im scared that im going to have to get a c -section when i give birth is there anything to prevent that?

Answer 1

Have a homebirth. The c-section rate is only 4% nationally while it's 32% in hospitals.
As long as you are having a healthy pregnancy, a homebirth is just as safe and sometimes safer than a hospital birth.

EDIT:

Check out this article, it tells you exactly how to avoid a c-section.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/08/23/ep.csection/index.html

Answer 2

If you are under 18 or over 40, your chances of getting a c-section is increased because there are higher rates of complications. Also, if you are significantly overweight or have high blood pressure. Other than that, there are some things you can do to avoid a c-section.

Sit in straight back chairs from now until you give birth. Current style couches, which put the legs higher than the pelvis are suspected of causing an increase in breach and poorly positioned babies.

Use a midwife or doula. Even a nurse-midwife can reduce your chances of a c-section. Increasing numbers of hospitals are providing doulas for free, but you can request a nurse-midwife at many more.

Delay epidurals. Laying in bed can slow labor down. However, be sure to find out at what point you need it that you can still get it, if you so desire (right around 7 cm, is what I last heard).

Bring something calming, like a CD or lava light or something that you can focus on and calm yourself. There have been studies that show that anxiety can actually prolong birth.

Just because you have reached the number 10 does not magically mean that you need to start pushing at that moment unless there is some problem. It just means that you can start anytime you feel ready. While breaking your waters may help the baby descend, doing it too early puts you on a countdown clock. Don't do it too early.

BTW, when looking at C-section rates of hospitals, be sure to look at the PRIMARY rate. Part of the reason why rates are so high is that it is combined with repeat c-sections. If your hospital has a primary c-section rate approaching 20%, then it is either a high-risk pregnancy center or there is something not quite right.

Answer 3

I am pregnant with number 4 and will be having a scheduled c-section, this will be my third c-section. I was scared with my first and second pregnancy through the whole thing that something would happen and I would have to have a c-section. It is a normal fear to all pregnant women. With my second pregnancy something did happen and I had to have a very rushed emergency c-section. I was so scared when they first told me that I did not even know how to react. The funny thing is that by the time I was being brought into the operating room I was calmer than everyone around me including the doctors. I think I realized that this was going to happen no matter what I did and that it was best for my baby so it will do me no good to freak out. Within 20 minutes I had a healthy beautiful baby boy in front of me with no other complications. It happened so fast and was absolutley painless, it actually suprised me how easy it was. I just wanted to share my story with you in hopes that if it did come down to that, there is really nothing to be afraid of. Just keep calm and think about holding that beautiful baby of yours! Good luck!

Answer 4

Be very careful. Doctors make big bucks off of giving this surgery. Talk to your doctor about it now and find out how many he has given in his career in ratio to how many babies he has delivered. If he is one that gives many, stay clear of him. He is making money off the procedure.
Most women do not need a c-section. It should be performed only for the health of the mother or baby not to make the doctors job easier or to make him extra money.

Ask lots of questions. Tell your doctor you do not believe in c-sections and see what he says. And then make sure you are healthy, light exercise, taking supplements, and take a birthing class. There is no truth in the doctoring telling you a baby is too big or breech or some other false information. A womans body accomodates the size of the baby. Take a small woman under 5 ft giving birth to a 9 lb baby without a problem. And there are things you can do for breech to turn the baby around.

Read as much as you can. Get educated.

Answer 5

Try looking into having your baby at a birthing center or at home. the national average of c-section in a hospital is around 30%. Many hospital do a c-section when they may not be medicaly neccesary. Explore your options and I would visit the ICAN of America website for more information on C-section and when they are truely nedded and when they are not. educationis your best safety percaution.
Reguardless of what you may hear homebirth and birth center births are as safe as hospital read the book A Good Birth a Safe Birth. It is not totally about homebirth but on how to achieve the safest birth posible in your choosen enviroment.

Answer 6

A good way to prevent c-sections are to not be induced if at all possible. I know sometimes there is an emergency where you may need inducement then that is unvoidable, but just to be induced because you are tired of being pregnant, the doc thinks your baby is getting too big, you want to have the baby on a special day is not a good idea.
Also, it is best to go without pain medications because they can sometimes stall labor.

Answer 7

I agree, having a home birth is the best way to go. It's actually better for the mom and baby to stay home. There are less complications and interference. I did it with my second child, and it was an amazing experience. My husband assisted in the delivery, and I got to hold and cuddle my new son for as long as I wanted. He wasn't taken from me right away to be weighed and everything else they do.
Here is a site that might help you in your decision: http://www.homebirth.org.uk/ I'm in no way affiliated with them, just think it's a good starting point.
Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 8

Have you discussed this fear with your doctor? Most doctors will not perform a C section unless it is absolutely necessary. Going to la-maze classes is truly a great help in learning what to expect during labor and delivery. The instructors can answer most of the questions you may have. They are also a very strong support group.

Answer 9

Tell the nurse when you check in that you really don't want a c-section, and unless you or the baby are in distress, you want to give birth vaginally. They will try to honor your request.

If you have a 10 lb baby in there, you might have to have a c-section reguardless. Only so much baby can squeeze out between your hips.

Answer 10

for what reasons do you believe that you'll have to have a c-section? first of all you need to find out from your doctor how many routine c-sections (non emergency) they do? what percentage. if it is somewhere around 20-30% then there is a more likely chance that you'll have to have one. if your doctor is in the single digits it sounds like they are less likely to do them. make a birth plan and see if your doctor will go along with it. (you can search birth plan on the internet and find forms that you can modify for yourself)
have you read the thinking woman's guide to a better birth?
http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Womans-Guide-Better-Birth/dp/0399525173/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9062636-5753507?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188408043&sr=8-1

basically they say that if you want to avoid an unnecessary c-section you need to be informed and that each consession you make takes you one step closer to a birth you may not want. when myhusband and i decide to have children i am planning on having natural drug free birth. if you are interested in that you should reat the books
the husband coached birth and natural childbirth the bradley way.
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Bradley-Way-Revised/dp/0452276594/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9062636-5753507?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188408232&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Husband-Coached-Childbirth-Bradley-Method-Natural/dp/0553375563/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-9062636-5753507?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188408232&sr=8-2


God made the woman's body perfectly capable to have a baby and there is no reason for all of the c-sections that occur in america these days. (94% of all of dr. bradley's patients were able to give vaginal birth with no medication at all, only 3% needed a c-section in his whole career!!)

also to the "blah" who said that they do what is best for the baby is just not true. if you do some research you'll find out that mother and infant mortality rates are much lower in countries (even impoverished ones) that rely on the mother to give birth to her child and not the doctor taking the baby from the mother's womb via surgery.

the best thing you can do is to be informed and well read about the choices that you have. you may want to consider hiring a doula to help you with birth and also to advocate for you when you are in labor and may not be able to thoroughly convey your wishes while under pressure from a doctor.