C-Section Rates Around the World

Cesarean section rates around globe are at "epidemic" levels. According to the WHO - World Health Organization - half of the moms in China give birth under the knife. This is also the world's highest rate for C-sections. And again according to the WHO this is not a good thing.

In January of 2010, the United Nations' health agency warned in the report published in the medical journal The Lancet that worldwide there has been an explosion of "unnecessary surgeries which are jeopardizing women's health." Remember that according to the same WHO, C-section rates of over 15% are unacceptable! This epidemic has also taken place here in the USA.

"Unnecessary C-sections are costlier than natural births and raise the risk of complications to you - the mother."

Chinese Dr. He Yuanhua, at Capital Antai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Beijing, who did not participate in the study stated that "It's bad to have so many cesarean births because natural birth is the ideal way."

According to the WHO part of the increase in C-section rates across Asia is due to hospitals eager to make more money. They noted that more than 60 percent of the hospitals studied were motivated by financial incentives to perform surgeries. This conclusion mirrors similar results reported by the WHO in 2005 from Latin America, where 35 percent of pregnant women surveyed were delivering by C-section.

You may not know that in the USA, a government panel warned against elective C-sections in 2006. It is obvious that the medical establishment has yet to take heed.

"The relative safety of the operation leads people to think it's as safe as vaginal birth," said Dr. A. Metin Gulmezoglu, and that is NOT the case. A study by the World Health Organization said that:

"women undergoing C-sections are more likely to die or be admitted into intensive care units, require blood transfusions or encounter complications that lead to hysterectomies."

What about the babies born by C-section?

The risks to your baby are many. U.S. studies have shown that babies born by cesarean have a greater chance for respiratory problems among other things.

Why are women choosing C-section?

As we all know that is not the case. But what about here in the USA....is our C-section rate likely to go down? Not likely...despite the fact it is major abdominal surgery. All we can say is that education is key. Ignorance makes you - and your baby - a pawn to the medical establishment. Knowledge - however - is power.

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