As a teen or young mother, when you go to the hospital, YOU WILL BE OFFERED MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS IN YOUR BIRTH...you need to understand what these interventions are and what the consequences of them are. You have the right to refuse them. You have the right to accept them. If you choose to accept them, however, (as many good, intelligent people do!) you need to understand why you are making your choice, and what your labor MAY look like as a result. This way you will still feel empowered by making an educated choice.
The image to the left is a flow chart that someone created to try to illustrate the "cascade of interventions" in birth. If you click on it, it will get bigger, and then you can zoom in even more to read it clearly.
Flowcharts like this are created by people that want educate women about a very proven fact:
Once one intervention takes place in a birth, it is much more likely, though not absolute, that many others interventions will take place (Hall, 2009).
CLICK HERE TO READ: A Professor of Nursing at the University of Toronto gives her opinion on the Cascade of Interventions and rising Caesarean section rates in Canada, now currently at 26.9% (CIHI, 2012).
CLICK HERE TO WATCH: A short Youtube excerpt on the Cascade of Interventions, from the documentary `The Business of Being Born`, which we discuss more on the `Natural Birth`page (see tabs at top).
WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW? Again, use your critical thinking. When you see images like this, read the comments in forums of people both supporting and challenging these facts. For example, one forum that discusses the image to the left is found here.
Note that some people believe this image is useful because it helps people understand that if their labor is induced, the likelihood of many other interventions are increased: an epidural for the pain of the induction/intensified contractions, and cesarean section due to fetal distress from the intensified contractions. Here is a link to someone who really supports the ideas in the flowchart, but note that many people have responded to her blog with comments that suggest they think there are problems with the over-simplification of the chart.
The image to the left is a flow chart that someone created to try to illustrate the "cascade of interventions" in birth. If you click on it, it will get bigger, and then you can zoom in even more to read it clearly.
Flowcharts like this are created by people that want educate women about a very proven fact:
Once one intervention takes place in a birth, it is much more likely, though not absolute, that many others interventions will take place (Hall, 2009).
CLICK HERE TO READ: A Professor of Nursing at the University of Toronto gives her opinion on the Cascade of Interventions and rising Caesarean section rates in Canada, now currently at 26.9% (CIHI, 2012).
CLICK HERE TO WATCH: A short Youtube excerpt on the Cascade of Interventions, from the documentary `The Business of Being Born`, which we discuss more on the `Natural Birth`page (see tabs at top).
WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW? Again, use your critical thinking. When you see images like this, read the comments in forums of people both supporting and challenging these facts. For example, one forum that discusses the image to the left is found here.
Note that some people believe this image is useful because it helps people understand that if their labor is induced, the likelihood of many other interventions are increased: an epidural for the pain of the induction/intensified contractions, and cesarean section due to fetal distress from the intensified contractions. Here is a link to someone who really supports the ideas in the flowchart, but note that many people have responded to her blog with comments that suggest they think there are problems with the over-simplification of the chart.
Other people feel charts like this are misleading are scare women. For example, sometimes induction is actually required, and a relatively uncomplicated vaginal birth can follow. Other women have had epidurals and no problems with breastfeeding, so they think that part of the chart is misleading.
My hope is that this chart challenges and inspires you to learn more about the cascade of interventions that often happens in the delivery room, so you are educated if these options are presented to you, and you can engage in a well-reasoned conversation with your doctor or nurse if those interventions are offered or recommended to you. If you want to read a little more about the "cascade of intervention", you can click here, or do your own research, using your critical thinking eye!
To the right is a similar, but slightly different chart. Again, click to enlarge, and then click again for clarity.
Remember...gather information, and make your own decisions. No one is right except for you.
My hope is that this chart challenges and inspires you to learn more about the cascade of interventions that often happens in the delivery room, so you are educated if these options are presented to you, and you can engage in a well-reasoned conversation with your doctor or nurse if those interventions are offered or recommended to you. If you want to read a little more about the "cascade of intervention", you can click here, or do your own research, using your critical thinking eye!
To the right is a similar, but slightly different chart. Again, click to enlarge, and then click again for clarity.
Remember...gather information, and make your own decisions. No one is right except for you.