Mary Beth Knight - Strategies for the C-Section Mom: A Complete Fitness, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Guide

The rate of cesarean sections in the United States is currently high very high and it is continuing to rise. At many delivery centers in the United States, more than 30 percent of births are via C-section, and the rate is continuing to increase. By comparison, when I first started practicing about 25 years ago, the cesarean section rate was about 15 percent. So what has happened between then and now?

A perfect storm of reasons has combined to lead us to our current state of affairs. First of all, doctors are reluctant to take any risks whatsoever when delivering a baby. Physicians feel threatened by the current medical malpractice climate and will recommend a C-section much earlier than in prior years. Also, the use of forceps and vacuum devices to assist with vaginal deliveries has drastically declined in recent years, and younger physicians are not being adequately trained in these techniques, leading to a decrease in vaginal deliveries.

Furthermore, many patients are now conceiving at an older age, going into their pregnancies with medical problems that were far less common in the past. We are now seeing hypertension, diabetes, and obesity on a regular basis. Finally, patients today who have had a cesarean delivery with their first child are reluctant to try a vaginal delivery with their next pregnancy. An attempt at a vaginal delivery after a cesarean section is safe in most cases, with careful supervision in a skilled obstetrical unit. However, most patients are requesting a repeat C-section and declining an attempt at a vaginal delivery. This has exacerbated the problem and has led to an escalation in the number of cesarean deliveries.

Most obstetrical patients trust their doctors. They assume that they are highly skilled and have performed numerous cesarean deliveries in the past. They also expect to encounter no further medical complications after recovering from the operation. However, most patients are uninformed as to the actualities of a cesarean section. They normally have little concept of the surgical procedure itself or of the postoperative recuperation. Most patients go into the procedure expecting to do well, but with little advanced knowledge of what to expect afterward.

The best advice I can remember I learned as a Boy Scout years ago always be prepared. Knowing what to expect and planning accordingly lead to excellent outcomes and less stress. This attitude should also extend to patients having a cesarean delivery, which is where Mary Beth Knight can help. In Strategies for the C-Section Mom, she expertly breaks down the cesarean process to let you know exactly what is going to happen and how you can expect to feel afterward. This knowledge will lessen your anxiety and help give you a sense of comfort. It will also give you confidence in managing the postoperative recovery period.

Mary Beth's flawless research has led her to create an excellent blueprint for getting through a C-section comfortably and confidently. Not only has she done her homework through extensive anatomical study, but she has also had two C-sections herself and therefore possesses the added benefit of firsthand knowledge. Additionally, she has been present in the operating room for several operations and has seen the procedure from both sides.