C-Sections and Premature births

[gam197]

Here is an article on C-Sections which are on the increase.

charlottesville.injuryboard.com/medical-malpractice/new-study-links-rise-in-premature-births-to-csections.aspx?googleid=242348

Researchers are reporting that premature single births are on the rise in the United States, mostly among infants delivered by Caesarean section (C-section). They say part of the increase might be due to C-sections that are not medically necessary. This trend is frightening since premature babies are at risk for many problems such as breathing and feeding disorders, delayed brain development, and possibly death.

 

[RachelsAlumni]

This rise in Csections is partly due to the unfortunate rise in STD’s (like gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and genital herpes) that can be transmitted from the mother to the baby during delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal.

For women who have active genital herpes lesions at the time of delivery, a cesarean delivery (C-section) may be performed to protect the newborn against infection. C-section is also an option for some HIV-infected women.

Some STDs, such as genital herpes and bacterial vaginosis, are quite common in pregnant women in the United States. Other STDs, notably HIV and syphilis, are much less common in pregnant women. The table below shows the estimated number of pregnant women in the United States who are infected with specific STDs each year.

STDs Estimated # of Pregnant Women
Bacterial vaginosis – 1,080,000
Herpes simplex virus 2 – 880,000

(source: cdc.gov/STD/STDFact-STDs&Pregnancy.htm)

Although I do completely agree that many Physicians induce labor early based on their own concerns rather than concern for the mother & baby.

Back in the 80’s my OB/Gyn told me that he had attended a Medical Conference and they were predicting that the majority of births will be done by C-Section because it was *‘more convenient’ *for the doctors and there are fewer problems ‘for the Doctor’.