APPPAH News

Readers Respond to Unnecessary C-Sections

We have had many letters since the publication, in our last issue, of information about the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists declaration that its members were sanctioned to perform caesarean-sections with or without medical necessity. Our continuing exploration of this issue—which has great import for babies and for families and, therefore, for APPPAH—will include listening to our readers.

Dr. Joseph Spear, an osteopathic physician and psychiatrist in California, urges APPPAH to “. . . take a very strong stand against almost any procedure that results in the birth of the baby when contractions have not spontaneously started.” He speaks of children who chronically feel they are not ready, do not have enough time, or feel as if they were stolen from their mothers, and wonders about the physician’s commitment: “Above all, do no harm.” One reader reports his personal experience of being born caesarean, likening it to getting ready for the World Series, “. . . and then, just as it is about to begin, it is cancelled. The winner is just announced without any playing.” Barbara Findeisen, a psychotherapist in Arizona particularly well-known to APPPAH, bemoans evidence of a return to patriarchy in these new practices, but goes on to challenge: “What is equally disturbing to me is my grief for my sisters who have joined in the chorus applauding the new, updated version of this old, sad song.”

Margaret Horton of California also passed along a message from a national midwifery group, suggesting that we name September as national “Women! Take Birth Back” month, and following up with a laundry list of action steps. (For more information, email Americanmidwife@yahoo.com) Yet another reader made sure we remembered that Mothering magazine carried a cover story (“Facts you Need to Say ‘No!’ to a Caesarean”) in their March/April, 2004 issue.

Perhaps the most comprehensive reader response came from Dr. Michel Odent (the internationally-renowned obstetrician from London), who provided a copy of his 2004 book, The Caesarean. Odent states:

When comparing countries, or cities, or hospitals, it is possible to guess what the rates of caesareans are by comparing the number of obstetricians and the number of midwives. In countries where obstetricians far outnumber the midwives, the midwives have lost their autonomy and the rates of C-sections have skyrocketed (Odent, M. The Caesarean. Chippenham and Eastbourne, England: Free Association Books, 2004, p. 22).

He describes the higher incidence of respiratory problems in those caesarean-born; reports on the differences in physiology of those born vaginally and those born by c-section; makes several fascinating distinctions between caesareans following labor and non-labor caesareans; and—reflecting on non-human primate studies in which mothers failed to take care of their babies following caesarean delivery—ponders: “What is the future of a civilization born by caesarean?” (p. 54). I suppose that question is, indeed, the one it is ourresponsibility to ponder, long and hard.

Your thoughts? Feel free to address them—no matter where they are on the spectrum of opinion on this matter— to Michael Trout, Newsletter Editor: