I was going to write of an experience from earlier this week, however Rixa has once again posted a thought-provoking link to a major study.
The Trouble With Repeat Cesareans published by TIME magazine, highlights the corner that our current hospital birthing practices are forcing onto many women and their babies. According to the article, the number of US hospitals not allowing VBAC's has risen from 10% in 2004 to 28% (currently). In addition to that number, an additional 21% of hospitals will allow VBAC's, but have no doctor willing to oversee the delivery. Slightly less then half of all American women who have healthy pregnancies and babies, will be forced to have a major surgery because of a lack of normal pregnancy care.
In this article, reasons given for the decrease of VBAC's range from fear of uterine rupture (in reality occurs in 0.75% of deliveries), increased rules placed on hospitals regarding availability of anesthesiologists on call, and of course! malpractice insurance rates skyrocketing.
This study parallels some thoughts I am having as I re-read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth . Near the end of her book, she describes what happens to women's bodies as synthetic versions of oxytocin ( the contraction hormone) are injected into women's bodies. Common amounts given to laboring women are greater then what the body would normally secrete during a contraction and might also interfere with the flow of oxygen transferring from mother to child. Ina May cites two studies (published in 1999) which found that uterine rupture increased by 28% when Cytotec (also a synthetic labor inducer) was given to women who have had a previous c-section. I think further studies need to be conducted as to safe levels of induction drugs given to women with previous c-sections scars.
On a personal note, based on what I read from this book while pregnant with North; I questioned my doctor about the way my uterus would be sewed up if a C-section was to occur. Many times, doctors will just sew the two layers of muscle together as they close up the uterus, which can cause the uterus to be not as strong during the next labor. I wanted to be prepared and proactive towards my second labor being as normal as possible.
So I wonder, is it our uterus we fear or could it be the medical interventions? Could it be a common mental vision of a uterus blowing up that is causing many women to lose their innate trust in their own body's abilities? Really, the numbers seem to be quite small to justify all that pain, healing, and lost time a Cesarean causes. Please read the end of this article, as it lists all the problems repeat Cesareans can cause. I wonder if all people were better educated towards preventing Cesareans, then maybe we could help future women and their partners chose a healthy birth when their time comes.