12 Things You Can Do to Avoid Having a C-Section

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Today, more than 27 percent of women give birth by cesarean section, and studies estimate that as many as half of cesareans performed may be unnecessary. This type of intervention can needlessly increase the cost of childbirth, and worse, may actually increase the medical risk for mothers and babies.

According to Judith Lothian, co-author of The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence, "Many common medical interventions can hinder the process of birth by prolonging labor, discouraging you, and interfering with your ability to find comfort. These interventions can certainly be beneficial if they're used appropriately, when complications develop or the risk for complications is high. But they're often used inappropriately on healthy women whose labors are progressing normally."

In fact, many common interventions such as Pitocin (used to stimulate contractions) and epidural anesthesia can increase your risk of having a cesarean section.

From Judith Lothian and Charlotte DeVries, co-authors of "The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence," (Meadowbrook Press, $12; www.meadowbrookpress.com) here are 12 things to do to help avoid needless interventions or an unnecessary c-section:

• Let your labor start and progress on its own unless there are clear, compelling health reasons to induce labor or speed up labor.
  
• Discuss intermittent (instead of continuous) fetal monitoring with your caregiver.
  
• Remember that your body knows how to give birth.
  
• Plan for excellent labor support.
  
• Move and change positions often during labor.
  
• Labor at home for as long as possible.
  
• Work actively with your contractions.
  
• Keep up your energy by eating and drinking.
  
• Try lots of non-drug comfort measures before considering an epidural.
  
• If you have an epidural, let it wear off before pushing.
  
• If you've had a previous cesarean, visit the Maternity Center Association (MCA) Web site at www.MaternityWise.org and check out the "Should I Choose VBAC or Repeat C-Section?" page. Choose a caregiver who supports your decision to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).
  
• If your baby is breech, discuss external version (manually turning your baby head-down) with your caregiver.
  
  "The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence" is the first and only pregnancy and childbirth guide endorsed by Lamaze International. It presents practical information to help expectant parents achieve a healthy, happy and fulfilling birth experience.

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