Icddr,b new intervention package can help cut C-sections

Newly invented intervention package of icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) could be the key to reducing C-sections (caesarean deliveries) as most of these deliveries take place in Bangladesh without considering any risk of both mothers and their babies, reports BSS.

The intervention package includes regular monitoring of the vital signs that need to be performed, maintaining the woman’s preferred birthing position, providing support for using the spontaneous pushing technique, the presence of a trained healthcare provider, and a support person for the pregnant woman throughout the whole process.

According to the researchers of icddr,b, all the components combined greatly increases the likelihood of a successful delivery with minimal complications.

At icddr,b’s Matlab hospital, all physicians, nurses and midwives were trained on the various labour positions, pushing techniques and the need for support persons during delivery.

Implementing the package saw a sharp increase – 76 percent from just 1percent – in adopting the lateral or upright positions, which has more advantages than the dorsal position in reducing complications.

The spontaneous pushing technique, which is considered to be more comfortable for the woman and results in fewer complications, rose in favour from 77 percent to 97 percent.

In addition, the results show, engaging a support person for the woman significantly increased from 2.5 percent to 91.4 percent. The combination of all these factors is poignant, with maternal and neonatal complications decreasing by 46 percent between the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods.

Caesarean section, also known as C-section, or caesarean delivery, is the use of surgery to deliver babies. A caesarean section is often necessary when a vaginal delivery would put the baby or mother at risk. This may include obstructed labour, twin pregnancy, high blood pressure in the mother, breech birth, or problems with the placenta or umbilical cord.

Once upon a time, caesarean delivery was considered a last resort in giving birth due to high-risk pregnancies or complications during labour. Now, there is an alarming upstream trend of C-sections where one in five women globally will have a caesarean birth.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that caesarean section be performed only when medically necessary. But, some C-sections are performed here without a medical reason, upon request by someone, usually the mother.

In Bangladesh, about one million caesarean deliveries are performed each year, rising from 12 percent in 2010 to 31 percent in 2016. According to the WHO, countries should maintain their rate of C-sections to 10-15 percent and every effort should be utilised to ensure it is carried out of medical necessity given the risk it poses to the mother and the baby.

Researchers say reducing the rate of caesarean births requires a shift in normalising vaginal deliveries among healthcare practitioners and providing and availability of quality care.

They said misconceptions and complications surrounding vaginal births are other reasons for women opting for C-sections, including fear of labour pain, post-partum haemorrhage, episiotomy, cervical and perineal tears, and birth asphyxia, among others.

Icddr,b new intervention package can help cut C-sections

Newly invented intervention package of icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) could be the key to reducing C-sections (caesarean deliveries) as most of these deliveries take place in Bangladesh without considering any risk of both mothers and their babies, reports BSS. The intervention package includes regular monitoring of the vital signs that need to be performed, maintaining the womans preferred birthing position, providing support for using the spontaneous pushing technique, the presence of a trained healthcare provider, and a support person for the pregnant woman throughout the whole process. According to the researchers of icddr,b, all the components combined greatly increases the likelihood of a successful delivery with minimal complications. At icddr,bs Matlab hospital, all physicians, nurses and midwives were trained on the various labour positions, pushing techniques and the need for support persons during delivery. Implementing the package saw a sharp increase 76 percent from just 1percent in adopting the lateral or upright positions, which has more advantages than the dorsal position in reducing complications. The spontaneous pushing technique, which is considered to be more comfortable for the woman and results in fewer complications, rose in favour from 77 percent to 97 percent. In addition, the results show, engaging a support person for the woman significantly increased from 2.5 percent to 91.4 percent. The combination of all these factors is poignant, with maternal and neonatal complications decreasing by 46 percent between the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods. Caesarean section, also known as C-section, or caesarean delivery, is the use of surgery to deliver babies. A caesarean section is often necessary when a vaginal delivery would put the baby or mother at risk. This may include obstructed labour, twin pregnancy, high blood pressure in the mother, breech birth, or problems with the placenta or umbilical cord. Once upon a time, caesarean delivery was considered a last resort in giving birth due to high-risk pregnancies or complications during labour. Now, there is an alarming upstream trend of C-sections where one in five women globally will have a caesarean birth. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that caesarean section be performed only when medically necessary. But, some C-sections are performed here without a medical reason, upon request by someone, usually the mother. In Bangladesh, about one million caesarean deliveries are performed each year, rising from 12 percent in 2010 to 31 percent in 2016. According to the WHO, countries should maintain their rate of C-sections to 10-15 percent and every effort should be utilised to ensure it is carried out of medical necessity given the risk it poses to the mother and the baby. Researchers say reducing the rate of caesarean births requires a shift in normalising vaginal deliveries among healthcare practitioners and providing and availability of quality care. They said misconceptions and complications surrounding vaginal births are other reasons for women opting for C-sections, including fear of labour pain, post-partum haemorrhage, episiotomy, cervical and perineal tears, and birth asphyxia, among others.