I am in Obstetric practice for the past 28 yrs. Those were the days of the 1980s. Gravida 4 or 5 was not uncommon. National MMR was more than 250 and IMR was around 125. Babies dying, or mother dying was not uncommon. My C.S rate was around 12%. The only concept those days was if the woman cannot deliver from down deliver from above.
By all means, all attempts were made to avoid C.S. Mother was the priority, and the fetus was getting secondary importance. In a case of fetal distress, if we inform the parents that the baby can be saved only by C.S, some parents use to respond, ‘Sir, please avoid C.S, let the baby die, and we can have another baby in next delivery’. There is a sea change in Obstetric practice today. People are ready to spend over Rs.10 lakhs to save one baby delivered at 25-26wks. People are ready to spend lakhs of rupees and ready to face the pain of repeated abortions…
