The Truth About Childbirth and Pelvic Organ Prolap...

[x]   Tags: Child Birth, C-section, Cesarean, Uterine Prolapse, Incontinence, Vaginal Birth Pregnancy, Vaginal Health, Women's Health, Sexual Health, Reproductive Health Health, Health Video, Medical Videos, Medical, Video

[x]   Transcript: More women than ever before are showing up at the hospital in labor and asking for a cesarean section. Between 1996 and 2007, the rate of cesarean section delivery rose by 53 percent, with nearly one-third of babies born that way in 2007, according to a new government report. So why has 'cesarean on demand' become so popular? Mainly because today's mom-to-be believes avoiding a vaginal birth will reduce her risk of incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse down the road. Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that occurs when a woman's bladder, rectum, or uterus shifts from its proper location, and moves into the vaginal canal. But giving birth via cesarean section is NOT NECESSARILY the prolapse protection that some women and their doctors think it is. There's even research to prove it. A new study published in the International Urogynecology Journal examined the impact of a woman's first pregnancy on pelvic support and found that less than one year after giving birth via c-section, 21% of women experienced moderate prolapse and 5% experienced severe prolapse. Since cesarean delivery did not necessarily prevent prolapse, the study's authors suggest that simply BEING PREGNANT can increase a woman's likelihood of prolapse, regardless of delivery mode! This coincides with data showing that 50% of women who have borne children will experience prolapse at some point. That's compared with just 30% of ALL women. It IS important to note that women who gave birth vaginally DID experience higher rates of severe prolapse, according to the same Urogynecology Journal study. But the numbers weren't significant enough to warrant cesarean for this reason alone. Especially since maternal mortality rates from cesarean are THREE TIMES higher than in vaginal delivery. Moreover, Birth magazine reported that babies are more than twice as likely to die when delivered by cesarean. Knowing this, it makes sense NOT to opt for c-section delivery unless there is a legitimate medical reason for a woman to do so! Once the uterus heals from cesarean, all future pregnancies are at risk for uterine scar separation that can be deadly for the baby, and for problems with placenta previa, where the placenta is low and can hemorrhage at any time, further risking the life of the baby. These are two good reasons to take cesarean section very seriously.

[x]   Bio: Dr. Lauri Romanzi is a reconstructive pelvic surgeon, urogynecologist and clinical associate professor at Weill/Cornell New York Presbyterian Hosptial in New York City. Her urogynecologic research includes prolapse, incontinence, overactive bladder, Kegel fitness scoring, genital sensitivity nerve testing and fistula repair. Her 2009 book Plumbing and Renovation: If you have a uterus or know someone who does, this book is for you provides the lay public with a review on pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence and pelvic floor fitness.

Dr. Romanzi has been a featured expert on the Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show and Good Morning America. Additional media credits include: NY Times, Fox 5, London Guardian, More Magazine, Redbook, Oprah Magazine, Telemundo, Radio Ritas, Dr. Radio, Cosmo Radio, London Times, Playboy Radio and Italian Playboy.

Dr. Romanzi advises women with pelvic floor disorders who cannot travel to New York through her blog (www.urogynics.org/blog – ask Dr R feature). In 2008 she opened PHIT, the world's first medical spa devoted to Kegel -focused feminine rejuvenation (www.theperfectphit.com ).

Dr. Romanzi's international work with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Surgeons Over Seas and other international groups includes teaching and volunteer surgery for women suffering childbirth injury and war trauma in Niger, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.