C-sections

I just came across these two articles and thought you all might be interested:

Elective c-sections may lead to newborn breathing problems
Wed, Dec 12, 2007 (HealthDay News) — Infants delivered by elective Caesarean section are up to four times more likely to have breathing problems than babies born vaginally or by emergency C-section, says a Danish study published in the Dec. 12 online issue of the British Medical Journal.
Researchers analyzed data on 34,000 births and found the 2,687 infants delivered by elective Caesarean section had a nearly fourfold increased risk of breathing problems if they were delivered at 37 weeks' gestation, a threefold increased risk at 38 weeks' gestation, and twice the risk at 39 weeks' gestation. For example, 2.8 percent of infants delivered by intended vaginal delivery (which includes both vaginal delivery and emergency Caesarean) at 37 weeks gestation had general respiratory problems, compared with 10 percent of infants delivered by elective Caesarean section. At 38 weeks, the rates were 1.7 percent versus 5.1 percent, and at 39 weeks, 1.1 percent versus 2.1 percent.
The reasons why elective Caesarean increases the risk of respiratory problems aren't clear. The study authors suggested that certain hormonal and physiological changes associated with labor are necessary for an infant's lungs to mature. These changes may not occur in infants delivered by elective Caesarean section. Postponing elective Caesarean section until 39 weeks gestation may greatly reduce the risk of breathing problems in infants, the researchers noted.

and

(the ratio has gone up! or down depending on how you look at it. Either way it is very sad!)
Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. births are c-sections, says reportThu, Feb 14, 2008 (HealthDay) — Nearly one in three American women who gave birth in 2005 did so by cesarean section, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said Thursday in its latest News and Numbers report.The ratio was about one in five in 1995, the agency said in a prepared statement.
The report also noted that:
• Some 1.3 million women had c-sections in 2005, a 38 percent jump over the 800,000 performed in 1995.
• Vaginal deliveries in hospitals fell from about 3 million in 1995 to 2.9 million in 2005.
• Hospitals charged a combined $21.3 billion for patient stays involving vaginal deliveries in 2005, compared to $17.5 billion for those involving c-sections.

I reccomend anyone considering a c-section do some serious reading!! A womens body is made for labor for a reason. You will recover and it is honestly not that painful! The immediate joy you feel when that babe is in your arms after all that hard work is completely worth it! I am not knocking all c-sections, those involving emergency, or medical reasons are worth it and its a good thing doctors have the knowledge. It's the misuse of this technology that bothers me.