Caesarean triples mom’s risk

Researchers compared 46 766 Caesareans to more than two million vaginal births among healthy women in Canada. The study found that women who had C-sections were three times more likely to experience serious complications, including infections, blood clots, hysterectomies and heart attacks, the Toronto Star reported.

The complication rate among women who had C-sections was 27.3 per 1 000 deliveries, compared to nine per 1 000 for women who had a natural delivery. The researchers limited their study to outcomes among the mothers and did not look at how C-section affected the babies.

"Look, Caesarean section is not just like falling off a log," Dr Robert Liston, a lead author of the study, told the Star. "There are health issues that result from the operation, significantly more so than a planned vaginal delivery."

The findings should be considered when women talk with their doctors about Caesarean delivery, said Linton, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of British Columbia. – (HealthDayNews)

February 2007