Test Determines Need For C-Section
August 30, 2010 2 Comments
Doctors in Sweden have developed a test that can predict which women will need a cesarean section and which won’t.
This is being trialled right now in European hospitals and works by measuring the lactic acid in the amniotic fluid. Lactic acid normally appears in the muscles when they are having contractions, but once there is too much of it the contractions will stop.
By measuring this they will be able to predict which women will deliver vaginally and which will need a c-section.
One of the great things about this is that it will also reduce the number of c-sections that are unnecessary.
This test will also stop the arguments between the c-section vs. vaginal birth advocates. There will be scientifically measured evidence so the two sides can’t fight over who is right and who is wrong. There will also be less danger to the mother because she will know which type of birth to go for, with little room for indecision.
The test will also “avoid the risk of complications from a long birth and limit unnecessary suffering.” This means there will be fewer mothers who push and push for hours only to undergo surgery because they will know they need surgery from an earlier stage in the labour.
A representative from the Centre for Better Births says:
Prolonged labour occurs in one in 10 births and it’s particularly a problem for first time mums. The truth is there has not been a new drug to treat problems in labour for 60 years – pharmaceutically, there’s been nothing new since oxytocin. It’s high time for this to move up the agenda. We simply do not always give women’s health the priority it deserves.
Ideally, instead of just determining who needs a c-section, they will be able to find a way to reduce the overall number by finding a way to alter the lactic acid in the mother’s body.
Either way, anything that can be done to reduce the number of unwanted c-sections would be great because unnecessary surgery and medical interventions during birth are incredibly dangerous for the mother’s body.
what’ s the name of this test? what is the company which market it?
This test is not yet on the market, they are still doing some research to see how it goes. Ask your doctor if you want to see if you can get involved.