In a recent post, we discussed evidence-based practices that maximize your chances of avoiding an avoidable cesarean, but not all cesareans can or should be avoided. This post covers evidence-based practices that enhance cesarean recovery. They come from a set of...
Previously, we documented that first and repeat cesarean rates are much higher than they should be and focused on how to choose a care provider who would best promote avoiding a first cesarean and who would best promote avoiding a repeat cesarean. Now we turn to...
For more than a decade, the U.S. cesarean rate has stood at 33%.5 That’s one in every three pregnant women for over ten years having their baby via major abdominal surgery. One reason for this is the rate in 1st-time mothers: one in four 1st-time mothers at low risk...
A Newsweek article points to a systematic review (a study of studies) finding that doctors perform cesareans in the belief that it will protect them from being sued, but that isn't the half of what the review found. The review revealed host of other non-medical...
In this month’s issue of Birth, investigators examine the relationship between mode of delivery, negative feelings, and whether negative feelings have more substantive effects than the feelings alone. Most studies of the connection between perception of the birth...
If the list of cesarean harms weren’t long enough already, Consumer Reports points to another one: women who have hysterectomies are more likely to experience complications if they have previously had cesareans. Let’s take a look at the study. Investigators identified...
“The great tragedy of Science: the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.” Thomas Huxley Reverberating through the internet is an article by a group of scientists theorizing that cesarean availability has altered the course of human evolution, resulting in...
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a press release highlighting a study finding that planned cesarean or induction before 39 completed weeks increases the odds of developmental deficits at school age. Let’s look at the study in more detail, but let’s look...
A UPI report summarizes the findings of a systematic review (a study of studies) of 60 studies comparing the likelihood of deep venous clots and pulmonary embolism (venous thromboembolism) after cesarean delivery versus vaginal birth. Meta-analysis (pooling data from...
A study reporting on chronic opioid use after surgery, defined by study investigators as “having filled 10 or more prescriptions or more than 120 days’ supply of an opioid in the first year after surgery (excluding the first 90 days),” found that 1 in 1000 women...
The first in Henci’s new Take Charge of Your Birth Series, Labor Pain: What’s Your Best Strategy? delivers up-to-date access to the best medical research plus practical strategies for developing your plan and putting it into action. Also available in audiobook.
