STOP CESAREAN

We are on the verge of a 🔺health crisis🔺and a true 🔺epidemic🔺
as stated by WHO,
The cesarean birth rate is very high and is rising at an alarming rate❗️❗️
Egypt has the third highest cesarean birth rate worldwide.😲
Egypt's health demographic for 2014 shows a cesarean birth rate of 52%, even more frightening is that it was only 10% in 2000 and 28% in 2008 which means that the cesarean birth rate is rising shockingly fast.😲
The World Health Organisation WHO recommends a maximum cesarean rate of 15%👍 to insure the optimum health of both mothers and babies. What is even more terrifying is that what is happening in real terms is resulting in increasing numbers of cesarean births.

Some of the reasons for this are as follows;

1-mothers are increasingly asking for a cesarean 🙄as they lack awareness about the birthing experience,
2-expectant mothers asking for natural birth are not given the support and help they need, on the contrary they are being frightened 😢 away from natural birth and intimidated into having a cesarean delivery.
3-hospitals and doctors are marketing cesarean births as a pain free birth 🤔while neglecting 😶 to discuss the side effects of what is major surgery.
4-at the same time hospitals and doctors are frightening women away from choosing natural birth by dramatizing the risks to the mother and baby of birthing naturally.
as our practices as obstetricians in natural birth are far away from evidence based practices which make natural birth a negative and terrifying experience.
Practices such as routine induction, routine episiotomy, lithotomy position for delivery, forbidding family members or partners, forbidding eating or drinking or moving during labour as well as continuous CTG, are all examples of routine practices that are NOT 👈supported by scientific research and evidence and only serve to add more fear and pain to women seeking a natural experience.

From my point of view as an OB/GYN the solution is a multidisciplinary team approach whereby everyone is gathered to participate in the decision making process;
-OB/GYNs
-OB/GYN nurses
-hospital CEOs and administrators
-mothers who have had previous natural births or cesarean births
-women who have not yet had children,
All need to discuss the reasons why cesarean birth has become so popular and what can be done to affect change by figuring out practical solutions and prioritizing what need to be and can be done to implement change.
I hope to implement this research in the near future.

However it is necessary to conduct a true and realistic study to identify reasons and solutions without apportioning blame to anyone.
In the meantime, my advice to everyone;

❤️Mothers❤️

prepare for your birth with proper education and preparation using evidenced based information, attend childbirth education classes which have been available in Egypt since 2014 and are offered by experienced qualified educators.
Use a doula as an additional carer during your birth.
Please, please stop listening to all the dramatic scary stories other women tell you, no one ever discusses their positive experiences. Stop fearing the unknown by acquiring the correct information and then make a balanced informed decision.
Prepare well, write a birth plan and then discuss it with your OB/GYN who will be happy to help you when they are confident that you are well informed, prepared and educated.

❤️Health care providers❤️

- universal policies and standards must be implemented by the Ministry of Health and by quality control teams to have better control of cesarean births. Any doctor who does not follow these rules must be legally challenged.
-It is of utmost importance to implement a law to protect obstetricians rights in order to help them practice medicine honourably and respectfully without fear.
- the cost of natural birth should reflect the time and effort required from the doctor.
- obstetricians need to undertake extra training in evidence based practices using ventose and forceps during birth.

❤️Hospitals❤️

Need to have a better system of care and support for the mother during childbirth and to provide support for natural birth by having comfortable rooms and a more relaxing environment, allowing the company of a doula and partner to provide comfort measures such as massage, deep breathing, freedom of movement, eating and drinking etc. Separation of mothers and babies after birth should only occur if deemed medically necessary..

❤️Social media❤️

We need to change the stereotype of screaming women in pain while giving birth on focus on new positive media examples to encourage natural birth.

I have spoken from my heart and I hope I have touched you and have made you think.
Praying for true and positive difference.
Dr Hanaa Mohamed Kassem