Choose C-sections only when there is a medical reason

According to a survey by the World Health Organization(WHO) published online in The Lancet, women who had caesarean sections without a medical reason were 10 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care, required blood transfusions or encountered complications.


The WHO study reviewed nearly 110,000 births in 9 Asian countries in 2007-08 and found that about 27% of the births were done by C-sections, 2/3 of the hospitals surveyed make more money if C-sections were carried out. The authors warned that C-sections should be opted for only when there is a medical indication to improve the outcome.

In the UK, nearly a quarter of births are carried out by C-sections despite the evidence against it.

Source: "Method of delivery and pregnancy outcomes in Asia: the WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health 2007—08" The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 12 January 2010 ( f/t via Athens)

Women who opt for caesarean are just scared

Multiple news sources reported that Swedish scientists studied the attitudes of 496 pregnant women toward childbirth and followed them until three months after they gave birth. The study is published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.


The women were divided into three groups: those who had opted for a C-section for medical reasons; those who had elected C-secetion for other reasons and those who planned to have a normal delivery. The scientists found almost half of those having elective C-section had a "clinically significant" fear of childbirth while those having a natural birth or a caesarean for medical reasons had more negative experiences of childbirth.

The authors said "healthy women are sometimes criticised for choosing a C-section over a normal delivery", but this study reveals that a psychological reason may be behind it.


Source: "Expectation and experiences of childbirth in primiparae with caesarean section" BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 115 (3), 324–331. (full text via Athens)

Elective caesareans linked to respiratory morbidity

More and more women request a Caesarean section without good medical reasons, a lot of them are completely unaware of the negative impact on their baby.

A large-scale study carried out by Dannish experts involving 34,458 deliveries between 37 and 41 weeks found babies born through elective Caesarean are up to four times more likely to suffer breathing problems compared with those born naturally or by emergency Caesarean. The earlier the Caesarean is carried out, the higher the risk. The researchers advised women not to carry out elective Caesareans before 39 weeks. The report is published by the BMJ.

Source : "Risk of respiratory morbidity in term infants delivered by elective caesarean section: cohort study" BMJ Online (published 11 December 2007)