Empowering Labor Choices to Reduce Cesarean Rates

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Morgan Richardson Cayama, EBB Research Fellow and doctoral candidate in public health, are sharing the top 10 evidence-based strategies for reducing your risk of a Cesarean birth. Drawing from the latest research, including insights from the ARRIVE trial and EBB’s Signature Articles, Rebecca and Morgan discuss actionable methods such as choosing a provider and birth setting with low Cesarean rates, receiving midwifery-led care, using labor support like a doula, staying mobile during labor, and avoiding non-medically indicated interventions. They also talk about the impact of tools like peanut balls, the role of intermittent fetal monitoring, and options for breech pregnancies.   (04:38) Provider Attitude Impact on Cesarean Rates (08:34) Cesarean Risk Reduction Through Midwifery Care (11:03) Lower-Risk Birth Settings for Cesarean Prevention (19:34) Reduced Cesarean Risk with 39-Week Induction (22:21) Optimal Timing for Hospital Admission in Labor (27:53) Upright Positions and Cesarean Risk in Labor (33:24) Upright Birthing Positions for Safer Delivery (34:53) Reducing Cesarean Rates through Intermittent Auscultation  

• Check out the ARRIVE Trial Signature Article for evidence on elective induction at 39 weeks
• Friedman’s Curve and Failure to Progress: A Leading Cause of Unplanned Cesareans
• Evidence on: Induction or Cesarean for a Big Baby
• Evidence on: Doulas
• EBB 45 – How do peanut balls support labor?
• Evidence on: Birthing Positions
• Evidence on: Fetal Monitoring
• EBB 296 – Evidence on Breech Birth with Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA
• EBB 297 – Frequently Asked Questions about Breech with Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA
• Use Leapfrog Group Hospital Ratings, a Tool to compare Cesarean rates and maternity care statistics by hospital.
• Get a copy of Dr. Dekker’s book, Babies are Not Pizzas.

For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.