Caesarean section rates soar, doctors "less prepared to take risks"

This is significantly more than the 10 to 15% of births recommended by the World Health Organization. But women in public hospitals were also almost twice as likely to suffer a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear (possibly affecting their continence or sexual function) as those in private hospitals, with a rate of rips 6.1% in the public system versus 2.6% in the private sector.

Dr. Bernadette White, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of New Zealand and New Zealand, said that although caesarean section rates were "very high," doctors and patients were less likely willing to take risks.

Dr. White stated that Caesareans were also influenced by other social trends that could lead to more interventions, including more older mothers, increasing obesity, and fewer families. (and therefore a lower number of women who have already given birth).

She said that it was often difficult to determine births where a caesarean section should have been avoided.

"There is a lot of [caesareans] you probably thought that the baby would not have been bothered, but until you did, you do not always know for sure, "she said.

Other types of intervention at birth have also increased over the decade, including episiotomies.

The procedure involves a cut in the perineum (the tissue located between the vaginal opening and the anus), sometimes to avoid tears to the mother or when a sick baby must be born quickly.

In 2004, less than one in four mothers who gave birth for the first time without any other intervention was suffering from episiotomy. This has reached more than one in five by 2016.

Professor Hannah Dahlen, expert in midwifery practice at Western Sydney University, said that episiotomies were medically necessary only in about 10% of cases, for example when the baby's heart rate was critical.

"It's not a minor operation. This causes emotional distress. It causes them physical distress, "she said.

"I have not had an episiotomy for 15 years and I am still an active midwife. You do not have to do it except in rare circumstances. "

Professor Dahlen said private obstetricians, in particular, were encouraged to schedule more caesareans and inductions to avoid being called every night of the week.

She said obstetricians should be forced to report their individual statistics "so we identify obstetricians with a caesarean section rate of 90% – and they exist in the country."

Melbourne pediatrician, Heleine Cumming, 31, said that she still hoped to have a natural birth, but when she developed gestational diabetes while she was pregnant with her daughter Isla, he was always possible that she needed help.

She said she worked about 13 hours in a private hospital, before the obstetrician recommended a cesarean section and that her daughter was born "healthy and beautiful."

"Sometimes I wonder if I could do it if I had tried to work a little longer and hoped something would happen, but I guess I trusted my opinion obstetrician and in his belief that it would go nowhere. "