In 2015 the number of cesarean sections (c-sections) were at a whopping 32% of all births- this is almost double the number of c-sections performed in the 90’s! It is important to note that the risk factors that warrant doctors to perform an emergency c-section are not also on the rise. C-sections are being more and more often performed on low risk pregnancies, inherently putting both baby and mom at a higher risk of complications. The graph below show’s the maternal morbidity rate of women by method of delivery. It is evident that c-sections have a much greater risk than vaginal births!
So if risk factors leading to c-sections are not on the rise and a c-section puts a mother at a higher risk of complications, why is the prevalence of c-sections so high? Lets take a look at some of the possible reasons:
Technology Electronic fetal monitoring begins once a pregnant woman enters the hospital. It tracks the babies vitals and can detect signs of distress. As the only way to really assess the babies safety, it’s a great tool. However, there isn’t extensive research on how to interpret the readings and there are many false positives, leading to more c-sections than probably necessary.
Decline in VBAC V-what? Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. Once a woman has her first cesarean birth- warranted or not- there are complications involved in a subqequent vaginal birth. This means that a mother who delivers via cesarean will most likely have to deliver by c-section for all subsequent births. This is a positive feedback loop, definitely contributing to the rise in c-sections!
Control Usually women have the choice of which birthing method they prefer. For some, it is as simple as wanting to choose the day and the doctor that delivers their baby- control only a c-section can give you. While this should still be taken into account, it probably isn’t a huge contributor to the rise in c-sections, as a recent study found that only 10% of all c-sections were elected procedures.
Commercialization Is it possible that society is turning the most basic and beautiful reproductive right into a business? In a recent study – whose results are shown in the graph below- it was found that the majority of c-sections occur from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm. Hmm… that’s convenient. Could the number of c-sections be on the rise because the labor and delivery doc wants to get home in time to eat dinner?
Regardless, it is important that a woman knows her options when she is in the delivery room and it is equally as important that doctors are making the best choice on behalf of the mother, who is in arguably her most powerful and vulnerable state. Whatever factor, or more likely combination of factors, is responsible for the increase in c-sections, it is critical that we don’t lose sight of the most important thing: the safety of both mother and baby.
-Steph Schaupmeyer
