Rate of C-Sections and Pregnancy Related Deaths on the Rise
Increasingly, women are requesting scheduled cesarean delivery (c-sections) rather than nonsurgical, vaginal delivery. Says a recent USA Today Health article,
How much so-called maternal request cesareans have contributed to the soaring C-section rate isn’t known, but growing numbers of women are delivering their first babies via surgery, researchers say. And for virtually all of them, once a C-section, always a C-section. Last month, the government announced the U.S. rate hit another all-time high in 2006.
As the rate has risen, so has the rate of pregnancy-associated deaths in 2003 and 2004. Data on the maternal mortality rate for 2005 and 2006 aren’t yet available. The rate hit 13 per 100,000 live births in 2003, the first time it had topped 10 per 100,000 since 1977. The rate rose to 14 per 100,000 in 2004, or 540 reported pregnancy-related deaths.
National Center for Health Statistics researchers, who reported the maternal mortality trend in August, attribute the increase mainly to better reporting of pregnancy-related deaths, not greater actual numbers. But activists opposed to the growing use of C-sections and some doctors say the increase is probably the result, at least partly, of the increase in surgical deliveries. In 2006, 31.1% of U.S. births were by C-section, a 50% increase over the previous decade.
Here’s my take on it: The thought of childbirth at all absolutely terrifies me, but the risks associated with c-section, quick and convenient as it may be, are a huge turnoff. Aside from the fact that, in the cases being discussed in the article, it’s an unnecessary surgery, which is never something I support, there are risks of infection, risks associated with anesthesia, and a significant recovery time since it’s an invasive procedure that involves cutting through muscle. In other words, ouch. Plus, it leaves a scar.
Vaginal childbirth is natural, and it’s how we were made to give birth. If there is a medical reason that you can’t deliver vaginally (for instance, one friend of mine has a unique, inherited curvature of her pelvic bone that makes vaginal deliver impossible), then a c-section is of course your only option. But if you are physically able to deliver vaginally, do it.
What do you think? Are you pro-scheduled c-sections or against them? Leave a comment!
Tags: womens health, woman, health, childbirth, c-section, cesarean section, cesarean delivery, vaginal delivery
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POSTED IN: Parenting, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Women's Issues
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4 opinions for Rate of C-Sections and Pregnancy Related Deaths on the Rise
ruthie
Feb 25, 2008 at 2:05 am
hi my name is ruthie and i am from new orleans and i am going to have a baby in june and reading all of this is makeing me scared…..
Kristen King
Feb 25, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Ruthie, this isn’t intended to freak anyone out. Take a deep breath and relax. :)
The most important thing to remember, in my non-medical opinion, is that you need to do what is medically best for you and your baby. Your doctor can help you figure out what that is, but make sure you ask a lot of questions.
Many people schedule C-sections because it’s more convenient for them, NOT because that’s what’s best for them medically. Talk to your doctor, midwife, nurse practitioner, or whoever is providing your prenatal care and start figuring out now how you want to handle your child’s birth.
Women have been giving birth for thousands of years, and look how much the population continues to grow. Statistically, you will be FINE. No need to panic. But believe me, I understand where you’re coming from. I’m not even pregnant and I’m still terrified of the thought of eventually giving birth to a child. Motherhood is a serious responsibility, and the idea of housing another human inside you for 9 months and then ejecting them from your body in a physical experience that you have never experienced before is really, really scary.
What I’ve learned so far is that the best thing you can do to feel more prepared to handle it, or any other major medical event, is to ask a million questions and take an active role in decision making.
You’ll get through it! And I hope you’ll send me some baby pics after the birth. We can welcome your new little muffin here. :)
kk
Rachel
Jun 9, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Speaking as a 27 year old mother of 8 month old twins who were delivered safely and with no complications from a sceduled C-Section I felt compelled to respond to your opinion by offering my own.
I don’t know what the medical profession is like in the US but I have yet to hear of one Canadian surgeon preforming a C-Section just because the mother didn’t want to go through labour and have a scar. How ridiculous!
To offer a more educated point of view you must first look at the main reasons a C-Section should be preformed for the well being of the infant and mother:
1.If the baby is too large to safely be delivered vaginally (cephalopelvic disproportion)
2.Multiple Babies are at higher risk of complications during vaginal birth.
3.Failure of labour to progress
4.Complications during labour such as the umbilical cord becoming pinched or compressed.
5.Problems with the placenta such as placenta previa which can be life threatening for the infant.
6.Medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure in the mother, or fetal illness or abnormailities in the infant.
7.STD’s can be passed from mother to child during vaginal delivery but are avoided during C-Section.
8.PREVIOUS C-SECTION-in response to your comment of “once a c-section always a c-section” which is NOT the case however how would you feel going into a vaginal delivery knowing that there is a chance that your scar (small as it is…at least mine is) could open and your uterus could rupture puting yours and your infants life in danger?! A little more research would have been a good idea before making such a remark.
9.Preeclampsia or Eclampsia-again life threatening to both mother and child.
10.Postmature Fetus-the longer a mother is allowed to go passed her due date the uterine environment begins to deteriorate threatening the health of the infant.
11.Prolapsed Umbilical Cord causes fetal distress by preventing oxygen to pass.
I appreciate the fact that you have such a strong opinion on the subject but when you start to scare expectant mothers with “your take on it” that’s when I get pissed off.
In Response to “Your Take on it”:
1. The comment that the thought of childbirth absolutely terrifies you suggests to me that you are not a mother or were not able to produce children in which case you should be very careful when offering an opinion on such a delicate subject…since you end up getting negative responses from mothers like myself.
2.Yes there is risk of infection which is also true of vaginal deliveries.
3.Yes there is risk from anesthesia which is also true of women who have an epidural during vaginal delivery.
4.Surgery involves cutting through the muscle-WRONG-what decade did you research? They now stretch the muscle which has greatly reduced recovery time and pain.
My C-Section was complete at approx. 9pm and I was up on my feet first thing the next morning and all I was ever given for the pain was Extra Strength Tylenol which was enough for me. Sure it was uncomfortable for the first 4 days but after that it wasn’t that bad.
5.Yes it leaves a scar but how vain are you that you would worry about a little scar over the health of you and your baby?
For all the mother-to-be’s who may read this I urge you to put aside the horror stories you may have heard about C-Sections and research the subject thoroughly. Would I have preferred a vaginal delivery?…Yes. Do I regret having a C-Section?…No. Would I have another C-Section if I had to?…Without a doubt.
Kristen King
Jun 10, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Hi, Rachel,
Thanks for your comment! I wanted to respond to a couple of things you said:
1. No, I have not had children yet, but I don’t think that means I’m not allowed to have an opinion about childbirth.
2. The “once a c-section always a c-section” is not my quote — it’s from the article I cited and appears in a block quote. The article is linked in the post above.
3. I have never once said that you should have a vaginal birth no matter what. What I DID say is that opting for a c-section when vaginal delivery is medically appropriate is a bad choice. I’m sorry if that was unclear in any way.
Congratulations on your twins. :)
Kristen
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