Cesareans not always needed

Re: “When ‘Natural’ Seems Too Risky” [Jan. 16]: The increased safety of Cesarean sections is a wonderful development for the 5% to 10% of births that really require it -- that is, when it will save the life of the mother or the baby. But the article does all women and infants a disservice by normalizing the unnecessary section and, even worse, the elective section. To my mind it is a reflection of many issues that we, as Americans, are trying to resolve -- insurance companies influencing medical practices, obesity and sedentary lifestyles, to name a few.

Moreover, encouraging and enabling unnecessary procedures places strains on the healthcare system, its financing, and distracts medical experts such as obstetricians from their core competencies and primary responsibilities: caring for high-risk pregnancies and births.

TIFFANY CLEARY

La Jolla

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I was pleased to read the overview of risks, pros and cons to both C-sections and vaginal births. However, the article failed to acknowledge one major group of healthcare that allows patients a noninvasive way of dealing with impairments from pregnancy: physical therapy. Specialized clinicians across the country can assist women in regaining pelvic floor function (in most cases) without the need for bladder lifts and other surgeries. Women can find more information at the American Physical Therapy Assn.’s website, www.apta.org.

JULIE GUTHRIE

Santa Monica