Study: Doctors Too Cautious With Birth Options

First-time mothers-to-be will accept greater risks than clinicians for a natural birth, new research suggests. Conducted at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital, the study asked 102 pregnant women and 341 midwives, obstetricians and other doctors what complications would make them choose a Caesarean section.

The study found the women prepared to accept higher pain levels, and, given an informed choice, were less likely than the professionals treating them to take a more cautious approach. Researchers asked them about mild complications such as a prolonged birth and superficial tears to severe problems such as anal and urinary incontinence, vaginal prolapse and severe tearing.

In all categories, the pregnant women were far more likely to be prepared to put up with complications in order to have a natural birth than their midwives or doctors.

Study author Catherine Turner said: “Our study found that pregnant women were more likely to aim for a vaginal delivery, and they accept a higher threshold of risks from vaginal delivery when compared with clinicians.”

The study was published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The research suggests that doctors may be biased by witnessing traumatic births.

UK Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the British National Childbirth Trust, said that health professionals could let their own negative experiences influence the recommendations they gave to women.

“If they’ve seen a traumatic birth, or been involved in a tragedy, there is no debriefing for them. “It can mean they are more judgemental about the risks involved.”

Women — do you feel you were informed to make decisions about your birth? Do you think women are naive to the risks of vaginal labour? Or are doctors too scalpel-happy?

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