Australian Cesarean Rate on the Rise - Few Doctors Know “Normal Birth”
By Danell Swim
March 22, 2008
The number of doctors able to deliver naturally if there are complications has dramatically dropped because of lost skills and lack of resourcing, according to two of the state’s leading maternity specialists.
There is now only one public doctor in NSW who can deliver a breech baby vaginally - and women report it is difficult to find a public doctor to deliver twins naturally or who is prepared to do an intervention-free birth if the mother has already had a caesarean.
“It is my fear that the increasing number of caesareans undermines that basic ability,” Dr Andrew Bisits, obstetrics director at John Hunter Hospital said.
Both doctors are currently awaiting the results of a landmark international study on the risk factors on delivering twins naturally. They said the results could have a dramatic effect.
“It could tip it and we could be looking at caesarean rates of 40 to 50 per cent,” Dr Bisits said.
Comments
Got something to say?