Cesarean

In preparation for birth, you will certainly be thinking about vaginal and cesarean delivery. It is important to get the facts, understand your options, and the associated benefits/risks. The cesarean rate in the United States is high—31.9% in 2016 according to the CDC. That is more than double the World Health Organization’s 2015 ideal cesarean rate of 10-15%. As such, it is worthwhile to understand the likelihood of cesarean delivery in your local hospitals as well as the c-section rate of your OB-GYN.

I have included links below I believe are essential jumping off points as you begin to research.

Childbirth Connection

C-section basics | research & evidence

An excellent resource that explains the fundamentals of cesarean delivery, provides evidence-based summaries, and offers a list of cesarean-specific questions to discuss with your provider.

International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION | Education, support, & advocacy

Their mission is to “improve maternal-child health by reducing preventable cesareans through education, supporting cesarean recovery, and advocating for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).”

Center for Disease Control

cesarean delivery by state

A state-by-state report. California’s cesarean delivery rate in 2017 was 31.4%.

World Health Organization

WHO statement on caesarean section rates

This is the document that is cited again and again in the birth world with regard to c-sections. Give it a read.

The Washington Post

“Doulas are playing a role in C-section births",” By sara toth stub

A well-researched article that includes current data on the positive benefits of doula support.

Image Credit: Cesarean Illustration from The U.S. National Library of Medicine, available here.