Tips to Avoid an Unnecessary C-Section

In the United States nearly one in three women giving birth will have a cesarean section. This number is statistically higher than the recommended percentage suggested by the World Health Organization. Many pregnant women are looking for ways to avoid their risk of having a Cesarean section. Here are six simple tips that you can follow to avoid your risk of a c-section.

Choose the best doctor for you. Doctors all have individual c-section rates. Some are higher than others for a variety of reasons. When choosing a care provider for your pregnancy ask your doctor what her percentage of cesarean deliveries is. This is also something you should inquire about at the hospital you plan to give birth in. Avoid care providers and hospitals with high c-section rates to lower your chances of having a potentially unnecessary cesarean section.

Stay healthy during your pregnancy. Healthy women are generally considered to be low risk during their pregnancies. Low risk pregnancies are less likely to end with a cesarean section rather than a vaginal birth. Pregnant women should strive to stay as healthy as possible by eating healthy, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, and continuing moderate exercise.

One mistake that many pregnant women do is focusing too much on their weight gain during pregnancy as a sign of health. However weight gain can vary during normal pregnancy for several reasons. Rather than watching only your weight gain, focus on healthy activities and foods to keep yourself and your baby healthy. This will help your to stay low risk during your pregnancy and avoid a possible c-section.

Have labor support. Several studies have shown that women who receive support during their labors are less likely to need a cesarean section. Having a person who is prepared to support and comfort you during labor is a tremendous benefit for women hoping to avoid a c-section. This can mean a family member or friend who is willing to be with you during labor or it can mean hiring professional labor support such as a doula. A doula is a person who is trained in several methods of relaxation, guidance, and support to help a laboring women get through labor. Be prepared with labor support that you can trust and feel comfortable with in order to reduce your chances of ending with a cesarean section.

Stay home as long as possible during labor. Staying home during the early stages of labor can often help you avoid a c-section. This happens for a number of reasons. For many women home is a relaxing and comforting place as compared to a busy hospital. Being in an environment that soothes and relaxes you, as well as allows you to labor in your own way, will keep labor progressing smoothly. The longer a woman spends in labor at home also means less of her labor is being timed by hospital standards. Many doctors and hospitals have a set time that a woman is allowed to labor before interventions and the possibility of a cesarean section is brought up. The less time spent laboring at a hospital the less likely a laboring woman is going to be pushed towards a c-section.

Eat, drink, and sleep during labor to keep your energy up. While at home eat small snacks, drink water, and take naps whenever possible. These are things that will keep a laboring woman's energy up for the entire labor and delivery. In many hospitals women are not permitted to eat foods and can rarely sleep with the constant monitoring and progress checks. Often a cesarean section occurs simple because the mother is unable to continue laboring. Keeping your strength high to continue the marathon of labor and delivery is important in avoiding an unnecessary c-section. Laboring women should keep their strength up with frequent snacks and naps to reduce her chances of needing a cesarean section near the end of labor.

Avoid unnecessary interventions as much as possible. Medical interventions during labor are often gateways to more interventions. This means frequently having one intervention can lead to having another and then another, ultimately ending in a cesarean section. Laboring women who want to reduce their chances of a c-section can do so by avoiding the cascade of medical interventions. Common interventions such as constant fetal monitoring and epidurals can slow or stop labor from progressing, leading to a possibly avoidable c-section. Discuss in advance what interventions you want to avoid during labor and have a plan in place for alternatives, such as choosing occasional monitoring and relaxation exercises rather than pain medication. When in labor demand that hospital staff explain why any intervention they are suggesting is necessary and what are the risks involved. The fewer interventions a woman has during labor the lower her risk of an unnecessary c-section.

As women begin to look more at the potential dangers of unnecessary cesarean sections and at the dangerously high rates that women in the United States face more and more are searching for ways to reduce their risks. Following these simple steps can help a woman lower her risk of a medically unnecessary c-section.