C-section births are climbing steadily in the United States, affecting one in three babies.  Click here to read the published report outlining the trend. It has become so commonplace that most women I talk to just assume they might have to give birth this way, not really giving it a second thought.  It is, however, major abdominal surgery and carries risks.  It is an amazing procedure when done to save mother or baby’s life, or in situations where complications have arisen, however often times today it is used for reasons other than life saving measures.  Physicians’ fear of lawsuits, patients requesting scheduled births for convenience and inducing labor on a baby who isn’t quite ready to come out are all reasons the Caesarean birth rate is now over 32% in the United States.

What can you do to protect yourself from a surgical birth?

Take a birthing class.  Many OB’s say they aren’t necessary, but that’s because the use of epidural anesthesia is 75-85% in the US, and once you have that you don’t need (and can’t use) anything you learned in a childbirth class.   I would never have succeeded in a totally drug-free natural childbirth if it weren’t for my amazing teacher Shara at Real Birth in New York City.

Become informed.  Watch The Business of Being Born
and read Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care

You will be amazed at what you learn and how much you can do to take charge of your child’s birth.