Consumer Reports: Number of C-Sections on the Rise

5:46 PM, May 22, 2012   |    comments
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The number of Cesareans is on the rise. Nearly one in every three babies in the U.S. is born via C-section.

"There are some situations in which performing a C-section is to be preferred, but that's major surgery," said Dr. Marvin Lipman. "In most cases, the safest way, for mother and baby, is to deliver vaginally."

If a woman's first birth is a C-section, there's about a 90 percent chance subsequent births will also be C-sections.

"That doesn't have to happen. Many women who've had a
C-section, especially with a low-transverse incision, are able to have a vaginal birth after a C-section. That's known as a V-BAC," said Dr. Lipman.  

But a woman seeking a V-BAC delivery can have trouble finding a doctor willing to try one.

"Some doctors don't have the necessary support from their hospital or their malpractice insurance won't cover the procedure," said dr. Lipman. "If your doctor is willing to try a V-BAC, make sure that he or she has all the necessary information from a previous C-section."

Consumer Reports says In addition to a rise in the number of C-sections, there's been a dramatic rise in the number of scheduled early deliveries as well.

Consumer Reports

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