Special deliveries: C-section births are at an all-time high

If you asked me which surgical procedure took place most often in U.S. hospitals, I might guess appendix removals or something else relatively common that could be performed on either sex (though I live in Los Angeles, I assume the rest of the country isn't getting as many breast enhancements or nose jobs); but in fact, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common surgical procedure is now the caesarian section. The rate of C-section births has jumped 53 percent since 1996, and is now done so often that one in every three babies arrives via the procedure.

The fact that C-sections are happening at an all-time high, and across age and demographic groups, worries some doctors because the procedure is much more likely to harm the mother and/or the baby than traditional vaginal births. C-sections used to be a procedure that was performed only as an exception to the rule. According to ABC News, "There are reasons for women to have caesarian sections, including twins and other multiples due to fertility treatments. Another factor is the age of the mother; the averages have increased over time. Older mothers are much more likely to have the surgery in order to avoid complications." But some doctors believe mothers sometimes choose C-sections simply to avoid a long, painful labor and delivery.

Though caesarian rates rose considerably across the board, the rates varied from state to state: "Rates varied considerably by state. In 2007, cesarean rates ranged from less than 25% in Alaska, Idaho, New Mexico, and Utah, to over 35% in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Cesarean rates rose significantly in each state from 1996 to 2007. The magnitude of the increases varied. Six states (Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Washington) had increases of over 70%. In 34 states, cesarean delivery rates increased by 50% or more."

Interestingly, while the number of C-section births has jumped, so too has the number of women who choose to give birth outside of a hospital. Mothers who choose to give birth at home obviously relinquish the possibility that they will have a C-section, or that they will be given pain-relieving medication like an epidural. By giving birth at home, mothers control how much time they are allowed to spend with the newborn, a fact that no doubt makes the option more appealing.