Study: Voluntary C-sections riskier

A recent study of nearly 6 million births has found that the risk of death to newborns delivered by voluntary Caesarean section is much higher than previously believed.

Back in 1999, when we took our childbirth classes while expecting Keithen, I believe our instructor told us that the c-section rate was hoovering close to 25% at that time. According to this article, the percentage of Caesarean births in the United States has now increased to 29.1 percent in 2004, which is up from 20.7 percent in 1996. Insane!

I love the fact that the article points out that delayed establishment of breast-feeding may also contribute to the increased death rate.