Discussion about high c section rates?

Question

In areas where c section rates are high, does that mean there is a higher rate of live births and healthy babies? There is so much discussion about the possibility of c sections being unnecessary; however, does anyone know of any real statistics? I hear of so many c sections among my friends. I hear their birth stories and they are all similar ... they go into labor, usually drugs are used, and eventually they say the baby is in distress or it's been too much time since the water broke and they need to get the baby out, or there is a failure to progress. What is it? Is it the drugs, are our babies too big, are the doctors being selfish? It is very disconcerting to me because I want to know real facts but there don't seem to be any, just a bunch of theorizing by well meaning people but we as mothers want real facts so we can make the right birthing choices to have healthy babies.

Answer 1

Those are some really good questions. I know the rate is higher at certain hospitals even in the same city. i think a big factor is women buying into the medicalization of childbirth more and more. Letting doctors call the shots and not educating themsleves because they are being "taken care of."

I had a c-section. I have no idea why my son refused to be born. It makes me resent my body for letting me down and not just doing its damned work. We started of with SROM (my water broke on its own) and NO contractions, even after 12 hours of walking and waiting. Then we moved to the hospital and on to pitocin, and even after 12 hours off that at the highest dose (with no pain meds! yeah "Birthing from Within") I never dialated past 2. Getting into gravtiy friendly positions; walking rocking bouncing on the birth ball etc... nothing was going to get that kid out! My "contractions" even stopped after I had them turn off the pitocin. The docotor was a jackass and could giver me no reason why my body failed, but it still bugs me 3 years later. My son was only 7.5 pounds, I had a daughter vaginally, so there was no "size" issue.

Answer 2

You can check with the hospital where you will be delivering for their rates.

Not sure what you mean that there are no facts, "just a bunch of theorizing".

http://www.ahrq.gov/news/nn/nn060305.htm

AHRQ News and Numbers

Release date: June 3, 2005

The most recent data available from the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality show that U.S. women who have children at an older age are more likely to receive C-sections. In particular:

* In 2001, the average C-section rate was 250 per 1,000 deliveries.
* The average C-section rate was much higher among women age 35 and older (344 per 1,000 deliveries).
* Women living in rural areas had higher C-section rates than those residing in metropolitan areas (267 vs. 248 per 1,000).
* The C-section rate has increased steadily from 209 per 1,000 deliveries in 1997 to 250 per 1,000 in 2001.

Though I think it's best to check with the hospital - some doctors perform more c-sections than others.

You also have to remember that they are linking an increase of c-sections to obesity.....if mom is overnourished, baby can be overnourished which can lead to a larger baby.

http://www.webmd.com/news/20060509/c-section-rates-obesity-to-blame

I know people aren't going to like this information, but we can't deny the findings.

Answer 3

I don't know the rates for c-section, I know I had one two weeks ago because my son was breech. I know that they are only done when a natural birth is no longer possible, or the baby is in danger.
Being a mother, the safety of my child is of utmost importance, and as long as my child is healthy how they are born is irrelevent. I would have loved a natural birth but my son is healthy and happy and two weeks old.

Answer 4

It's the overabundance of law suits and doctors covering the rear ends. People sue for EVERYTHING. The longer it has been since water broke, the higher risk of complication. Induction and c-section are the easy way out for them. It's a vicious cycle. And no one can FORCE you to have a medical procedure-you have the option to say no.

Answer 5

C-sections are only performed when there is a medical necessity for it. Other wise the doctors do prefer a natural delivery. I don't know the exact rates of c-sections but they have increased over time.

I personally am thankful for mine. I was very sick and if I didn't have the c-section my son may not have survived.

Answer 6

why worry yourself over this

c-sections are only down when they have to be.
the reasons you listed are among the most common

the unexpected and unexplainable happens during labor

i have been there and ended in a c-section. what you have is the real facts doctors arent lazy as the old saying goes sh-it happens

Answer 7

I know a woman who has had 4-pregnancies and 4-C-Section Births . . . I bet that those 4-babies are all older than you are right now . . . The woman is still in great health too. Don't worry too much. Okay?