Scheduled C-sections: Putting the Baby’s Health First

Since ancient times, cesarean sections have saved mother’s and baby’s lives. But today, reports about the high rate of C-sections for non-medical reasons lead some to believe that the incentive is now profit, not health. Although the issue is hotly debated, what matters most is being aware of the risks and benefits of scheduled C-sections, especially as they relate to infant health.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that births by C-section in the United States have increased from 5 percent to more than 31 percent in the last 40 or so years. In California, four of the five facilities with the highest C-section rates were for-profit hospitals in underserved areas of Los Angeles County.

Dr. Peyman Banooni, a Los Angeles obstetrician and gynecologist who works at a private and a public hospital, has observed that more C-sections are performed in his private practice. “I think a patient’s socioeconomic status and culture may have something to do with her choice to deliver by C-section,” he said. “Regardless, the procedure should not be done before 39 weeks.”

A 2009 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows evidence of respiratory complications in babies delivered by C-section prior to 39 weeks. Other possible risks to the infant include feeding difficulties, jaundice and maintaining a normal body temperature. These concerns prompted First 5 LA to make babies born healthy one of the organization’s four goals to ensure that children are not born too small, or too soon.

“The issue with births by cesarean before 39 weeks is that the baby continues to grow in the last weeks of pregnancy,” said Dr. Tina Groat, national director of Women’s Health Line of Service for United Healthcare in Canton, Michigan. “A baby’s brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds what it does at 40 weeks.”

If your health care provider has recommended scheduling a C-section for non-medical reasons, you may wish to get a second opinion, the March of Dimes advises. If you’re considering a scheduled C-section, Dr. Banooni suggests a candid discussion with your doctor. “Ask what impact your health history may have on the delivery, and what the risks are for both you and the baby.”

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