Rising Cesarean Rates and the Pressure to Deliver Before the Holidays

Something I’ve noticed more and more over the years, especially as a doula, is how often people feel pressured into birth interventions that weren’t part of their plan. One of the most common examples is being pushed toward a cesarean birth or an induction that leads to one — and it tends to happen even more often around the holidays.

It’s heartbreaking, because for many families these decisions aren’t being made because there’s a true medical emergency. Instead, they’re made because the provider is trying to manage scheduling, shorten long labours, or “get things moving” before a busy holiday season. And the truth is, that’s not fair to the birthing person or their baby.

Cesarean births can absolutely be life-saving when medically necessary, and sometimes they’re the safest choice for both baby and parent. But there’s a big difference between a necessary cesarean and one that happens because of pressure, impatience, or convenience. Too often, parents are told things like, “Your baby’s getting too big,” or “There’s no point waiting any longer,” without real evidence or full discussion of alternatives.

Studies have shown that cesarean rates have continued to climb, even though outcomes for healthy, low-risk pregnancies don’t necessarily improve with more surgical births. What does increase, though, are recovery times, postpartum discomfort, and sometimes feelings of disappointment or confusion about what happened. And those feelings matter.

As a doula, I’ve supported many clients through inductions that turned into cesareans — and many of those births happened right before holidays. It’s often subtle things that lead there, like being told their body isn’t progressing “fast enough” or that it’s better to deliver now than risk waiting until after the weekend. Families trust their care teams, and they should. But sometimes that trust gets taken advantage of, even unintentionally, and families end up walking away from their birth with regret or trauma that could have been prevented.

This is one of the reasons continuous, unbiased support is so important. A doula doesn’t make medical decisions or replace your care provider, but we help you slow things down so you can understand what’s really being offered. We help you ask questions like, “Is this an emergency?” or “Can we wait an hour and see what happens?” and sometimes that’s all it takes to shift the course of your birth.

You deserve time, space, and information to make choices that feel right for you. Birth shouldn’t be rushed because the calendar says it’s almost Christmas or New Year’s. You should never feel like a decision is being made for convenience rather than necessity.

If you’re expecting this winter, take the time now to talk with your provider about your preferences and how you’d like your birth to go. Ask what their induction and cesarean rates are, how they decide when a cesarean is truly needed, and how they support natural progression of labour. And if you want extra support navigating those conversations, hiring a doula can make all the difference.

Every family deserves a birth experience that’s based on informed choice, not convenience. The holidays will come and go — but the way you remember your birth stays with you forever.