Just Go Ahead and Cut Her": The Quiet Crisis of Unnecessary C-Sections in Black and Brown Births
As a birth worker, I’ve sat in hospital rooms and heard things no laboring mother should ever have to hear:
“Let’s just go ahead and cut her—she’s not progressing.”
“She’s too tired. She should just have the surgery.”
“We don’t have all day.”
I’ve watched women—especially Black and Hispanic mothers—get talked into C-sections, not because their babies were truly in danger, but because the system was impatient, dismissive, or had already made up its mind. And I’m tired of it.
C-sections can save lives—but when they’re used out of convenience, fear, or bias, they leave scars that go deeper than just the skin.
In the U.S., over 32% of births are by C-section. For Black women, that number is even higher. Not because we’re less capable of birthing—but because we’re more likely to be ignored, rushed, or pressured.
Why?
Bias. Black and Brown mothers are often viewed as uncooperative or dramatic. Our pain is ignored. Our voice is silenced.
Convenience. Surgery is faster than waiting for a natural birth. The hospital is on a schedule.
Lack of informed consent. Many mothers are told what will happen, not asked what they want.
No support. When mothers don’t have a doula or advocate, the system makes decisions for them.
I’ve seen women cry on the operating table, whispering, “I didn’t want this.” I carry those stories with me.
So what can we do?
As doulas and birth workers, we’re not just here to hold hands—we’re here to hold space and protect birth rights. We can:
Teach our clients to ask questions and know their options.
Help them build strong birth plans that reflect their voice.
Encourage provider choice—find OBs and midwives who respect natural birth.
Be present, whether in person or virtually, to support informed, empowered choices.
Our clients deserve to birth in power, not fear. Let's stop letting them be rushed into surgery they didn’t want.
