Every year, headlines highlight the rising rates of cesarean delivery—both globally and in the United States. The WHO once championed an “ideal” C-section rate between 10% and 15%, but the reality is that in 2023, the U.S. surpassed 32%. Globally, rates have ballooned from around 7% in 1990 to over 21% today, with projections hitting nearly 29% by 2030.
These numbers aren’t just statistics; they reflect a dramatic shift in how mothers experience one of life’s most profound events.
On the surface, it’s tempting to lay blame on “unnecessary” surgeries or overly cautious practitioners. But there’s a deeper context. Modern life has changed us—how we eat, move and live. In much of the industrialized world, our daily routines bear little resemblance to those of our great-grandmothers who farmed, walked everywhere and ate fresh, unprocessed foods. We now sit at desks for hours, squeeze in “exercise” on a treadmill (if at all) and consume diets laced with sugars and refined carbohydrates. Over time, these habits have led to rising rates of gestational diabetes, hypertension and obesity—conditions that can necessitate a C-section for the safety of both mother and baby.
But that doesn’t mean cesareans are evil. On the contrary, in many circumstances, C-sections are lifesaving. Historically, childbirth was fraught with peril. In the 1700s, maternal mortality hovered around 1%—a stark contrast to our far safer modern landscape. The problem today is the sheer volume of cesareans that may not be strictly medically indicated. And once you have a primary cesarean, the likelihood of a repeat C-section soars beyond 80%. For many families, that translates into limited future fertility options and a greater risk of complications like placenta accreta in subsequent pregnancies.
These sobering facts have led to a concerted effort to find strategies that lower unnecessary surgical births. Enter Dr. Abdelhak’s NatureBack Method for Birth, which focuses on rediscovering a more ancestral way of living—prioritizing whole foods, steady movement and limited sugar or processed carbohydrates. While not a rigid set of rules, it encourages regular walking, light exercise and other functional activities that support optimal pelvic alignment and metabolic health—paving the way for a smoother, more natural labor. Of course, if a mother’s schedule or circumstances prevent this kind of daily “back to nature” routine, modern medicine offers induction of labor as a powerful tool. Rather than defaulting to surgery, an induction can help safely mimic the natural onset of labor, giving women who can’t fully adopt the NatureBack lifestyle a real chance at an unmedicated, vaginal birth.
Still, the conversation must be nuanced. While we should encourage robust public health education—teaching pregnant individuals about the long-term consequences of unnecessary C-sections—medical realities remain. If you have a malpresentation or placenta previa, a C-section can be the difference between life and death. And for many, especially in high-risk pregnancies, an induction of labor might be a middle ground that allows for a vaginal birth in a carefully controlled setting.
Crucially, we need system-wide changes that support safer vaginal deliveries. This includes training more providers in assisted vaginal techniques (like vacuum and forceps) under the correct conditions, ensuring hospitals have the resources to handle complex births and revising legal and financial incentives that often push providers toward surgical intervention. For instance, if an institution’s reimbursement rates favor C-sections—or if a physician fears malpractice suits—they may be more inclined to move to surgery sooner rather than later.
To reverse the escalating C-section trend, we need both individual and collective action. Individually, we can reclaim a more natural lifestyle—one that nudges us away from the couch and candy aisle and toward whole foods, mindful exercise and active daily living. Collectively, we can demand policy shifts, advocate for expanded provider training and encourage open conversations about what “optimal birth” truly means.
Yes, C-sections save lives—no question. But if we truly want to honor the miracle of birth, we must also ensure these procedures are used judiciously, prompted by genuine need rather than habit, convenience or fear. By reconnecting with our ancestral roots—while embracing the best of modern obstetrics—we can restore balance to the birthing process, ensuring that one of life’s most pivotal moments remains both safe and profoundly natural for generations to come.
Kristin Mallon earned her master’s degree in midwifery from New York University, where she worked at the Bellevue Birthing Center. Before becoming a nurse, Kristin worked in Baltimore as a doula and was trained in acupressure, hypnobirthing and the Bradley method of childbirth. Since 2012, she has been a certified midwife with Maternal Resources—a thriving boutique-style practice with offices in Hackensack, Jersey City, Hoboken and Howell, New Jersey.
