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Mothers often point out to their children how much pain they
had to endure giving birth (so their children will have sympathy
and obey them!). This tactic may not be so common in the future,
however. Women are increasingly opting to deliver through
more convenient
Caesarean sections, despite no medical necessity for surgery
in many cases.
A recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) evaluated the success of its recent goal to reduce the
number of C-sections in favor of natural births. Twenty-three
percent of births were Caesarean in 2000, but the CDC would
like to see only 15% of first-time mothers delivering by C-section.
To follow current trends, the CDC examined California's rates
of vaginal births after Caesarean births (VBACs) from 1996-2000
birth certificates.
 The report indicated that VBACs actually decreased by 35%
in the four-year period. In other words, merely 15% of women
who had previously undergone C-sections chose to have a vaginal
birth in a subsequent pregnancy in 2000. Women appear to be
opting for more C-sections, rather than fewer, in a reverse
from trends in the '80s and '90s.
Countless studies show that vaginal births are safer for
both mother and infant than Caesarean births. So why don't
women choose this natural form of birth? If you are pregnant,
give birth naturally unless your doctor advises you otherwise.
It may be a more painful, longer labor than if you have a
C-section, but at least you can use it for "guilt-trip" material
when your kids get older!
Reference:
Chavez GF, Takahashi E, et al. Vaginal birth after cesarean
birth - California, 1996-2000. Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report (CDC) 2002:51(44), pp. 996-998.
For more information on women's health, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/women.html
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