29/04/2023
Over the years, the single most advancement that has brought down maternal mortality, saved so many newborns and mothers IS undoubtedly, undisputedly Caesarean Section!
I see so many govt hospitals and many small private set ups even in periphery, with scant resources, struggling yet taking the risk and providing people the emergency surgery.
20 years back women would die of eclampsia, high BP, jaundice, liver failure, heart diseases, haemorrhage to name a few. So many salvageable babies didn’t live.
So many women died of obstructed labour, rupture uterus, so many babies lost to mal presentations , those survived lived a compromised poor quality of life.
I do not understand the obsession of politicians, public and media especially foreign media to mudsling our doctors and our women!
Yes we have a high caesarean section rate, but don’t we have a very different demography and a rising rate of lifestyle diseases in our country. We are a diverse country struggling with both obesity & malnutrition, teenage pregnancy and delayed marriage, infertility and multiple pregnancies, high BP , diabetes, anemia apart from the plethora of social issues that plague women of India.
Add to it a zero tolerance for any adverse event which is pitched squarely on the doctors shoulders by all and sundry.
The surgical fee in majority places is now same for vaginal delivery and caesareans.
So let’s not demean caesareans just to build a narrative that doctors are doing it to earn money or save their time!
It might sell more but it pains those who have undergone caesareans. It is not an abnormal delivery.
And a woman has the right to choose her mode of delivery too. Do not judge her, do not shame if she doesn’t want to undergo labour pains . @*triptisharan*
Do not come between a doctor and her patient just for a story! Do not make either of them feel guilty or exploited.
Please spare caesareans from your prying eagle eyes!
I owe both my children to caesarean and don’t want anyone to insult me for that. I have also performed several, sometimes in the middle of night, sometimes to those who opted for it too.
Obstetrics is a beautiful branch that celebrates life. There can be no happiness greater than delivering a healthy baby to a healthy, smiling mother. Spare us from moral policing.
Improve over all health and happiness amongst women ! That would bring down caesareans automatically!
- Dr *Tripti Sharan*