Once thought of as a barbaric procedure and only to be done if a mother had no hope of survival, today around 30% of babies in the United States are born via C-section.
The first cesarean section in the United States to be carried out successfully was by a physician, Dr. Jesse Bennett, on his own wife in Virginia in 1794. Early Cesarean sections had a high mortality rate, with mothers succumbing to infection and blood loss as often as not.
Today, Cesarean sections are carried out frequently, sometimes as a matter of choice. Recognized indications for Cesarean section include:
Prolonged labour
Failure to progress
Cord prolapse
Fetal distress
Placental issues
Transverse or breech presentation
Large baby
Pelvis issues
Problems with the umbilical cord
Uterine rupture
Fetal illness or maternal disease (i.e. HIV, STD’s, pre-eclampsia)
The National Center for Health Statistics states that the rate of Cesarean sections has increased 46% since 1996. Elective C-sections may be a large factor; there is a current trend towards “scheduling” births for convenience. Much attention has been focused on this factor, and studies have focused on patient preference for c-section, as well as reasons why doctors might perform C-sections not included in the list above.
Regardless, Cesarean sections can be life-saving for both mother and infant, and the advent of the C-section has made a huge difference in survival rates for both mothers and infants. Today, it is hard to believe that so many women died in childbirth before the advent of this procedure.
Related Links:
Video: Cesarean Section Delivery from illumistream
Cesarean Section: A Brief History from the National Library of Medicine
Cesarean Section: Topic Overview from Web MD
