Repeat Cesareans May Put Babies at Risk....

[CTRedSoxMom]

http://www.uch.edu/about/news/2009/repeat-cesareans-babies-at-risk.aspx

Repeat Cesareans may put babies at risk 

AURORA, Colo. (May 22, 2009) -  The babies of women who have an elective repeat Cesarean delivery are twice as likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit than babies of women who have a vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC).  That's according to a new study from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.

The study shows babies born to women who have elective repeat Cesarean deliveries also continue to need oxygen in the neonatal intensive care unit.

"The costs of the birth for the mother and the infant are greater in the Cesarean section group," according to the lead author of the study, Beena Kamath, MD, MPH, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.

Kamath and researchers from UC Denver, Colorado School of Public Health and The Children's Hospital looked at the records of 672 women who gave birth at University of Colorado Hospital. Each of the women had one prior Cesarean delivery. Three-hundred-forty- three decided to have another Cesarean while 329 planned a vaginal birth. 
 
"Controversy exists on the recommended mode of delivery in women who have had one prior Cesarean section," Kamath said, "It is important for women to discuss the risks and benefits of their delivery options with their doctor, and also to realize that the decision to have their first Cesarean section may affect the way they deliver if they have more children." 

The study appears in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The School of Medicine faculty work to advance science and improve care as the physicians, educators and scientists at University of Colorado Hospital, The Children's Hospital, Denver Health, National Jewish Health, and the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Degrees offered by the UC Denver School of Medicine include doctor of medicine, doctor of physical therapy, and masters of physician assistant studies.  The School is part of the University of Colorado Denver, one of three campuses in the University of Colorado system. For additional news and information, please visit the UC Denver newsroom online.                                                            

May 22, 2009

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[jlry_ldy]

Oct. 7, 2009 at 5:36 AM

Hopefully they keep studying this and eventually open the eyes of doctors, as well as some mothers.

While I think that sometimes it is much more beneficial to have a cesarean than a vaginal birth, for the most part a vaginal birth always trumps a c-section.

I really hope that regardless of what a woman chooses, she does all her research and she looks at every route and THEN weighs the benefits and the risks before deciding.

[ILovemyson1020]

Oct. 7, 2009 at 5:40 PM

sometimes the women have no choice but to have a c-section. And common sense, if a woman is having it done, its mostly because there is something wrong with the baby hence is why the baby would need to go into the intensive care unit!!!

[ILovemyson1020]

Oct. 7, 2009 at 8:00 PM

Oct. 7, 2009 at 2:40 PM

sometimes the women have no choice but to have a c-section. And common sense, if a woman is having it done, its mostly because there is something wrong with the baby hence is why the baby would need to go into the intensive care unit!!!

Not exactly - this study looked at elective c-sections, comparing them to VBAC NICU rates.  Basically what this shows is a baby taken through an elected cesarean is twice as likely to end up in the NICU as a baby that was delivered during a VBAC.  Makes perfect sense to me - elective cesareans are scheduled, and no one can be sure that baby is fully developed and ready for life outside of the womb.  The NICU rates would probably be a bit lower if they at least let mom labor for a while.

[CTRedSoxMom]

Oct. 7, 2009 at 8:53 PM

Ilovemyson, that is not the truth at all. There are elective cesareans done routinely especially in women with previous cesareans. Just because a woman has had a c-section before does not mean they need to or even SHOULD have another c-section, and that is what this study is showing.

(Original Poster)

[tyrelsmom]

Oct. 11, 2009 at 4:04 AM

All the studies point to VBACs being safer, but we still have to fight to have them.  It's ridiculous.  I spent my entire pregnancy worrying about the delivery.  Not about complications, but about having to fight with hospital staff.  I ended up just showing up pushing.  Made things a lot easier :0)