What is the recommended rate for cesareans?
Nationwide, our cesarean rate has been escalating to record high levels every year for the past several years. Cesareans are still done for the same reasons as they have always been done (maternal health concerns, fetal well-being, failure to progress in labor); however, care providers seem to be making the choice much earlier for milder health concerns than they ever did in the past. Cesareans are a vital tool for improving maternity outcomes, but they should only be used when the benefits outweigh the risks of the surgery. Many maternal advocates argue that we are currently over-using cesarean, and thus creating unnecessary risks for mothers and babies. CIMS, WHO, and Healthy People 2010 recommendations are for an overall cesarean rate around 15%. WHOs research clearly showed that if a developing country does not have sufficient medical resources, and their cesarean rate is below 10%, maternal mortality and infant mortality go up. But, it also showed that if a countrys rate is too hi
