Counselling to be offered to scared mothers-to-be insisting on a caesarean
New guidelines have recommended that women requesting a caesarean due to natural birth fear should be offered psychiatric counselling.
A fear of natural births among women who are expecting now means that there are twice as many caesareans than there were 30 years ago.
Numerous leading health professionals have expressed concern over the fact that many healthy women are opting to undergo the procedure because they are frightened that natural birth may be traumatic or may have a physical effect on their body.
Not only do caesarean procedures cost the NHS a staggering £2,500 each compared to £750 for a natural birth, but they also put the mother at an increased risk of organ damage and death of their infant.
In a bid to reduce the number of unnecessary c-sections, draft guidelines drawn up by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have recommended that expectant mothers be made aware of c-section risks and also that they be referred to counselling sessions with either a psychologist, psychiatrist or doctor.
NICE hope that the counselling will enable women to overcome their concerns so they can go ahead with a natural birth, however if after the counselling they still feel anxious they will still be able to opt for the c-section if they wish.
Senior policy adviser at the National Childbirth Trust, Elizabeth Duff, said: ‘When a woman’s needs are more complex because of a medical complication, a caesarean section may be necessary’.
‘Referral to a healthcare professional to help address a woman’s fear of childbirth is a good way of providing support and enabling the mother to have a positive experience of birth’. She added.
If you are feeling concerned and anxious about natural birth or any other aspect of pregnancy and would like to talk things through with a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist, please visit the homepage of this site where you can use the search tool to locate a professional in your local area.
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