How to Avoid a Cesarean Birth

How Can I Reduce My Chances of a Cesarean Birth?

Cesarean birth can be life-saving for the baby and/or the mother. Today, approximately 60% of all cesarean births. ACOG’s Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery recommends reducing cesarean deliveries by:

Allowing prolonged latent (early) phase labor
Considering cervical dilation of 6 cm (instead of 4 cm) as the start of active phase labor
Allowing more time for labor to progress in the active phase
Allowing women to push for at least two hours if they have delivered before, three hours if it’s their first deliver and even longer in some situations, for example-with an epidural

Sometimes surgery is the best method to protect you and your baby from complications.

Some helpful suggestions:

Find a health care provider and birth setting with low rates of intervention. Be sure to ask your health care provider about their philosophy on cesareans and their cesarean rate
Become more educated about birth by taking childbirth classes, reading books and asking lots of questions.
Create a flexible birth plan
Have a doula as part of your birth team

Key topics to discuss with your healthcare provide include:

How long can you stay home before going to the hospital? Often, the longer you are in the hospital before the baby is born, the higher your risk of intervention
Explore options for coping with pain. If you can, avoid epidural analgesia, at least in early labor. An early epidural limits your movements and your baby’s movements which can lead to the need for intervention
Avoid continuous electric fetal monitoring during labor. Studies show that EFM can increase the chance of cesarean by up to one-third
Ask for recommendations on turning a breech baby and actively attempt these if necessary. I have a breech presentation program that helps the baby to get into an optimal position. Get in touch if you would like help with this.
Avoid induction if possible
Arrange for continuous labor support from a professional like a midwife or doula. Studies show that women with continuous labor support are 26% less likely to have a cesarean.