Why is the Cesarean Rate is so High?

This mama had a home birth after cesarean and rocked it!

The US has the highest maternal mortality rate of any other developed nation. It’s sad. It really is. From 2000-2014 the mortality rate increased 27%. In Texas, alone, it doubled. Half of these deaths are PREVENTABLE. From 1996-2007 the cesarean rate increased by 53% and is now at 33%.

One of the biggest reasons they give for a first time cesarean is a “big baby.” This can’t be diagnosed until mom has begun pushing, but it is often “diagnosed” before labor has even started. Third trimester ultrasounds can be wrong in guessing how big baby is by up to 3 pounds! And even if they do suspect a big baby, they do not know the power inside you. You are capable of birthing a big baby!

With the high cesarean rate also comes not a lot of support for VBACS. But WHY?!

Ninety percent of women are eligible for a VBAC. The argument is always “the risk of uterine rupture is too high. Let’s just do another C-section.” When, in reality, the risk of uterine rupture for a VBAC goes from .2%- 1.5% and the risks that come with a repeat cesarean are far worse than that. Statistics show VBACs are 60-80% successful.