Pregnancy & Birth
Cesarean Sections: Evidence-based Information
The rate of cesarean deliveries in the United States has skyrocketed in recent years; in 2004 nearly 30 percent of women who gave birth had cesarean section deliveries. Many factors contribute to this rise, from the failure of hospitals to support normal physiologic labor to providers’ fear of malpractice suits (for an excellent analysis, see “Sharp Rise of C-Sections Defies Best Evidence and Best Practice.")
Childbirth Connection, a nonprofit maternity care education and advocacy organization, offers the best material available on the safety and efficacy of maternity care practices. Their new booklet, What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know About Cesarean Section, is designed to help pregnant women understand the harms and benefits of cesarean delivery compared with vaginal birth. The booklet also offers advice on how to increase your chances of having a safe and satisfying vaginal birth.
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