Rise in C/S Puzzle Health Officials

[aisraeltax]

article in Boston paper the other day gave this headline due to the rise in C/S's in Mass. to 21% of births in Mass. (7 % higher than national average, and with 13 % of all c/s's performed on women under 30 giving birth to their first child - the lowest risk group). Although the chair of OB/GYN at a local hospital was quoted as saying the causes were 1. malpractice issues and 2. a growing belief that c/s's were as safe as vaginal delivery. WTH?

[stayathomecristi]

article in Boston paper the other day gave this headline due to the rise in C/S's in Mass. to 21% of births in Mass. (7 % higher than national average, and with 13 % of all c/s's performed on women under 30 giving birth to their first child - the lowest risk group). Although the chair of OB/GYN at a local hospital was quoted as saying the causes were 1. malpractice issues and 2. a growing belief that c/s's were as safe as vaginal delivery. WTH?


Yup--I just moved from MA and I can tell you that the paranoia about law suits is a huge piece of the puzzle. I interviewed a LOT of practices South of Boston before I was able to find someone who would work with my on my VBA3C two years ago. Many of the practices would not take me on unless I agreed to a repeat section. Period. No discussion at all.

As for #2, that is the growing opinion of many docs because we have come a long way and the mortality and morbidity is lower than for many other surgeries. Unfortunately, many women (lots of my friends in MA) also believe this. As long as women allow this to continue, I believe we will see the rate creep even higher.

Slightly OT, but when I went for my first VBAC I was basically PUSHED into it and told that I HAD to have a TOL because it was totally safe. Nine months later when I found out that I was pregnant with dc #3 I was told that I COULDN'T have a TOL. This was with the same practice, just outside of Boston!

Funny how things change, eh?

[aisraeltax]

same experience here...just amazing that they are "perplexed" at the increase, but yet list the 2 bogus reasons in the same article.
this seems like the vax issue to me right now...they will ignore that there is a problem and just continue doing things the way they are. :angry

[julie128]

The first reason--lawsuits--is NOT bogus at all. OB's have the second highest malpractice insurance rates (after neurosurgeons); they are rightfully concerned about being sued. More than 1/3 of OB's will eventually get sued, and mothers are more likely to sue after a bad vaginal birth than a bad c/s. It's all about the costs. Honestly, I don't blame them at all. It's the women who wrongfully sue them that are at fault. Doctors cannot foresee everything, and they cannot prevent some kinds of harm, no matter what they do, and their patients don't realize that.

The maternal death risk for a c/s might be 2-4 times as high as for a vaginal birth, but it's still pretty low.

[aisraeltax]

i am aware of the number of malpractice cases. the reason i stated it was "bogus" is that it shouldn't be like this. i am not a huge advocate for the current "tort reform" currently proposed, but do believe lawsuits for births that are not due to negligence should be curbed...until that happens, our c/s rates will keep increasing.

i just think its sad that so many women are getting cut open (including myself twice) b/c of lawsuits and the misconception that c/s is just as safe as natural c/b.

[AnditheBee]

It's the women who wrongfully sue them that are at fault.

Well, directly, yes, but I tend to blame the lawyers who take advantage of women and convince them that suing is the correct option. Have you done a google search of "cerebral palsy" lately? The majority of "informative" sites that come up are lawyers' sites designed to recruit clients while they are still in that vulnerable period of shock and anger about their child's problems. It all comes down to greed, at the heart of it. Capitalism is making our health choices...how on earth are we to change this?

[momnmidwife]

aisraeltax,

Do you happen to have a link to that article? I would like to read it...
Thanks!
Christina

[aisraeltax]

here you go: http://theedge.bostonherald.com/healthNews/view.bg?articleid=127348

[momnmidwife]

:d Thanks!