow, you will be fine!

Answer 3

Avoid a c-section by staying healthy and low risk by eating right, exercising and by all means, please take a birthing class. They will teach you everything you need to know to stay healthy and low-risk. You will learn how to avoid the things they say and do to trick you into having a c-section. Most importantly, you will learn to be an advocate for yourself and your unborn child by limiting routine interventions to only those medically necessary.

Go to bradleybirth.com to find a teacher in your area.

Remember, there is not even one drug, over the counter or prescription, that has been approved by the FDA as being 100% safe to be taken during pregnancy, labor or birth. Are you willing to put your baby at risk? No matter how small that risk might be?

Even an intervention as small as the use of pitocin to induce llabor or stimulate a stalled labor has side effects such as seizures in your newborn. Ask about natural interventions.

Go to bradleybirth.com to find a teacher in your area.

Answer 4

I didn't want a c-section either. I did everything by the book. I ended up having to have one. I didn't dilate past 3cm. They gave me meds to help but they didn't. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. I just hated not getting to hold my baby. I was so drugged after I saw her I remember being told they were sewing me up. I was gone for the next four hours. I finally was able to hold her almost six hours after she was born. The best part, in my opinion, was that I healed faster than I did with a vaginal birth. I had the c-section with my first daughter and the other with my second. I lost my weight faster too with the c-section. I am still battling getting some of this baby weight now after ten months. Don't be scared if it happens though. I when you take child birth classes, they tell you that women tend to feel like a failure b/c they couldn't do it on their own. I did. I must say that it was hard, but in the end whatever is best for you and baby. Good Luck and Congrats!

Answer 5

It depends on what your doctor tells you. I had two c-sections because I did not dialate enough and my sons were way too big to go down the canal. Also, if you are carrying twins, the doctor may tell you you will need to have a c-section to avoid any complications for the birth of your children. I know its scary, but just read up more about it (www.babycenter.com is great for more info) and ask your OB/GYN if you are at risk to cause you to have a c-section. And if you are, what is it that you need to do to prepare for it. You'll also want to consider speaking about pain medications for the procedure. Ask your doctor how many of these operations has he preformed and what was the outcome for most of them. Explain to them that you are very concerned.Most doctors will take the time to share as much as possible with you about this. And most important, you need to relax. Don't drive yourself crazy about it. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. :-)

Good Luck!
mother of 2, just had my c-section last week and im fine!

Answer 6

I don't know how far along you are in your pregnancy but the first thing to ask yourself is: Does my Dr./midwife fully appreciate, listen and value my needs? If they truly do, then a C-section is highly unlikely.
Are you asking questions, involved and participating in your process or are you leaving your delivery in your Dr.s/midwifes hands. ???
The general rule for any delivery is that the more intervention you have...the more intervention you NEED. Its a birthing fact that your Dr. may not like to admit. Ob's are trained to do C-sections and if I were trained to do something I would want to do it as much as possible! If you are induced you are one step closer to more intervention. If you have an epidural - that is another step closer to more intervention. How many steps are you going to take?

Read up...educate yourself...

Answer 7

stay healthy and active during your pregnancy, the better in shape you are the better you will do in labor. Don't get induced, many c-sections are done after a failed induction because your body was not ready to have the baby yet. Don't go to the hospital at the first sign of labor, becuase the minute you are admitted the clock starts ticking, and after 24 hrs they will want to do a c-section.