Increased C-Sections Factor in Local and Nationwide Pre-term births

A rise in preterm births nationwide has led area hospitals to build new neonatal care departments, such as Rush-Copley Medical Center's new 18 bed intermediate-level neonatal intensive care unit.

According to to a recent story in the Aurora Beacon News, this new space will help Rush-Copley Medical Center care for the increasing number of local premature babies born at the hospital or transported there.

Nationwide, preterm births are on the rise. An analysis by The March of Dimes from May 28 pinpoints unnecessary c-sections as "a critical factor" in the rise:

"Between 1996 and 2004 there was an increase of nearly 60,000 singleton preterm births and 92 percent of those infants were delivered by a cesarean section, (c-section), according to research by investigators from the March of Dimes and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will be published in the June issue of Clinics in Perinatology. While singleton preterm births increased by about 10 percent during this time, the c-section rate for this group increased by 36 percent."

Some preterm births are due to complications of labor like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. Doctors are now better aware of such complications and able to recommend early c-section to mothers. In addition, the rising age of mothers at birth and increased in-vitro fertilization resulting in multiple births are also speculated to be factors in the growing c-section rate.

However, the largest increase in preterm births occurred in the number of late preterm births, those occuring between 34 to 37 weeks, causing concern among researchers that many c-sections are being performed at the request of mothers or after inappropriate recommendations from their doctor.

Comments

[Christine]

Yes, there are definitely situations that warrant a c-section. I, myself was delivered through a c-section.

But, it is a tricky situation, isn't it especially for new mothers or those that may not have the support going into labor and delivery to opt for a c-section when they otherwise wouldn't have to.

[tracey]

The rise in c-sections is surely concerning. I cannot imagine electing to have a surgery that may not be necessary, yet, when an expectant mother hears a medical "professional" advise her to do so or risk her child... well. You can understand why one might choose to go such a route.