The Trial of Labor

In about an hour I will be interviewed for a local news station regarding Montana’s cesarean rate.  I don’t know much more than that.  The reporter has a young child.  The reporter is supposed to be meeting with a local hospital official.  Other than that, who knows what her focus will be.  In anticipation of this interview, I decided to review some things that I have read and wrote regarding cesarean rates.

With regard to rates, it is important to consider that the US cesarean rate (2006, preliminary) is 31.1%.  The rate has increased by 50% since 1996.  The rate recommended by the World Health Organization is 10-15%.  Once the cesarean rate exceeds 15%, the risks (statistically speaking) outweigh the benefits.  The Montana cesarean rate (2006, preliminary) is 28%, nearly a 3% increase from the year prior.  According to a source at the local hospital, our local rate is around 31%.  I was told that only 16 VBACs took place in 2006 at my hospital.  (A local CNM questioned the accuracy of the VBAC figure, suggesting that VBACs were under-reported.)

I can list many contributing factors to the continued increase in the cesarean rate:

• Medico-legal concerns on the part of doctors, hospitals, and insurance providers (it’s HUGE, actually)
• “So and so had a cesarean . . .”
• Hollywood stars having elective cesareans
• Young and underpriviledged mothers are more at risk for cesarean surgery
• An unchecked trust in care providers - most women do not seek second opinions when it comes to maternity services
• Sensationalization of birth - Baby Story and OR Live come to mind
• Society - our view of birth has changed; the culture of fear has spread to childbirth
• Cesareans ARE more safe now than they ever have been

Of course I’ll direct the reporter to resources such as:

• ICAN
• The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative
• Childbirth Connection
• Conscious Woman