Caesarean facts and figures

Caesarean sections should only be performed when medically necessary

A News release in April 2015 by the World Health Organisation said that caesarean section is one of the most common surgeries in the world, with rates continuing to rise, particularly in high- and middle-income countries. Although it can save lives, caesarean section is often performed without medical need, putting women and their babies at-risk of short- and long-term health problems. Caesarean section may be necessary when vaginal delivery might pose a risk to the mother or baby – for example due to prolonged labour, foetal distress, or because the baby is presenting in an abnormal position. However, caesarean sections can cause significant complications, disability or death.

 

Ideal rate for caesarean sections

Since 1985, the international healthcare community has considered the “ideal rate” for caesarean sections to be between 10% and 15%. New studies reveal that when caesarean section rates rise towards 10% across a population, the number of maternal and newborn deaths decreases. But when the rate goes above 10%, there is no evidence that mortality rates improve. In other words there is no benefit to mom or baby if the caesarean rates are above 10%. Within the private sector in South Africa, the caesar rate stands at over 70% with some gynaes caesar rates well into the 90%.

The following information is from http://www.childbirthconnection.org/giving-birth/c-section/research-evidence/ showing exactly what the researched evidence says about caesarean sections. Visit their website to view the actual research reviews.

 

Is vaginal birth or caesarean safer?

Vaginal birth is much safer than a caesar for most women and babies. But sometimes a caesar is the only safe option, like when the baby is positioned side-to-side in the uterus (transverse lie) or the placenta is covering the cervix (placenta previa). In other situations, having a caesar might possibly have benefits, which need to be weighed against possible harms. You have the right to know these possible harms and benefits, and only you can decide how important they are to you.

When a caesarean is truly needed, its benefits likely outweigh possible downsides. However, without a clear medical reason for caesarean birth, vaginal birth is likely to be the far safer path for both you and your baby. This page summarises results of systematic reviews comparing outcomes of caesarean and vaginal birth. We look at shorter- and longer-term outcomes in women, caesarean-born babies and babies in future pregnancies that develop in a scarred uterus. This page also reports on studies that point to problems that only occur with one or the other type of birth.

 

What are the possible outcomes of caesars for women?

Systematic reviews have found that women with caesareans are more likely than women with vaginal birth to experience:

  • Impaired physical health for at least the first two months after birth
  • Emergency surgery to remove their uterus (hysterectomy)
  •  Not establishing breastfeeding, which benefits both women and babies; this especially occurs when caesareans are scheduled before labour.

In the long term, systematic reviews have found that women who have given birth by caesarean are more likely than those with vaginal births to experience:

  • Difficulty becoming pregnant, leading to a lower pregnancy rate
  • Difficulty remaining pregnant, leading to a lower birth rate
  • A desire to wait longer before becoming pregnant again
  • Ongoing pain in the pelvis area

 

What are the possible benefits and harms of having a vaginal birth?

Even though labour and vaginal birth can be hard work, they are generally easier on a woman’s body than a caesar. Recovery after vaginal birth is usually shorter and less painful than after a caesar, and allows the woman to spend more time with her baby.

New research is discovering ways that labour and vaginal birth are good for babies, too. The hormones that cause labour to start and progress actually help the baby get ready to be born and reduce the chance of breathing difficulties and other problems. These hormones help prepare mother and baby for a safe transition at the time of birth, and help them feel close and connected and get breastfeeding off to a good start.

Babies born vaginally also have lower rates of some serious childhood diseases like asthma, Type 1 diabetes and allergies, and are less likely to become obese. Researchers think these benefits have to do with healthy bacteria babies are exposed to during vaginal birth.

Other benefits include avoiding complications that can occur with major surgery like a caesar

 

The following complications can happen with vaginal birth, but do not happen with caesarean birth:

  • Injury to the vulva or vagina, with possible pain and infection (genital trauma)
  • A tear or intentional cut (episiotomy) from the opening of the vagina toward the anus, with possible pain and infection (perineal trauma)

 

What are the possible risks to my baby associated with caesareans?

Systematic reviews have found that caesarean-born babies are more likely than vaginally-born babies to experience:

  • Not establishing breastfeeding; this especially occurs when caesars are scheduled before labour
  • Increased risk of breathing problems
  • Less blood flowing from the placenta to the baby at birth and less iron
  • Systematic reviews have found that being born by caesarean rather than vaginally is associated with greater likelihood of developing several chronic diseases, including:
    • Childhood-onset (Type 1) diabetes
    • Childhood obesity
    • Autism spectrum disorder
    • Chronic inflammatory bowel disease with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss, anaemia and fatigue (Crohn’s disease)
    • Asthma
    • Food sensitivities and allergies
    • Hay fever

 

What are possible effects of a caesarean on my future pregnancies and births?

Women with pregnancies after previous caesarean are more likely than those without previous caesar to experience:

  • Splitting open of the scar in the uterus (uterine rupture)
  • Emergency surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy)
  • Serious condition of the placenta covering the opening of the cervix (placenta praevia)
  • Serious condition of the placenta growing into the wall of the uterus (placenta accreta)
  • Serious condition of the placenta separating from the wall of the uterus before the birth (placental abruption)
  • A stillborn

 

A systematic review found that risk of the following complications associated with caesarean increases with each additional caesar: 

  • Measures of serious maternal health problems (severe morbidity)
  • Emergency surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy)
  • Serious condition of the placenta covering the opening of the cervix (placenta praevia)
  • Serious condition of the placenta growing into the wall of the uterus (placenta accreta)
  • Excessive blood loss (haemorrhage)
  • Blood given through IV line (blood transfusion)
  • Scars that cause organs to bind together and may lead to pain and other problems (adhesions)
  • Surgical injury

 

A systematic review suggests why these conditions are “serious.” The review found that placenta praevia, when the placenta covers the opening of the uterus, is associated with increased risk of:

  • Preterm birth
  • Admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
  • Newborn death (in the 28 days after birth)
  • Perinatal death (combined late pregnancy and early postpartum death)

Even if you do not plan to have more babies, it is important to know about these risks because many women change their minds or have unplanned pregnancies.

 

Does caesarean protect against sexual, bowel and urinary problems?

The best available research has found no difference between women with vaginal and caesarean birth for:

  • Anal incontinence (leakage of stool or gas)
  • Urge urinary incontinence (leakage of urine with a sense of “got to go”)
  • Any severe urine leakage

However, in the short and long term, best research finds that women with vaginal birth are more likely to experience stress urinary incontinence (leakage with exertion). Current studies cannot clarify whether this is due to vaginal birth itself or to practices that are common with vaginal birth. Concerning practices include:

  • Lying on your back or with legs in stirrups when pushing and giving birth (women with epidurals)
  • Assisted vaginal birth (with vacuum or forceps)
  • Common interventions that increase the likelihood of assisted vaginal birth (epidural analgesia, continuous electronic foetal monitoring)
  • Staff pushing on your upper abdomen to move the baby out (fundal pressure)
  • Episiotomy (a cut just before birth to enlarge the opening of the vagina)

It would be wise to avoid these practices when possible and to follow other practices (such as having a healthy weight and not smoking) that help avoid problems in your pelvic floor.

 

For more in-depth information go to

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/giving-birth/c-section/research-evidence/

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