Do you know your hospital's c-section rate?

Question

Overall, I am satisfied with my obgyn so far. I am nervous that he may be pro c-section, like if there's some kind of issue other than ideal. I do think he will be cool about vaginal birth as long as everything is going well but it still makes me nervous because I live in Los Angeles and A Lot of women get them here.

The hospital I am supposed to register at has a 30% low risk c-section rate. That seems high to me. The lowest I could find LA was 22% which is at Kaiser which I am not a member. There are others with 24% and 27% and more above 30% I think that's insane! These are all low risk women. I am currently low risk even though my placenta is a little low at 21wks.

Are you ladies more concerned with hospital stats or your own Dr. stats? I feel like if for some reason he's unavailable on my delivery day I want to be sure I'm registered at one of the best ranked hospitals

Answer

Hire a doula!!!

Answer

Did he tell you his stats? Most doctors don't do that. American average is 32%. WHO advises 10-15%. I fully believe the biggest risk (in a healthy pregnancy) for a primary cesection is hospital choice.

Answer

I absolutely would be concerned about those rates. Insanity. And obvious they aren't just doing csections for medical reasons. Have you looked to see if there is a birthing center near you?

Answer

I think it's important to note why each hospital has the rate that it does. The hospital where I had my son had a very high c-section rate, but, it was a hospital that specialized in high-risk moms, who obviously would require c-sections at a higher rate than other women. The hospital where I plan to have my next baby has an average c-section rate as most of the hospitals in my area, but it also has the highest rates of successful VBAC births, which is my personal priority vs finding a place with low c-section rates.

Answer

Those stats are actually the nations average, sadly.

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You should check out a website called Evidence Based Birth. Is credible and has a ton of information.

Answer

Gosh yeah I heard that inducing is not ideal because it's almost like a Dr.'s gateway to c-sections. Once I get an ultrasound that shows my placenta has moved far enough away from my cervix for vaginal delivery I will feel much more confident and adamant about wanting to deliver vaginally.., like nature intended

Answer

You can't necessarily judge it like that. Did the mother choose the C-section beforehand? Was she in labor a long time and decide to get it? Was she not dilating and the baby having issues which led to her and her doctor deciding to do it? Or was it something more serious that led to the doctor having to make the decision in order to keep momma and baby alive?

Do you know your hospital's c-section rate?

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