If you are among those who believe that cesarean delivery (aka vaginal bypass surgery) is no riskier than normal (vaginal) birth you might want to read the new study published in the October 30, 2007 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Investigators conducted a prospective, cohort study to determine the risks and benefits associated with cesarean delivery compared to vaginal birth. During the 3-month study period, data were collected from 97,095 births in 24 areas of 8 randomly selected Latin American countries. Result showed that women who have a planned (elective) cesarean delivery put themselves, and their babies, at increased risk of serious complications and death.

• Risk of maternal death was three to five times higher compared to vaginal birth

• Risk of requiring a hysterectomy after a cesarean delivery was four times higher than after vaginal birth

• Being admitted to intensive care, requiring a hospital stay of more than seven days was twice as high for those who underwent planned cesarean delivery, compared to those who had vaginal births

The only time cesarean delivery was a safer alternative than vaginal birth was for babies who were in a breech position. But for babies in a headfirst position, the risk of the baby dying or suffering serious complications was one-and-a-half times higher when an elective (non-emergency) cesarean section was performed.

This study should be a wake-up call for parents as well as health professionals, as nearly 25 percent of all births are now cesarean deliveries, with some U.S. hospitals reporting cesarean delivery rates as high as 50 percent.

According to lead researcher Dr. Jose Villar, “The increase in rates of cesarean delivery at an institutional level is not associated with any clear overall benefit for the baby or the mother but is linked with increased morbidity for both.”

Said Dr. James Walker, spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and an obstetrician in Leeds, “[Cesarean delivery] can save lives in some circumstances but it does have risks for the mother and baby. It is important we don’t think of them as just another delivery option. This research is a reality check that we don’t go too far.”

A Disturbing Parallel

In the early 1900s, breastfeeding began a decades-long decline. The result was the normalization of artificial milk feeding in the form of bottle-feeding.

The same cultural shift is now taking place in the childbirth arena.

Originally, vaginal birth was believed to be the “normal” way to birth a baby, and cesarean delivery was a “solution” intended for use only when vaginal birth wasn’t possible. Unfortunately, the “solution” is becoming so common, it is perceived by many as “normal.”

Human milk—Artificial milk?

Vaginal birth—Cesarean delivery?

Does it really matter? Check your facts.

Also in baby gooroo®:

Hospitals establish guidelines for induction of labor