C-section births result in higher risk of health complications

According to a recent study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women in the U.S. who undergo C-sections are more likely to suffer from a wide range of medical complications. Due to these findings, women in New York and around the country may want to seek out other means of giving birth if they are pregnant or planning on having a baby.

The study looked at data from 3.5 million births in 41 states and Washington, D.C. It found that when the procedure is used during delivery processes, there is a higher risk for unplanned hysterectomies, ruptured uteri and the need for blood transfusions. In 1991, about 23.5 percent of births resulted from C-sections. After 1991, the rate declined until 2009, when it started to increase again. Despite the dangers associated with this procedure, its use is still high, with approximately one-third of live births currently taking place under this procedure.

In a statement, the World Health Organization claimed that the ideal rate for these types of births is from 10 to 15 percent. The organization also stated that when C-section rates climb towards 10 percent across a given population, the number of maternal and newborn deaths decreases. When the rate goes over 10 percent, however, the mortality rate does not improve.

When a woman or her child is injured by obstetric negligence, whether because of a cesarean procedure or other problems related to the delivery process, she has the right to seek out compensation for the resulting damages. C-sections are in some cases performed without any medical need, so depending on the specific circumstances surrounding an individual's situation, the use of the procedure may be regarded as medical negligence if it leads to harm.