Understanding The Dangers of Cesarean Birth:
Making Informed Decisions

Critically examines the increasing use of cesarean deliveries for childbirth, the risks, outcomes, and other issues women need to consider to make an informed decision whether to have a natural birth or so-called C-section.

Reviews

“…a groundbreaking exposé of cesarean birth in the United States….Although directed toward expectant parents, Understanding the Dangers of Cesarean Birth is evidence-based, with extensive references that clinicians and scholars will find valuable. Understanding the Dangers of Cesarean Birth will be a valuable addition to the bookshelf of any consumer, health care provider, or scholar who is concerned about the current status of women’s health care in the United States.”—Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, November 1, 2009

“This book made me want to stand up and cheer! It’s must reading for everyone who is concerned about the health of mothers and babies, and that should be everyone!”—Christiane Northrup, MD, Author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom

“Jukelevics has compiled an extensive collection of materials for mothers and health care providers to help curb the disheartening trends in U.S. maternity care today. She should be applauded for her work. This book is both compelling and user-friendly. I recommend it to anyone who is concerned about cesarean rates today and looking to make a difference for themselves or for their clients.”—Jessica L. Kelly-Shaieb, J.D., President, BirthNetwork National

“The present epidemic of unnecessary births by cesarean section in the United States is resulting in dozens and dozens of tragic deaths of women and babies. The only way this shocking excess of unnecessary cesarean section birth can occur is if pregnant women are lied to about the safety and risks of cesarean birth versus normal (vaginal) birth. This book should be required reading of all pregnant women in the U.S. as it uses the best scientific evidence to educate them to all of the reasons to say NO to a cesarean birth unless a serious medical complication exists.”—Marsden Wagner, M.D., M.S., Former Director of Women’s and Children’s Health, World Health Organization

“Nicette Jukelevics’ Understanding the Dangers of Cesarean Birth is a tour de force. Her exhaustively researched book is just what U.S. women need right now to protect themselves from skyrocketing birth interventions.”—Peggy O’Mara, Editor and Publisher Mothering

“This is a much-needed book, which combines top-notch scholarship with practical advice for the consumers and health professionals who labor (pun intended) in the trenches of the cesarean section battleground. Ms. Jukelevics has made an important contribution to our knowledge base about cesarean section, and has done so in a way that is accessible by the women and families who are confronted with the bewildering and contradictory flood of opinion, and conjecture about this major surgical procedure. I intend to recommend this book, not only to everyone I know in the birth activist community but also to the many women who, in their blogs and online questions, daily express their confusion and distrust regarding their obstetrician’s recommendations about c-section and VBAC.”—Susan Jenkins, JD

“Not only is this a well researched and easy to understand work, it also demonstrates quite clearly that the Emperor has no clothes. Obstetrics in the U.S. is broken and the fix will come from women and their families, not the ineffective and self-protecting medical establishment.”—Gretchen Humphries, Advocacy Director, International Cesarean Awareness Network