Tell Brazil to Support Natural Births!
- by: Chris Wolverton
- recipient: National Health Care System of Brazil
Pregnant women who prefer safer, natural vaginal births have a difficult time in Brazil. The country's Cesarian section rate is 50 percent in the public hospital system, and a whopping 87 percent in the private system. To put this into perspective, the World Health Organization recommends a maximum C-section rate of 15 percent.
Unnecessary C-sections place both mother and child at risk. Women experience increased risk of death, hysterectomies and blood transfusions, and placental problems in the future. Babies delivered through C-section are at greater risk for respiratory problems.
Brazil's doctors reportedly find natural birth inconvenient, and if a woman doesn't have a C-section scheduled, she may find herself transferred from hospital to hospital at the last minute in search of a willing doctor. One anonymous woman reports telling her OB early in pregnancy that she wanted a natural birth. The OB said they'd discuss it later. When she brought it up later in the pregnancy, the OB said, "I only do C-sections. If you want a vaginal birth, you’ll have to find another OB." At that point, the woman was late into her pregnancy and felt pressured into having a C-section.
Women have the right to give birth naturally without inconvenience and hassles. Please sign the petition to urge Brazil's National Health Care System to support natural births and make an effort to get their C-section rate down to the recommended 15 percent!
We, the undersigned, are concerned with the low rate of natural birth in Brazil. We understand that the country's Cesarian section rate is 50 percent in the public hospital system, and a whopping 87 percent in the private system. To put this into perspective, the World Health Organization recommends a maximum C-section rate of 15 percent.
Unnecessary C-sections place both mother and child at risk. Women experience increased risk of death, hysterectomies and blood transfusions, and placental problems in the future. Babies delivered through C-section are at greater risk for respiratory problems.
We are concerned that women who prefer natural birth have a difficult time finding a willing doctor to support her. One anonymous woman reports telling her OB early in pregnancy that she wanted a natural birth. The OB said they'd discuss it later. When she brought it up later in the pregnancy, the OB said, "I only do C-sections. If you want a vaginal birth, you’ll have to find another OB." At that point, the woman was late into her pregnancy and felt pressured into having a C-section.
Women have the right to give birth naturally without inconvenience and hassles. We respectfully urge you to support natural births and make an effort to get your C-section rate down to the recommended 15 percent. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
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