Monday, January 11, 2010

Risks, rewards of having a C-section

Jan. 11, 2010, Fremont News-Messenger

BY JESSICA ALAIMO
Special to the News-Messenger

More than a quarter of the low-risk babies born in Ohio to first-time mothers are born by a Caesarian section.

There is a wide disparity in these numbers within state hospitals, according to 2008 data just released by the Ohio Department of Health. The rates range from 6.6 percent to 60 percent.

Women who undergo C-sections face the normal risks of surgery — infection, blood loss and an extended recovery time. Babies have a greater chance of respiratory problems or injury from the incision, medical professionals say.

Janet Runner, vice president of patient care services at Bellevue Hospital in Sandusky County, said even though the hospital’s C-section rate is higher than the state average, the mothers and babies have good outcomes.

We have a system in place where we check all C-sections for appropriateness,” she said.

No comments:

Post a Comment