The rate of cesarean deliveries in the US has sky-rocketed over the last decade. Currently in many hospitals rates are 2-3 times the World Health Organizations advisory of 10-12 percent of all deliveries.
This rise in cesearean deliveries is the result of several factors which include elective cesareans. Many women are now choosing an elective c-section either because of advanced maternal age, desire to keep the birth canal intact, or fear of complications of a vaginal delivery. Some doctors are even counseling women that this is an acceptable choice for birthing.
At any rate, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does not either support nor condemn elective cesarean deliveries. However, their policy may change based on results of a new study.
Researchers at the Boston University of Public Health studied data on hospital re-admission in women who choose a cesarean versus women who choose a vaginal delivery. A total of 3,334 women who choose an elective cesarean were included in the study and compared to a total of 244,088 women who choose a vaginal delivery. In the control group a total of 20,916 women ended up with a cesarean delivery after choosing a vaginal and were still including in the analysis.
The results of this study were published in the March issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The rate of hospital re-admission was more than 2.3 times greater in women who choose a cesarean compared to women who choose a vaginal delivery (regardless of whether they delivered vaginally or not). The most noted reasons for re-admission included wound complications and infections.
The study also looked at cost of delivery and found that planned cesareans were more costly than planned vaginal births and stays were significanlty longer.
Women should be made aware of the benefits and drawbacks to elective cesarean delivery before they make a decision about how they would like to birth.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on March 23, 2007 04:21 PM
