Thread by @THARIHealth

The only upside to my being forced to stay in bed is that I can tweet more medi-torial stuff! So, coming up: "Problems" regarding c-sections

The first (recorded) C/section was done to deliver a frm the womb of it's mom who had died. This was in Rome, & that child was NOT Julius!😀

Delivering by C/section is meant to be an exception, and done when Normal Vaginal Delivery (NVD) would put mom& baby at risk.

FF to 2016 in SA, C/S is a 1st line choice by doctors for convenience & women (for fear of pain?) - against worldwide accepted guidelines.

I want to focus on health problems future generations are faced with due to being delivered by C/S.

Obviously there are places where C/S is indicated -
● health problems in the mother (eg. extremely high BP etc)
● fetal problems +

Fetal/ baby problems incl:
●Abnormal position (breech/ transverse lie)
●multiples (twins etc)
●umbilical cord issues +

There is indeed a long list of indications for delivery by C/S. However, this is in about a quatre /less of wmen giving birth, not the norm.

However, S/Africa, C/S is the norm in the private health sector. As much as 70% to 90% of women "choose" to deliver this way. This is wrong.

However, Im not here to judge these women &their Drs. I just want to highlight the epidemic of health issues arising due to high rate of C/S

Quick background:
1. Labour puts stress on the baby, releasing important hormones needed for developing baby's immune system.

2. The passage of baby thru mom's vagina allows swallowing of vaginal flora (bacteria, fungi) that contributes TREMENDOUSLY to its immunity.

The lack of this immune stimulation renders kids vulnerable to.a whole list of health issues mostly related to allergies, & many others.

1st let me tell you something that will put into perspective the need for a new born to "eat bugs" from their mom's vagina. 😊🙈

We live happily in harmony w lots of healthy microbes (bugs if you like) that make our immune system strong. On skin, in nose, gut, lungs...

So this makes it VERY necessary for babies to go thru the process of "colonising" itself with mom's bugs to help it start building immunity.

For every living cell in our bodies there are about 100 - 200 necessary microbes!!! Yes.. bugs are us!! (sorry couldn't help that!) ...

Being born in a sterile theater through sterile mediums put baby at a MAJOR disadvantage when they come into contact w a bug infested world!

Health problems faced are as follows (list not exhaustive).
Allergies
Asthma
Inflammatory bowel disorders
Irritable bowel disorders
+

+
Metabolic issues - Diabetes
High blood pressure
Primary immune disorders
Juvenile arthritis
And.. and.. and... and...

The stress from going through uterine contractions is what contributes initially to proper metabolic functioning. Nature knows wassup!!!

I feel that it's very sad that we in SA have made something abnormal the norm. Not thinking for the kids but for ourselves & pockets.

We cry about cost of medical insurance yet are quick to made decisions that incur unnecessary high medical costs.

In the public sector, uncomplicated 1st time NVD spend a full 24hrs post delivery &then discharged. 2nd time onwards discharged next day..

I'll briefly mention that yes, nothing in medicine is perfect. & NVD doesn't come without complications. But most of them can be avoided +

+by proper monitoring by medical team &making necessary decisions during labour timeously. NVD should be tried 1st, unless contraindicated.

Contraindicated means we know from the get go that mom and baby will be at risk of real (not fabricated) complications.

One cannot deny that some socialists are driven by fear of litigation from NVD deliveries. However, these complications are not the norm.

Furthermore, it has been shown that the rate of common NVD complications eg. Cerebral Palsy, has not decreased with the increase of C/S.

S.Africa is known as "Caesar's Palace" to the world. Even 1st world countries do NOT perform "vaginal preservation" deliveries at our rate 😕

A colleague once said I was barbaric for opting for NVD w both my kids... Perhaps this is also the problem, certain things don't need change

Anyway... Patients have a right to make INFORMED decisions along with the Dr regarding mode of delivery of their baby. Please engage yr Drs.

Don't make decisions that affect YOUR child based on fear. If vaginal stretching is a concern, there's things that can fix that!!!!

Alright. I need to be "in class" at 8h30 so I'm going to leave it here. I apologise in advance if I don't reply all questions... Take care 😊