March 08, 2024
C-section link to suicide appals
The lead author in a study of caesarean birth experiences for wāhine Māori says she was shocked at the high rate of suicide after the procedure.
Felicia Lawrie from Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngā Puhi says for the next stage in her PhD research she will look at why Maori mothers are nearly three-and-a-half times more likely to commit suicide after a C-section birth, than non-Maori.
From her own experience delivering one of her two pepe by caesarean, she was also aware of the importance of affirming cultural needs – even simple things like karakia as part of the process.
“So those needs need to be taken into consideration during recovery, for our māmā… also making sure that they have access to whānau support, or that whānau can be with them,” Ms Lawrie says..
It’s also important that mothers are given support services beyond hospital care.