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'Caesarean Birth Risk To Mum And Baby
UK News
2006-05-24

Women who give birth by Caesarean are putting themselves and their child at risk, medical experts have warned in a new report.

Research in Latin America shows hospitals with most surgical deliveries had higher rates of serious maternal illness, death and antibiotic treatment after pregnancy.

Premature births and newborn mortality also rose with increasing numbers of caesareans.

Dr Jose Villar and colleagues at the World Health Organisation, whose findings are published online by The Lancet, analysed more than 97,000 births across eight countries. In Britain one-in-five births is now a surgical procedure compared to less than three per cent in the 1950s.

Dr Villar, of the Department of Reproductive Health and Research in Geneva, said: "In conclusion high rates of caesarean delivery do not necessarily indicate good quality care or services.

"Indeed institutions that deliver a lot of babies by caesarean should initiate a detailed and rigorous assessment of the factors related to their obstetric care and the perinatal outcomes achieved vis-a-vis the case mix of the population they serve.

"At present their services might cause iatrogenic (doctor-induced) harm."

Doctors are already concerned by the record number of surgical deliveries among the 'too-posh-to-push' generation.

Some women choose a Caesarean for lifestyle reasons. Victoria Beckham and fellow Spice Girl Mel Brown, DJ Zoe Ball plus actresses Patsy Kensit and Kate Winslet have all had Caesareans.

Said Dr Villar said: "Caesarean delivery rates continue to increase worldwide.

"Our findings indicate that increase in rates of caesarean delivery is associated with increased use of antibiotics, greater severe maternal morbidity and mortality and higher fetal and neonatal morbidity even after adjustment for demographic characteristics, risk factors, general medical and pregnancy associated complications, type and complexity of institution and proportion of referrals.

"The high rates of caesarean delivery and its more frequent indications were similar across countries with different health systems and perinatal outcomes."

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