Why Caesarean Awareness Month Matters

Caesarean Awareness Month was created by the International Caesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), a charity dedicated to improving maternity care. It is now an essential movement for raising awareness around caesarean births and supporting Mothers who have experienced or are due to experience caesarean birth.

What is Caesarean Awareness Month?

Caesarean Awareness Month educates the public on the factors that may contribute to a decision to proceed to caesarean section, both for health reasons as well as personal preference. These factors may include, but are not limited to:

Failure to progress during labour.

Infant is placed in an abnormal position such as breech (feet first) or transverse (shoulder first).

• Fetal distress: The infant is receiving a lack of oxygen or there is an abnormal fetal heart rate that requires urgent delivery to prevent serious harm.

• Placental abruption: The placenta separates from the uterus too early, causing potentially life-threatening consequences for the mother and baby if the situation is not handled in a timely manner.

• Cord prolapse: The cord slips through the cervix, causing severe oxygen deprivation to the infant.

• The mother is high risk due to factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or heart conditions that can increase risks during labour.

• Fetal concerns such as the infant being small for gestational age or very large.

• Maternal request: the mother elects for caesarean section.

Caesarean Awareness Month also aims to raise awareness of the risks and benefits of caesarean sections. The risks of caesarean deliveries include:

• Infection of the wound, uterus lining, or urinary tract.

• Greater risk of significant blood loss compared to vaginal delivery, which may require a blood transfusion.

• Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which can lead to pulmonary embolism.

• Organ Injury: risk of damage to the bladder or bowel during surgery.

• Temporary breathing difficulties for the infant, particularly if delivered before 39 weeks, sometimes requiring admission to a neonatal unit.

• A cut to the baby’s skin during the procedure.

• The scar may tear in future labour, and there will be a higher likelihood of needing further caesarean sections during other births.

• Increased risk of placenta previa (placenta covering the cervix) or placental abruption in future pregnancies.

The above outlined risks are recognised risks of caesarean birth and are not likely to reflect negligent treatment, however there is a potential claim for Clinical Negligence where there has been an avoidable stillbirth, neonatal death, or infant disability due to a failure to escalate to caesarean birth. A caesarean undertaken in a planned manner rather than in an emergency is a better position to be in.

The benefits of Caesarean sections include:

• Safety in high-risk situations such as when the infant is in fetal distress, or the birth is high risk.

• Reduced risk of pelvic floor injuries when compared with vaginal delivery, such as urinary or faecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

• Planned caesarean sections can help to reduce anxiety for parents, whilst also often being safer than an unplanned emergency caesarean section as the medical team has prepared in advance.

• It prevents prolonged vaginal labour and the complications associated with long, difficult vaginal births.

Increasing awareness of these factors is important because it allows for improved personalised care and ensures that Mothers have awareness of risk factors and can advocate for themselves where they have concerns with the maternity care provided. Improving awareness helps them to better understand the decisions made by the professionals involved in their care and ensure safe delivery during life threatening situations.

Caesarean Awareness Month emphasises the importance of evidence-based care, informed consent, and empowers women to make the best decisions for their health and for their children. It also seeks to reduce the stigma and misconceptions that surround caesarean sections, such as that it is an “easy way out” or that it signifies a failure to give birth naturally. These harmful myths can lead to feelings of guilt and emotional distress for parents.

Caesarean Awareness Month is also about celebrating birth, emphasising that every birth story is special, and that every parent deserves to be recognised and supported. Sharing positive caesarean birth experiences can help normalise this method of delivery and offer encouragement to those facing similar journeys.

Getting involved:

In order to support the case and contribute to the objective of raising awareness, we encourage you to:

• Listen to the advice of the medical professionals, ask questions, and carefully consider the options and your personal circumstances.

• Offer support to individuals who have had caesarean sections or who are due to have a caesarean section and encourage them to share concerns with healthcare professionals to encourage communication, improve the patient experience, and prevent avoidable harm.

• Share experiences of caesarean delivery with others to encourage communication and awareness. Personal narratives can help others to feel supported throughout their journey and encourages open conversations about birth experiences and post-natal recovery challenges.

How Forbes Solicitors Can Help You

At Forbes Solicitors, our expert Clinical Negligence team can discuss your experience, assess whether the care you received fell below an acceptable standard, and determine whether you may have grounds for a claim. We provide support and offer consultations via telephone, video call, or in any of our offices.

If you have suffered harm due to a misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or any other form of medical negligence, our dedicated team is here to help you understand your rights and next steps.