Britons wishing to give birth by caesarean section, will be advised by a psychiatrist
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The National Institute for Health and Quality of Medical Care of Great Britain (NICE) has issued a draft of a new guide for doctors, according to which a woman who wants to give birth by caesarean section without medical evidence should consult a psychiatrist.
The reason for such an initiative was the growing number of cesarean section operations - in more than 30 years it has more than doubled and now accounts for about a quarter of all births in the country. In this case, often the only reason for surgical delivery is the woman's fear of the psychological and physical consequences of natural childbirth - the so-called "too pompous" (too posh to push) syndrome.
The new management will oblige obstetricians who face such pregnant women to refer them to a series of consultations by a psychiatrist or psychologist. During these consultations, the specialist will help women cope with their fears and agree to natural birth.
In addition, they will be told about possible complications of caesarean section, up to severe damage to the mother's organs and the death of the child, so that patients can more sensibly assess all the risks and benefits of the operation. (According to some studies, the risk of a child's death in a caesarean section is almost twice as high as in a natural birth).
Additional disadvantages of cesarean delivery include the difficulty of forming an emotional connection between the mother and the child, the long term postpartum rehabilitation in the hospital and the high cost (about 2,5 thousand pounds sterling versus 750 pounds sterling for natural childbirth).
As the authors of the recommendations note, if a woman after a consultation with a psychiatrist or psychologist continues to insist on a cesarean section, she will not be refused to carry out the operation.
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