... in South Africa.

I think I'm the only person from SA on this site so... you're all ok lol.
My DH, being the internet wizard he is, just found this article. It doesn't affect me seeing as I intend on trying a vaginal birth but I thought I'd share it with you.

Medical aids hit mums-to-be
2008-4-1 09:10
Cape Town - South African medical aid schemes have made a collective decision to stop paying for elective Caesarean sections from April 2009.

Medical aids will however still cover a C-section if it's a medical necessity.

The decision followed months of discussions in response to the skyrocketing rate of elective Caesarean surgeries in South Africa - statistics reportedly showed a 40% increase in elective C-sections in 2007.

Zolile Batabile, a spokesperson for the Medical Aid Board, said high cost was the reason for the decision. "C-sections are generally twice as expensive as a vaginal delivery, therefore not cost-effective for our businesses."

"More women are opting for a speedy Caesarean rather than a potentially long and arduous labour, also with an elective C-section there's the additional bonus to determine the date on which your child is born. This too-posh-to-push culture has to stop," said Dr Graham Alexander, a staunch proponent of vaginal birth and supporter of this new development.

"Vaginal birth is still best for mom and baby and should be the preferred option," he added.

The debate surrounding vaginal births and C-sections has been ongoing.

Proponents of elective C-sections say they spare the woman some of the trauma associated with vaginal delivery, such as incontinence due to pelvic floor damage. They argue that the risks associated with C-sections are minimal, and may even be better for the baby than vaginal deliveries, which carry their own risks.


Others say C-sections should be avoided at all cost because it involves major abdominal surgery and is not safe for baby and mom and should only be done when absolutely necessary. It also takes longer to recover from than a vaginal birth.

Research has shown it usually is first time moms who go for C-sections. "Such women choose C-sections because they fear the pain associated with labour and delivery, and to avoid complications such as damage to the pelvic region, incontinence or a ruptured uterus," Cape Town-based obstetrician Samantha Luiters told News24.

Luiters said the medical aid schemes' decision is unfair to women who don't have extra cash to spare. "Women have the right to choose what is best for them. Everyone is entitled to a choice. It's unfair to force someone to have a vaginal delivery."

The Department of Health has thrown its weight behind the Medical Aid Board. "It's about time we started thinking of ways to cut medical expenses."
News24

http://www.24.com/news/?p=saa&i=878488

Firstly hi im from South Africa.
I totally agree with you, but i have had a c-section when they removed my stilborn son. But i also wanted to give natural birth but not to a 54cm 2.8kg baby thou.

Talking from an SA point of view alot of the women don't want to go thru 10-40hours of labour, and i was in labour for 14hours before i went for my c-section no frikking joke don't want that pain again, i personally will have a c-section when i conceive again due to me already having a cut from hip to hip. But you are right the medical aids know now that some ladies take the easy way out.

Just my opinion thou

LOL I thought I was alone!!! Hi!!

If it's for medical reasons they'll still cover luckily.

I am talking under correction but i know for a fact thou that so many of the gyni's don't want to wait next to a screaming and moaning women for hours until she gives birth, even doctor use the c-section option as the easy way out, the gyni can have 10 c-sections in one day instead of 3-5 women in one day giving natural birth.

So it is not entirely the ladies fault cause so many gyni's tell women that they can only have a c-section and no option to natural birth

Oh yes! I think the gynae's are going to be the ones with the most problems with this.
I'm discussing all this with mine at the end of the month. Will see what he says.

Good luck, o what area in SA are you????

Pretoria, Gauteng

Im Krugersdorp Gauteng. Darn small world

Good luck with your journey im still waiting for AF as i am on CD55 today, only 27days late

You can PM me when you want

...cripes, this could start a whole debate.


I'm all for the "easy way out" if thats what we want (or indeed if thats what it is....). But, OK; maybe we should pay for it, or for insurance to cover it, not the hopsital.
I'm all freedom of choice.

I'm all banning non medical c-sections. That's all I'm saying...

:: backs away ::