Podcast: Play in new window | Download (23.6MB) | Embed
Credit: Ralf (Clickr Creative Commons)
Cesarean sections are major surgeries done to deliver a baby through an incision made in the mother’s abdomen. It’s the most common surgery performed in the United States. While one in four births in the U.S. happen this way, Native American women have the lowest rates of cesarean deliveries. Why is that? Is that a good or a bad thing?
Guests:
Dr. Patrisia Gonzales (Kickapoo, Comanche and Nahua) – Associate professor at the University of Arizona, traditional birth attendant
Dr. Jean Howe – OBGYN at Northern Navajo Medical Center and chief clinical consultant for OBGYN for the IHS
Kimberly Couch – Director of Women and Infant services at Phoenix Indian Medical Center
Break Music: She Was Born (song) Joanne Shenandoah (artist) Life Givers (album)
I had a c-section 4 years ago because my baby was breech. She was breech my entire pregnancy, and they were going to try and “flip” her by pushing on my stomach, but I ended up going into labor the day before my appointment. I am curious how safe that type of procedure is? I didn’t feel real comfortable about it, but I wanted to have a normal birth. Also, in the native community, is it common for doctors to recommend a c-section when the baby is breech?