A Disheartening Trend: C-Section Rate at an All-Time High in the US

From the New York Times:
The Caesarean section rate in the United States reached 32 percent in 2007, the country’s highest rate ever, health officials are reporting. The rate has been climbing steadily since 1996, setting records year after year, and Caesarean section has become the most common operation in American hospitals. About 1.4 million Caesareans were performed in 2007, the latest year for which figures are available....

The continuing rise “is not going to be good for anybody,” said Dr. George A. Macones, the chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis and a spokesman for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “What we’re worried about is, the Caesarean section rate is going up, but we’re not improving the health of babies being delivered or of moms.”

Risks to the mother increase with each subsequent Caesarean, because the surgery raises the odds that the uterus will rupture in the next pregnancy, an event that can be life-threatening for both the mother and the baby. Caesareans also increase the risk of dangerous abnormalities in the placenta during later pregnancies, which can cause hemorrhaging and lead to a hysterectomy. Repeated Caesareans can make it risky or even impossible to have a large family.

Read the whole article here.

Being an informed consumer of healthcare, educating yourself about the birth process and your options, and hiring a doula are all great insurance policies to help you maximize your chances for avoiding unnecessary major abdominal surgery.

Spring Prenatal Yogal classes at Heartland Yoga

March/April Prenatal Classes at Heartland Yoga!

Offering childbirth preparation in a safe, healing environment.

Prenatal Classes -
Tuesdays, March 16 - April 6, 6:30 - 7:45PM (4 week session)
And/Or
Sundays, March 7 - April 18, 12:30-1:45PM (6 week session)

These classes are based on yoga theory and are designed to safely stretch and relax the mom-to-be in each trimester. No yoga background is necessary. This is a great opportunity to do something for yourself and your baby and to meet other moms-to-be. You may chose to take both sessions for biweekly yoga, or chose to attend just once per week. If unable to attend every class, can make-up class in any other Heartland Yoga or Nia class. Taught by Jenn Bowen.

4 week session ........ $50
6 week session ........ $75


All of the prenatal classes require registration. To register, email us the class and time you want to attend at heartlandyoga@yahoo.com OR at 319-354-4062.

Doula Match: find your match

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www.DoulaMatch.net