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(NaturalNews) The United States Department of Health and Human Services is reporting that Cesareans are on the rise up 53 percent since 1996. The C-Section rate was listed as 21 percent in 1996 and a climbed to 32.8 percent in 2010. According to the World Health Organization the suggested rate of C-section should not exceed 15 percent. Cesareans can be beneficial in situations where complications arise. However, the problem is that these procedures are often used inappropriately on healthy women with little or no complications.

C-sections can result in problems in the mother such as infections, loss of blood, placenta problems, complications in future pregnancies, ongoing pelvic pain, uterine rupture and bowel blockage. Babies can experience breathing problems, difficulty breastfeeding, childhood onset diabetes and asthma.

So with more and more information exposing how cesareans do more harm than good, why is this labor surgery continuing to skyrocket with 1 in 3 women in the US delivering by cesarean? Many people believe that the rise in C-section rates is due to complications in pregnancy and labor that make this surgery necessary. This article will expose the real reasons of the increased cesarean rates and how to prevent this procedure.

The Real Causes

One of the main reasons for the upsurge is the casual attitude toward the idea of unnecessary interventions and surgery. Our culture has become increasingly tolerant of clinical procedures, even when they are not medically necessary. Many common interventions such as Pitocin and Epidurals can cause side effects that prevent the mother from finding comfort. This causes the body to progress too slowly, which can result in fetal distress and increase the likelihood of a cesarean. Instead physicians should be informing more women on the complications and long-term problems that can occur, using interventions and procedures only when necessary.

Over the years there has become less and less of a focus on enhancing women's confidence in the ability of the body during labor. Simply spending more time educating women on how to handle the birthing process, as well as fostering an environment to help make the mother as comfortable as possible, are healthier and less expensive alternatives to the operation.

It should come to no surprise that monetary and personal incentives also have a role in the sharp ascent in the surgical procedure. Payment schedules compensate more for a C-section as opposed to a vaginal birth. In addition to the higher monetary payout, the personal perks can be just as inviting. A C-section can be less time consuming and even better, a scheduled C-section can allow the practitioner to organize their work and personal life more efficiently without having to support a longer vaginal birth, while at the same time, earning more profit.

Women need to try to and avoid having a cesarean by focusing on proper health, nutrition and exercise throughout pregnancy. Practicing mind-body techniques such as yoga and meditation help to build body awareness and increase confidence in the ability of your body and your baby. These techniques can decrease the chances of requiring a cesarean and facilitate a successful, natural birth.

Sources for this article include

Althabe F, Belizan JF. Caesarean section: The paradox. The Lancet 2006;368:1472-3.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539636/

http://www.reuters.com

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Maternal, infant, and child health. Healthy People 2020. Washington, DC: 2010.

About the author:
Victoria Moore is natural health researcher/blogger, yoga instructor and Usui Reiki master. Her passions include empowering women on how to prepare for natural labor, teaching yoga to adults and children and learning about alternative approaches to health and lifestyle. Through her website www.yogimami.com she enjoys connecting with other like-minded people and sharing information about health and wellness, natural parenting, alternative medicine and organic living.
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