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IN THE U.S.,
1 IN 3 BIRTHS ARE CESAREANS.

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MEDICAL EXPERTS AGREE
THIS IS FAR TOO HIGH.

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CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH

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ESSENTIAL CONVERSATIONS
FOR PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND BEYOND

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ASKING QUESTIONS
ABOUT CESAREAN BIRTH

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[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

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ANALUZ: After a cesarean section,
the mom needs a lot of support.

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It is a surgery, first and foremost.

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She needs a lot of support
with the baby.

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We need to make sure
her wound is healing,

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make sure that she's healing well,
that she's eating well.

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After a C-section, she can't lift

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things above a certain weight.

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That is why we try, where possible

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and where their health permits,
to avoid them

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so that future births
don't become a greater risk.

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WHILE CESAREAN CAN BE
MEDICALLY NECESSARY,

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THEY ALSO MAKE
YOUR NEXT PREGNANCY HIGHER RISK.

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I know one of the reasons you phoned me

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is because you wanted
to give birth to your son naturally.

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-INÉS: Yes.
-VALENTINA: You didn't want a C-section.

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INÉS: Yes. I think a C-section
would make it harder for me to recover

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and look after my baby.

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I think C-sections are very painful.

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Having to take care of my wound
and take care of my baby

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would have been a bit more complicated.

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So, I wanted his birth to be natural.

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Even if it took a long time,

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-I wanted to have my baby naturally.
-VALENTINA: Natural.

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YOU CAN DO THINGS

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TO INCREASE THE CHANCE
OF A VAGINAL BIRTH.

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VALENTINA: When I was there,
helping you with the techniques, that...

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-Changed.
-Changed, yeah.

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INÉS: With the exercises,
going for a walk,

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using the ball, moving around,

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-he got in position and moved down more.
-VALENTINA: Yeah.

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INÉS: So, it was a better process.

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I felt more relaxed...

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-Oh, relaxed.
-...even though I had stomach pain.

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But I knew that I had to breathe.

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It was very helpful having
your techniques and your support.

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If I'd have known
that this kind of help was available,

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I would have asked for it
before the birth.

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But, fortunately,
your support was there,

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-the community support with you.
-VALENTINA: Yeah.

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So, I had a beautiful experience
with you.

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A BIRTH PLAN CAN HELP YOU
AND YOUR CARE TEAM

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TO MAKE DECISIONS DURING THE BIRTH.

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During the birth, there are many things
happening physiologically.

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So, we help the client plan

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what they want their birth to be like.

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I think all women have an idea
of how it should be,

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at that special and crucial moment.

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And I work with clients.

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We plan it, "What do you want to happen?

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What don't you want to happen?"

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So they're ready to receive medication
for the pain, or not,

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because, on many occasions,

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many clients don't want
that medication for the pain.

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So, we plan what they want it
to be like, from start to finish.

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But we also have a Plan B.

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"If you change your mind
and you do want that pain medication,

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which one would you like to have?

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There are these different options.
Do you have any questions about that?"

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We also talk a little bit about that.

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"And, in case something happens

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and you have to have a C-section,

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what do you want that C-section
to be like?

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What features of a vaginal birth

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would you like us to maintain

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and bring to a C-section, if possible?"

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YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE
AND MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS,

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HOWEVER YOU GIVE BIRTH.

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[SOFT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

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ANALUZ: We also inform the client
of the different possibilities

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and that, if it does happen,
everything is going to be fine.

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So that she is aware
that it is a possibility

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and that it's all being taken
into account,

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as long as the mother
and the baby are both healthy.

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That's our main goal:

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that everyone is healthy
and that everything goes well.

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We plan it with them,
from start to finish.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON CONVERSATIONS AROUND CESAREAN BIRTH,

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VISIT EVERYMOTHERCOUNTS.ORG/
CHOICESINCHILDBIRTH

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY
EVERY MOTHER COUNTS

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WITH SUPPORT BY
CVS HEALTH