Dr. Marco Gaudoin, medical director at the Glasgow Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Scotland is making headlines with his controversial comments regarding the increase of C-sections.
Dr. Marco Gaudoin is a highly regarded fertility doctor in Scotland. He was profiled in the Daily Record for birthing over 3,000 babies to people who have suffered fertility difficulties. Some couples have even named their children after him. So when the famous fertility doctor was a special guest on BBC radio, listeners were taken aback by his comments regarding weight and the birthing options. He claims that fat women have a fat vagina which causes the birth canal to be much more narrow and difficult to deliver vaginally. He stated this is the cause of the rising number of C-sections performed in recent years. "With obesity, you’ve got increased fat tissue in the birth canal, which makes the birth canal that much narrower, which makes it harder for the baby to squeeze through the birth canal. So you are more likely to end up with what is called an 'obstructed labor'."
After the show, other health professionals weighed in and explained how baseless his claims and comments were.
RELATED: The Pros & Cons of C-Sections
In an informative article in the UK paper The Sun, digital health and fitness reporter Lucy Jones slammed the doctor's comments. Other health professionals also weighed in and explained why women get C-sections. Dr. Virginia Beckett, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists spoke with The Sun to debunk Dr. Gaudoin's claims. "A cesarean birth may be offered to a woman to help reduce the risk of harmful complications and lead to the safe delivery of a baby," Dr. Beckett informed.
Beckett stated that women who experience preeclampsia, have breached babies, low-lying placenta, have excessive vaginal bleeding or if their baby isn't getting enough nutrients or oxygen might have to have a c-section to delivery. C-sections are done to keep mother and baby safe and to ensure a healthy delivery. While weight can play a part in having a C-section, it isn't the main factor. Beckett also noted that age plays a factor in women having a C-section as well.
How To Give Birth Like a Feminist author Milli Hill even slammed the doctor for his comments in Grazia. "This is yet another example of how the words of a doctor who has been positioned by the media as the 'expert' in the conversation can be taken as fact and not even questioned. In reality, there is absolutely ZERO evidence that I am aware of to support the notion that women's vaginas can be 'fat', or that, even if they are, that this can obstruct the progress of a baby," she explained.
A 2016 study found that babies born by cesarean are more likely to be obese as adults, and higher weights in pregnant mothers have been linked to higher C-section rates. However, there are plenty of small and straight-sized women who have C-sections and their surgery has no connection to their weight. Don't feel bad for having a C-section, even doctors can be wrong.