10 Childbirth Procedures That You Could Avoid

Modern medicine has seen the rise of procedures for making childbirth less painful than in the past. However, not all procedures do much good to a woman in labor. Alarmingly, the rate of maternal deaths during childbirth in the US has witnessed a steady, but unforgiving, rise. And, the number of premature or low-weight births have also gone up. While the reasons remain unclear, the situation indicates that there is an application of unnecessary medical interventions during labor. While some of these procedures are mandatory and vital, others aren’t exactly so. However, most moms undergo these unimportant procedures not knowing that they had a choice.

So, here are ten medical procedures that you don’t you can say ‘no’ to if you don’t need them:

In This Article

1. Inducing Labor When Your Body Doesn’t Need It Yet

Did you know that inducing labor might increase your chance of a C-section? Moms could induce labor at full-term for many reasons. However, this could lead to problems. Your body might be set into labor even before your baby is ready to come into the world. Secondly through inducing, you don’t allow the necessary hormonal and biological changes to occur in your body.

2. Scheduling Delivery Before The Due Date

If you are planning to deliver your baby before the due date, it will indeed involve going under the doctor’s knife as a C-section. Infants born prematurely might require intensive care. Babies who are born full-term have fewer health problems when compared to babies born earlier.

3. Frequent Electronic Fetal Monitoring

It isn’t a very good idea to have constant fetal monitoring unless you are on an epidural or oxytocin, or you are expecting a high-risk birth. Your labor could difficult with electronic fetal monitoring restricting your movements. Opt for a stethoscope or hand-held monitor for the periodic tests.

4. Elective C-sections

While the rate of C-section is rising in many parts of the world, the reality is most of it is not medically necessary. If a mom is has elected to have a C-section despite a low-risk or a first-time pregnancy, then she should probably rethink her decision. The best and safest method of delivery is an uncomplicated vaginal birth.

5. Second C-sections

There is a wrongly held notion among women that those who have had a C-section in the first delivery must deliver only through C-section in the second delivery too. The reality is there is quite a decent success rate for women who have had a C-section but attempted a VBAC or vaginal birth after cesarean. You could talk to your doctor about a VBAC option.

6. Episiotomy

Your vagina has been designed to stretch. It doesn’t need to be cut open. There are chances of tearing, but your doctor can help you to minimize the likelihood of a tear.

7. Rupturing Your Membranes

You will not rush into labor simply by breaking your water. In doing so, you could be inviting complications, and you will inevitably have to go through a C-section.

8. Early Epidural

An epidural can slow down your labor and lead to complications. Don’t be too afraid of labor pains before they even start and you end up taking an epidural even before you need it.

9. Ultrasound After 24 Weeks

Ultrasounds in late term could increase the chance of a C-section. However, you also need to know that your doctor might not be able to retrieve dependable information through an ultrasound after 24 weeks, and thereby you can’t conclude upon the outcome.

10. Allowing Your Nurse To Whisk Off The Baby Soon After Birth

You could ask your nurse to wait before your baby is taken away to for examination. Let rooming-in occur at the earliest so that your child and you can bond faster. Interestingly, studies have also shown that moms who hold on to their infants longer sleep better than moms who didn’t hold their babies immediately.

So do talk to your practitioner about their standard practices of delivery, so you are not left baffled later.

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