Pregnancy is not a one-size- fits-all experience.

“Pregnancy is not an ailment.”

I hear this phrase often. But while it’s true that pregnancy is not an illness, let me respectfully challenge the simplicity of that statement.

Pregnancy is not a one-size-fits-all experience. It’s a deeply unique journey for each woman-shaped by individual health histories, levels of access to proper healthcare, and availability of accurate information. These factors combine to create vastly different outcomes and experiences.

As doctors, when we raise concerns about the use of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA), it’s never out of disdain. It’s borne from experience; painful, real experiences of managing the complications that arise when proper care is not received early enough. We speak not to condemn, but to caution and protect.

Now, let’s talk about the recurring accusation:

“Doctors just want every pregnant woman to have a C-section!” Let me be clear-no doctor derives joy from putting a patient through surgery unnecessarily.

The decision for a cesarean section (CS) is not taken lightly. There are careful assessments leading up to that moment, where we weigh the risks and safety of vaginal delivery for both mother and child. Every choice is made with one goal: the best possible outcome for two lives.

Think of it like this: No sane teacher wants to see their student fail. Even though some students may struggle due to circumstances beyond the teacher’s control, it is always a moment of pride when a teacher is associated with a student’s success. The same principle applies in medicine. We are invested in seeing our patients live and thrive.

No responsible doctor recommends a procedure unless it is medically necessary. And as for the topic of Traditional Birth Attendants-we’ll talk more on that in my next post.