Evidence that older birthers need more intervention?

[anney]

Hi girls,
bit late on this but thought I would say that my sister ended up going into labour naturally on her due date and birthed her baby with minimal intervention that day. Her usual Ob. was away on a conference so she had a fill in that did not need to do anything. Yay.
I should have said that I had my first when I was 40 and did antenatal care through the public system and not once did they mention a c/s. I went into labour naturally but ended up with a c/s but may have done that even at 30.

[satya]

I became a mum at the age of 42. I was not considered high risk.

I was going to be allowed to go 10 days over - just like everyone else at the hossy I went to. I gave birth at 38/4. I went into labour spontaneously, had a 17 hour labour with almost 2 hours of that being 2nd stage. In the end they had to give me Syntocin as my contractions were receding. Bub was vacced out a few minutes later.

It was never suggested that I'd need a C section. I am only 5 foot 1 & still managed to deliver a 7 pound 13 ounce bub vaginally - yes with a little help but I was exhausted by then and needed it.

[mrsmac]

My 1st birth was the one with the most intervention and that was 17 years ago!! My last birth was induced but no other intervention and only gas for pain and that was 14 yrs after my 1st so I don't think its right to say older women have more trouble.

[Lucy]

Anney, that is wonderful news. Congratulations to your sister!

[Cyathea]

I think it has a LOT to do with the care provider you choose, and not a lot else...

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Wonderful news, Anney!

BTW, I think that older women need more intervention. As do younger women; first time mothers; mothers with previous interventions; mothers with big babies, small babies, long-term medical problems, short-term medical problems; mothers with a mother who needed interventions for ANY birth... oh hang on a minute, I'm no longer working for the health service.

No, women don't need more intervention for any weird arbitary reason. Obstetricians may like to give it, though.

[bon]

I agree that it has a lot more to do with your care provider than anything else. If a woman at any age is told constantly and made to believe, whether through opinions or actions, that she will not be able to birth her baby without help or intervention, then she will believe it herself and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If she is made to feel, through words or actions, that vaginal birth is dangerous or scary, then those thoughts will stay with her - making it all the more hard for her to have confidence and belief in herself when the time comes.