Hats off to the doctors and nurses talking about the serious increase in c-section rates in Canada in the Vancouver Sun yesterday. In fact, this week, there have been wonderfully-written articles about birth in Canada. We do not want to become like the US, where the c-section rate hovers around the 30% mark (WHO reccomends it sits at the 15% mark), but unless we change the way we think about, and treat, birth, we are seriously in danger of heading in that same direction.
What I found most interesting was the emotional and psychological impact of c-sections – a perspective that hasn’t been given much press, perhaps for fear that we offend the women who gave birth via cesarean? The research suggests that there is a delay in bonding between mother and baby in cases of cesareans – that the hormones (oxytocin) responsible for vaginal birth are not present at a cesarean. True enough. Does that mean that postpartum depression is more prevalent in mothers who have c-sections? That would be interesting research. The article states that it is at a very early stage of research, and that the study group was very small. More research needed (I remember stating that very conclusion at the end of every essay in university!).
I want to applaud this article for stating also that there are many good reasons for c-sections. The writers were not saying that c-sections should never be performed – indeed, we have advanced so much as a technological world, and c-sections are responsible for many of the celebrated people of this world. We just don’t need to take this to the extreme – watch the interventions, health professionals! Do we really need to do that internal fetal monitoring that will restrict the movement of the mother and in turn, perhaps slow down the progress of labour?
Today’s article in the Sun was on two key things that as a doula, I often tell my pregnant clients about – movement and patience. Bravo! So simple, yet, so hard to remember in this society where we are so set on hurrying things up. Labour can truly be about the journey, not just the destination. As a society, we are very afraid of pain. So afraid are we of feeling any discomfort that we block it out and still we expect to grow as individuals. Pain is part of our humanity. We are supposed to feel this to some degree.
Just to mention, in no way am I judging those who have epidurals, or any other type of pain relief in birth. As a doula, I have been in many situations where an epidural has been necessary for the relaxation of the Mom – and baby has come shortly afterwards. I’m simply observing that perhaps if we change the way we look at pain and childbirth, we may discover something wonderful and powerful about ourselves.
Who knows? We may even enjoy it and want to do it again…and again!