Contributed by Lisa Olen| 19 November, 2004 21:08 GMT
An elective caesarean section increases the risk to the infant of premature birth and respiratory distress syndrome.
U.S. women and their physicians are opting for surgical delivery of infants at a rapidly increasing rate, in spite of the fact that many have no known pregnancy or labor complications, a trend that many health professionals find alarming.The United States has seen a steep rise in caesareans among women with no reported medical risk, according to research published in BMJ (British Medical Journal).
Researchers analysed information on four million births per year between 1991 and 2001, identifying mothers with no medical risk, or labour and delivery complication, noted on the birth certificate. From this group of mothers, they examined those cases where mothers had a first-time caesarean.
No-Risk Caesareans Up 67%
Results showed that caesarean rates increased by 67% among these mothers. First-time mothers aged 34 and over were the most likely to have a 'no indicated risk' caesarean, with almost 1 in 5 giving birth by caesarean in 2001.
Caesarean births also rose steeply for 'no indicated risk' mothers under 30, increasing by 58% between 1991 and 2001. For first-time mothers over 40, the odds of having a 'no indicated risk' caesarean were over 5 times that for mothers aged 20-24.
Risk/Benefit Questions Raised
Undergoing caesareans where there is no reported medical indication raises serious questions, say the authors, not least for younger mothers who plan to have further children.
More research is needed on whether the risks associated with surgery outweigh the benefits in these circumstances, they conclude.
Caesarean Facts
Among the facts on Caesarean deliveries presented by the ICEA Cesarean Options committee and published on Childbirth.Org are the following:
A cesarean section is major abdominal surgery. When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a life saving technique for both mother and infant.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that no region in the world is justified in having a cesarean rate greater than 10 to 15 percent.
A cesarean section poses documented medical risks to the mother's health, including infections, hemorrhage, transfusion, injury to other organs, anesthesia complications, psychological complications, and a maternal mortality two to four times greater than that for a vaginal birth.
An elective cesarean section increases the risk to the infant of premature birth and respiratory distress syndrome, both of which are associated with multiple complications, intensive care and burdensome financial costs. Even mature babies, the absences of labor increases the risk of breathing problems and other complications.
Cesareans can delay the opportunity for early mother-newborn interaction, breastfeeding and the establishment of family bonds. |
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