When you prepare to give birth in a Kentucky hospital, you may not give much thought to whether you may wind up delivering your baby through a Cesarean section. However, you would be wise to research and prepare for this possibility, because a growing number of American women now deliver their babies via this method.
According to USA Today, in 2018, doctors delivered more than 30% of all babies via C-section. This was the case even though the World Health Organization states that C-sections should only account for between about 10% and 15% of all births. C-sections come with a much higher risk of complications than a traditional vaginal delivery. This raises questions about whether hospitals with especially high C-section rates are prioritizing money over patients.
C-section statistics
While nationwide, doctors deliver 31% of babies via C-section, some U.S. hospitals have C-section delivery rates that are as high as 60%. Research also shows that when hospitals have high C-section rates, there is no correlating improved outcome for mothers and babies.
C-section risks
A 2019 study revealed that the risk of you experiencing a birth injury or other complication is 80% higher when you have a C-section, as opposed to a traditional delivery. Common complications associated with C-section deliveries include infections, hemorrhaging and bad reactions to anesthesia, among others. Having a C-section also raises your chances of experiencing complications during any future deliveries you may have.
Safety advocates believe that medical professionals should try other methods of progressing labor, such as providing continuous labor support, before making the decision that women should deliver their babies via C-section.