Cesarean delivery is the most common surgery in the United States. Recently, researchers at the University of Minnesota discovered that, in low-risk women, hospital cesarean rates varied fifteenfold, from 2.4 percent to 36.5 percent.
The most alarming part was, there’s no clear reason for the variance;
no matter the geographic location, type of hospital, affiliation with a
university or not, the variance remained.
Pregnant women deserve to understand their options and have an
opportunity to discuss hospital policies and how it will impact their
delivery and recovery. Cesarean delivery is an important advance, and
lifesaving in some situations, but it isn’t always necessary. Knowing
more about this variance in cesarean rates will empower women to ask
questions and learn more leading up to the birth of their child.
You can find out more on the U of M’s Health Talk blog.
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