A different kind of labor was the focus of a Labor Day protest at Tempe Beach Park on Monday.
Midwives and others were protesting the high incidence of Cesarean sections being performed on pregnant women.
Kaitlin Laney of the Improving Birth movement said America’s maternity system is broken and that health care providers should back their decisions that a C-section is the best option, with evidence one is needed.
“One in three moms are walking in and having major surgery in order to have their babies be born and if those providers were following evidence-based care about half of those surgeries could have been prevented,” Laney said.
Laney said the picketing in Tempe was an effort to let mothers know they should ask their doctor why a C-section is needed.
Tempe was one of 100 sites across the country where similar Labor Day demonstrations were held.