On the heels of an announcement earlier this week about the rising number of pregnancy-related deaths comes a report in The New York Times that the number of Caesarean births in the United States has reached its highest level ever. These two statistics are inextricably linked.

From the Times: 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.

As I wrote in my post on the increase in deaths, I believe the medical mainstream is doing a deplorable job of educating women about the potential risks of c-sections. And the docs rarely take into consideration when recommending a c-section for a first-time mother that they are likely dooming her to surgeries — and all the associated risks – for any subsequent pregnancies. As I said before, c-sections can save lives but should be reserved for the cases when the baby or mother’s life is truly at risk.

The Associated Press is reporting that pregnancy-related deaths have risen sharply in the last decade. In California, the state keeping the closest count, these deaths have nearly tripled.

Though the causes appear myriad, one potential culprit certainly caught my attention: c-sections, which now account for almost a third of births.

My first child was born by c-section because he was breech. Though there were no complications and my recovery was rapid, it was not an experience I cared to repeat. When I became pregnant the second time, I eagerly began preparing for a natural birth only to be told by our local hospital that they do not do VBACs (vaginal births after cesarean). The months that followed where a truly eye-opening journey through our American medical system. I learned that the mainstream path for having a baby (at the hospital with drugs and lots of interventions) is resulting in terrible outcomes for millions of women. This is powerfully documented in the movie The Business of Being Born, which I believe every pregnant woman should watch.

During my pregnancies, nearly every OB-GYN I spoke to portrayed c-section and the safest, easiest surgery around. None cared to dwell on it being highly invasive with rare but potentially life-threatening risks, such as fatal blood clots. None cared to mention that it can lead to serious complications with future pregnancies. True it can be life-saving when a woman’s or baby’s life is at risk, but what small fraction of c-sections actually are performed for that reason?

Every time I hear about a pregnant woman going in for an induction on some trumped up reason – a day past due, fluid a touch low, blood pressure a tad high – I cringe. All too often, the powerful drugs used for this purpose lead to fetal distress and, in turn, emergency c-sections. It’s a chain of events that seems logical once started but could have been avoided entirely by simply allowing the baby to come when it’s ready.

In the end, we opted to have our second baby at home. After three days of labor (that’s right. three. days.), my son arrived screaming and healthy on his due date. While this option may not be for everyone, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world.

The following is from columnist and blogger Rachel Turiel:

Today is Prematurity Awareness Day. Hundreds of bloggers have dedicated their cyber-platforms to the topic of prematurity today. This is our story:

I used to be scared of flying. The mysterious creaks and clatters of take-off unleashed a surge of adrenaline and the thought “that’s the airplane wing, detaching.” I learned to watch the flight attendants; surely if something was amiss, their faces would reveal it.

It was like this too in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), where my son Col (rhymes with soul) spent his first 101 days. The nurses were my barometer of safety. They knew Col better than I, and for much of Col’s time incarcerated in an incubator, it seemed he belonged partially to them and partially to some otherworldly force, like he was still tethered to the invisible weave of the entire universe. (My mom used to say to Col when he was a just a wide-eyed crumb of a human, “You’re so wise now. Soon you’ll be forget everything and become very silly”).

Col was born in the dark night of a new moon under florescent lights in a room containing no less than 14 people. Dan snipped his umbilical cord in a brief moment of normalcy before Col was whisked to the neonatologists table, where 6 angels in green scrubs performed modern magic on Col’s tiny body. After my clinging placenta was torn from my uterus by a resident who looked like she’d just graduated high school, I fell into a quick, dreamless sleep. It wasn’t until the next morning that I saw my firstborn; the child who—born at 25 weeks gestation—should still have been back-flipping through the salty water of my womb. This doll-sized baby, my son, had a ventilator plunged down his impossibly narrow trachea and an IV threaded into his bead of a bellybutton. Another IV was sunk into his arm, which was barely 5 inches long and the width of my ring finger. His head was covered in slick hair of indeterminate color, and his eyes were not yet opened. Lanugo—that embryonic fur of the womb—covered his body. He was 13 inches long and 1 pound, 12 ounces. Read more.

Here’s a message from Brenda Armstrong with A Bump in the Road:

A BUMP IN THE ROAD OFFERS TWO NEW POSTPARTUM GROUPS

Starting in October, A Bump in the Road will expand to offer the women of the community of Durango and the surrounding areas two new postpartum support and resource opportunities in addition to the ongoing prenatal/preconception group.

* NEW! Postpartum Group — Join A Bump in the Road to discuss all matters related to being a new mother. The Postpartum Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Liv MacKenzie Counseling 766 Main Ave. Ste. 201

* NEW! Healthy Mommas, Happy Babies — Get out and get active! Join new moms and their babies every Thursday at 11a.m. For the month of October, Healthy Mommas will meet at Viles Park; in November, they will meet at the Smiley Building; in December, they will meet at The Rec Center.

* Prenatal and Preconception Group — Having a baby? Considering having children? Learn more about all things related to pregnancy and parenthood at A Bump in the Road. The Prenatal Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Liv MacKenzie Counseling 766 Main Ave. Ste. 201

Local practitioners and specialists join A Bump in the Road meetings to host open discussion relevant to their field of study and provide information to attendees on how their practices can assist women with their journey into motherhood. Ob/Gyns, Midwives, Chiropractors, Natural Health Practitioners, Family Practice Physicians, Psychologists, Early Childhood Educators, and many other specialists will be sharing the passion of their practices with A Bump in the Road.

A Bump in the Road is a group in Durango, Colorado designed to provide support, education, and resources for expectant mothers, new mothers, and women considering having children. Prenatal Group Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6pm, Postpartum Group Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6pm and Healthy Mommas, Happy Babies Exercise Group is held every Thursday at 11am. Group meetings are free; however, donations are accepted.

For more information about A Bump in the Road and to download a Fall Events Calendar, visit www.durangobumpintheroad.com or contact Brenda Armstrong at 779-8556 or by e-mail brenda@durangobumpintheroad.com

I’ve been avoiding writing about this topic because I’m incapable of being ojective on the subject, but I read this post on the New York Times’ Motherlode blog and I can’t resist. The post is about a New Jersey mother who had her baby taken away after refusing a c-section. The mom apparently had a history of mental illness but the reasons given by child protective officials at the time were that she refused the surgery and was acting erratically.

My first child was born by c-section because he was breech. With my second pregnancy, I had a strong desire not to have a repeat c-section. I soon learned, however, that this would be an uphill battle. To even hope for a vaginal delivery at our local hospital I would have had to sign a form saying I understood the risks (primarily uterine rupture) and was going against medical advice. Ultimately, we opted for a home birth (The Business of Being Born opened our eyes to this possibility). This was not a popular decision with some family members, but it turned out marvelously.

As the c-section rate continues to climb well above what is consider medically necessary, more and more women will find themselves in my position, choosing between going against medical advice or having an unwanted repeat surgery. Certainly, there are emergencies and circumstances in which c-sections save lives. But there’s also no question that the pendulum has swung toward the overuse of this life-saving tool. The New Jersey case shows how high the stakes can get for women backed into a c-section corner.