April is Caesarean Awareness Month
April is International Caesarean Awareness Month. An event organised by ICAN – The International Caesarean Awareness Network.
ICAN is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by reducing preventable caesareans through education, supporting caesarean recovery, and advocating for vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC).
What is a Caesarean?
A caesarean birth is a life-saving procedure for women in need, however, it is also a problem when performed unnecessarily. Women are not being educated about the pros and cons of a C – section based on their situation.
C-section rates are currently rising dramatically – in fact in 2021 1 in 3 women had a C-section birth – this had increased from previous statistics of 1 in 4 women.
NSW and Victoria – both have extremely high c-section rates, and the rate of c-sections in private hospitals is increasing – currently sitting at 49% compared to 29% in public hospitals.
What does a C-section involve?
A caesarean section is a surgical procedure in which a baby is born through a cut made in the mother’s abdominal wall and uterus. While it might sound like a simple procedure – many layers are cut through – including skin, abdominal muscles, and the wall of the uterus and then, the amniotic sac and baby are removed from the uterus.
A baby will need to be born by caesarean section if there are serious problems that prevent the baby from being born by a normal vaginal birth.
The campaign aims to reduce preventable caesareans in mothers who do not need or will not benefit from a c-section, support post-caesarean recovery, and advocate for vaginal delivery after caesarean (VBAC).
To all Mumma’s who have had caesarean births, we see you, and we honour you!
If you feel a caesarean is being offered to you when you may not need it, make sure you ask questions and advocate for yourself and your baby. Just remember, a caesarean birth is a major abdominal surgery with a longer recovery period.
For 6 weeks after a c-section – you are not able to lift anything heavy – this includes, toddlers, and prams – and you can’t drive for 6 weeks!
A caesarean section – can be chosen i.e it is an elective c-section, or it may be advised due to issues with a normal vaginal delivery this can include
- such as the mum failing to dilate
- baby is stuck,
- baby is beginning to go into distress
- or there are other complications.
My Story
I had to have 2 emergency c-sections – the first with my eldest daughter – my Labor failed to progress as my daughter was Asynclitic. Her head was off to the side and not directly on the cervix – which was affecting my ability to dilate past 4 cm. She was also in the posterior position – pressing on my spine – causing painful contractions that would go all the way to the top of my shoulders.
To the side is an image of an asynclitic baby in the pelvis – as you can see the head is twisted and not exactly centred. In my case – my daughter’s head was so jammed into the pelvis that nothing that we did to try and move her out worked – I went into shock. This is a situation where the emergency caesarean section – enabled myself and my daughter to deliver safely.
Women must be advised on their rights to birth – whether selecting a c-section or whether trying to have a VBAC ( Vaginal Birth after a caesarean section).
The good news is that VBAC rates are rising!
My second emergency c-section was scarier – literally, I haemorrhaged and within 20 mins my daughter was born. It was a race down to the maternity ward, they prepped me – we were in the operating theatre within 10 minutes, and 5 minutes later my daughter was born. This was after I had been in Labor on and off for 3 days – I was exhausted and also very relieved – although it all happened so fast – my brain and body took a bit of time to catch up to what had happened.
As I had previously had a C-section – I worked with The doctors and midwives to have a VBAC – I desperately desired a VBAC. They were all extremely supportive – however – we did also have a plan for what would happen if I had a C-section and I was informed of all the different scenarios.
Women must be given options, support and all the information that they need before choosing to have a c-section ( if elective), but also in an emergency.
Before giving birth – please make sure that you ask your healthcare provider – whether it be your OB, or midwife and make sure that you know exactly what a c-section entails, all about recovery and also more information on a VBAC.
The great news is that we can assist you in so many ways – with c-section recovery.
Ways that we can assist you with Acupuncture, Moxa and Chinese Medicine
- Mother warming and warming the scar – approx. 5 days after giving birth – we send you home with a moxa stick and I would have explained to you and your partner how to do this.
- From 6 weeks – we can begin to repair the c-section scar and help the muscles, skin and surrounding area to repair itself. To begin with – we use the moxa to help bring warmth to the area, which increases the circulation of blood and delivery of nutrients to the area ( via the blood).
- When ready – we can then surround the c-section scar with needles – this helps to reconnect the muscles, skin and tissue together and works deeply underneath the c-section cut.
- When needling a c-section scar – we are also realigning and reconnecting the meridians of the body that have been cut during the c section – as we reconnect these meridians back together – we reconnect the body and assist in restoring the flow of blood circulation and energy through the body.
- If you have had a previous C-section – we can assist support to help enable you to have a successful VBAC. This begins with Birth preparation from 35 weeks of pregnancy.
- We can provide further support and nourish your body with dietary advice and recommendations, as well as with Chinese herbal medicine – please note that Chinese herbal medicine can only be prescribed once you have had a consultation with us.
While I wasn’t able to have a natural birth with both of my daughters – I was still able to birth both daughters safely. This is the main importance of a caesarean section – in that it does provide a lifesaving procedure for the mother, and baby.
Written By Dr. Julia Bartrop
References
https://www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/baby-position/asynclitism/
#Ceasareanawarenessmonth #Csection #VBAC #womena health support.
