C-Sections at All-Time High

The U.S. is edging ever closer to 1 in every 3 births being a C-section...29.1% of all births in 2004 were by C-section, which is remarkable considering it is, after all, major abdominal surgery. Many of the C-sections are elective, and rates for VBACs (vaginal birth after Caesarean) have plummeted to 9.2% from 28.3% nearly a decade ago.

Many hospitals are banning VBACs as they are unwilling to have a surgeon and anesthesiologist on standby for emergencies. Having had two successful VBACs myself, I find the hospitals' preference for the risks of major surgery over VBACs sad and more than a little confounding.