Antibiotics Before a C Section
August 26, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
The American Congress of Obstericians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now say that "All women need antibiotics one hour before cesarean delivery"
The reason this has not been general practice to prevent the 10-40% post surgery infection rate for cesarean delivery (1-3% for vaginal birth), was the concern that the antibiotics that made it into the baby’s bloodstream from the mother would interfere with newborn lab tests or could lead to antibiotic-resistant infections.
The ACOG is now making this recommendation because “Based on the latest data, prophylactic antibiotics given to pregnant women before a cesarean significantly reduce maternal infection and do not appear to harm newborns,” Dr. William H. Barth, Jr., chair of the ACOG’s Committee on Obstetric Practice, said in a college news release.
Dr Barth went on to say None of the studies were large enough to say definitively that giving the mother the antibiotics before the cesarean incision does not appear to increase problems in the newborn, "but given the overall benefit to the mother, our committee – which included pediatricians – felt that this was the right thing to do”.
Instances when this new recommendation does not apply are when the patient is already receiving appropriate antibiotics. When it is not possible to begin administration within 60 minutes of the first incision – as with emergent c-section – prophylaxis should be administered as soon as possible.
Hopefully it will prove to be the case that there are no negative consequences for cesarean delivered babies and that the mothers will be advised to take probiotics as part of their c section recovery.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Obesity And Cesarean Risk
August 18, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
A new and significant study suggests that the greater a womans weight when she checks in on delivery day, the likelier a cesarean delivery.
The study involved data from nearly 125,000 women who gave birth between 2002 and 2008. This data was carefully analyzed to determine how other factors than a woman’s body mass index (BMI) might alter c section risk, such as prior births or cesarean sections. Additionally they analyzed the circumstances surrounding each birth, as well as the delivery route.
The study found that for every unit increase in BMI, as measured on arrival for delivery, a woman’s risk of cesarean delivery rose by 4 percent.
It was also found that this risk changed depending on whether or not a woman had given birth before or had previously undergone a cesarean section. A one-unit increase in BMI raised the risk of cesarean 5 percent for a woman delivering her first child, 2 percent for women with children and prior cesarean, and 5 percent for women with children but without a prior cesarean
These variables remained after accounting for factors such as maternal age, race and cervical dilation at hospital admission.
For those who had a prior cesarean, the risk of having another was about double: more than half of laboring women with a BMI over 40 (considered morbidly obese).
Significant in the perceived need for repeat cesareans is concern that a vaginal birth will tear scars left by the earlier c section. However, a different study recently discovered that such uterine ruptures are not as common as previously thought. In fact they occur in less than one percent of vaginal births after cesarean.
Lead researcher Dr. Michelle Kominiarek of Indiana University warned that exactly how obesity contributes to cesarean risk still has not been well addressed, but that it is a factor of significance is clear.
Adhesions After C Section
May 7, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
There are a variety of problems that can arise as a result of a c section delivery, among them is adhesions. Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs. They may be thought of as internal scar tissue.
Many women who have had c-section later experience low back and hip pain. The c-section scar, if untreated can form prominent and internal scar tissue just above the pubic bone. When this scar tissue is thick with adhesions it can pull on the hip flexors or psoas musscles which originate at the lumbar vertabrae T12-L5 (your lower back). When one hip flexor is hypertonic (having a very high muscular tension) it will typically pull on the lower lumbar spine. As a result pain is experienced, typically either sciatic pain or lower back pain.
Another symptom that has been seen with cesarean moms is that they may have issues with lower digestion such as irritable bowel syndrome or elimination difficulties. Again, the tightening created by the scar tissue pulls within the abdominal cavity and thus affects the organs.
Bottom line, typically the scar tissue that formed after the c-section can tighten and pull the body out of balance and the symptoms of pain in the back really originates in the abdomen. Fortunately there are solutions that work for most women. First and foremost caring for the scar with daily self massage will soften the tissue dramatically and prevent adhesions. After two months the addition of dry skin brushing will further diminish and heal the scar tissue. Myofascial and craniosacral treatment can also help release any remaining pulling from the scar tissue in the pelvic floor. The hip flexor(s) can then return to balance. Caring for the scar in these ways creates relaxation of the tightened lower abdominal tissue relieving pressure on the low back, and typically avoids potential future problems and pain.
Couple the benefits of such a self care routine with those of binding and you have The Deluxe C Section Recovery Kit. We cared enough to design and make it, please care enough to use it.
A video showing how adhesions are treated with laparoscopic keyhole surgery
C Section Deliveries At All-Time High in US
April 23, 2010 by · 1 Comment
C section deliveries now constitute a third of all birth in the US. This rising trend can also be seen in developing countries. Amnesty International have called the increase in cesarean sections a maternal health care crisis. The World Health Organization says that only 15% of c section births are actually necessary. Is the litigious nature of American society and doctors fear of lawsuits the reason for the extra 15%, or is it the profit driven model of US health care?
Or is it the expectant moms who want a c section to plan the birth date or for some other reason? Tell us what you think.
Elective Cesareans Increase Risks
April 14, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Despite medical advances and increasing access to improved obstetric care across the globe, surgical childbirths are still more risky for both mother and baby, according to an ongoing international survey by the World Health Organization (WHO).
A new report from the survey, which was published online today in the medical journal The Lancet, found that in Asia—in both developed and developing nations— cesarean section births only reduced risks of major complications for mother and child if they were medically recommended. Elected surgical deliveries, on the other hand, put both at greater risk.
"Cesarean section should be done only when there is a medical indication to improve the outcome for the mother or the baby," the authors of the report concluded. Common reasons for a recommendation for cesarean delivery included a previous cesarean section, cephalopelvic disproportion (when the baby’s head cannot fit through the mother’s pelvic opening) and fetal distress.
With these surgeries comes increased risk of maternal death, , admission into an intensive care unit, blood transfusion, hysterectomy or internal iliac artery ligation (to control bleeding in the pelvis) compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery, according to the report.
But these risks have not necessarily been absorbed into popular, or even medical culture. The rates of cesarean section procedures are on the rise in many countries across the globe, the authors report, and in some countries they "have reached epidemic proportions." Among the nations studied, China had the highest rate of cesarean sections that were performed without medical indication—11.7 percent; the overall rate for the facilities studied had a rate of 1.9 percent.
Despite the increased risks associated with cesarean deliveries, no or babies in the study died after an elected cesarean before hospital release. The most dangerous form of childbirth proved to be vaginal operative delivery, which includes using forceps or a vacuum to assist in delivery and is more rare, occurring in just 3.2 percent of the births analyzed.
Surgical childbirth also requires more resources than a natural vaginal delivery, the authors note. Especially in countries where money, medical practitioners or proper equipment is more limited, unnecessary cesarean sections can drain resources away from those cases in which it can improve the chances of a healthy mother and.
Read The Complete article here
Image of cesarean surgery team at work courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Bobjgaliando
Cesarean Birth & Infertility Risks
December 15, 2009 by · 1 Comment
A study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has shown that women giving birth for the first time, who have cesarean sections have fewer children and more difficulty conceiving than those who birthed by normal vaginal delivery or by assisted vaginal delivery (use of forceps or vacuum).
It was also found that cesarean section or assisted vaginal delivery leaves many mothers frightened about future childbirth. In addition a primary cesarean delivery and to some extent assisted vaginal delivery is associated with an increased risk of voluntary and involuntary infertility.
Cesarean section delivery was clearly associated with more women who had no further children after five years compared with normal delivery. There were also fewer women who had two or more further children over five years following cesarean section.
After a primary assisted vaginal delivery, women who had a second child were just as likely to have a third as those women who delivered their first child normally. This did not seem to be the case following a primary cesarean section.
In the cesarean section group 63.8% of women had subsequent children delivered by cesarean. This compares with 9.5% in the assisted delivery group and 3.9% of mothers who had a normal delivery.
Mothers who had their only child by cesarean section were more likely to have tried but not been successful in having further children than mothers who had normal deliveries. Also they were less likely to want to go through childbirth again than normal deliveries. This trend was similar for women who had vaginal instrumental deliveries but not to the same extent.
Conversely, women who had normal deliveries were more likely to report relationship problems as their reason for no further children, compared with cesarean section and instrumental deliveries.
Over five years following primary cesarean section there were 13% more mothers with no subsequent children compared with normal deliveries. Also, of women who had been delivered by cesarean section only 5% had two or more further children, compared with 12% following normal vaginal delivery and 11% following vaginal instrumental delivery.
Other studies have reported between 12% and 9% more mothers with no subsequent children following primary cesarean section compared with normal vaginal delivery. It seems clear that a primary cesarean delivery can affect family size by reducing future options for women.
Other studies have suggested that involuntary infertility is more common following cesarean section. The difference in fertility seemed to result largely from difficulties in having children after cesarean section, rather than lessened desire for children. In the cesarean section group 30% of women had tried, but had not been successful, in having another child. This compares with 28% in the vaginal instrumental group and 16% in the normal delivery group. Sub-fertility is greatest if there has been a post-operative pelvic abscess.
Results suggest that many women are frightened of having additional children, resulting in voluntary infertility, following cesarean and vaginal instrumental deliveries. Regional anaesthesia for delivery has been shown to reduce negative feelings following cesarean section. In many departments partners are allowed at the delivery when regional, as opposed to general, anaesthesia is used. Other studies have reported more positive feelings in couples where the father has been present at the delivery.
The statistics paint a clear picture of higher risk of both voluntary and involuntary infertility after a first child was delivered by cesarean. It is not a risk that your caregiver is likely to discuss with you when you talk through risks of cesarean birth, they may not even be aware that it is!
POLL
Loading ...-
Select your size to add to cart.
31.95
VOLUPTUOUS 34.95Select your size to add to cart.
AbdoMend™ C-Section Recovery Kit
73.90
PETITE, SMALL
MEDIUM, LARGE
VOLUPTUOUS 79.90
Select your size to add to cart.
AbdoMend™ Deluxe C-Section Recovery Kit
99.90
PETITE, SMALL
MEDIUM, LARGE
VOLUPTUOUS 103.90
Select your size to add to cart.