Childbirth Interventions: Technology's Impact on Childbirth

Hi, this is Amy Jones, creator of Birthologie.com.  I've been a doula and childbirth educator since 1997 and if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, there’s a list of vital questions that you need to ask yourself in order to get that birth experience that you're looking for.  One of those questions that I’ll be addressing today is does more technology and intervention make for a healthier outcome in childbirth?

The short answer to that question is yes and no. We are so blessed to live in an era where we do have these life saving tools and technologies for mothers and babies during childbirth. However, on the other hand, the overuse and misuse of these technologies really lead to more problems than what they're preventing.

Ironically, in the areas where technologies are used the least, they actually do have the best outcomes.  So take for example the Cesarian rate in this country.  In the US, we have a Cesarian rate of over 30%. So that is saying over 30% of women cannot birth their babies the way that they were made to birth their babies and that’s an almost obscene statement to think about.

The World Health Organization actually recommends a Cesarian rate of 15% or less and in those countries that actually have Cesarian rate between 5% and 10% have the best overall outcomes in terms of mortality and morbidity for infants and for mothers.

In 1965, the US Cesarian rate was 4.5% and our infant and maternal mortality were extremely low as well.  We had a really good ranking as far as our infant and maternal mortality and since our Cesarian rate has climbed so exponentially, our maternal mortality and infant mortality rates have reflected that.

And so, it’s really incumbent upon you as a consumer and as a birthing woman to seek out those caregivers that do have the lowest infant maternal mortality rates and also have low rates of unnecessary intervention as well.

Visit Birthologie.com for more information, as well as online childbirth classes.