Cesarean section births are at an all time high in the U.S. One out of every three women give birth by c-section, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
But c-section is a major surgery and some see problems with the increasing number.
Two little bundles of joy have blessed Rebecca Marsh's life. However, only her second, little Lucia, came c-section.
"The OB did go through the risks of trying to deliver a larger baby vaginally and I felt the risk of that outweighed the benefits," said Marsh.
It's a decision that's on the rise. 15 years ago only about 20 percent of women had c-sections. Now, 32 percent give birth this way. The reasons are varied. Dr. Ziad Melhem of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital said some doctors worry about law suits after vaginal birth complications. Increased use of fertility drugs cause more twin and triplet births that need to be c-section. Sometimes, the reason is even cosmetic for women.
"'Is having a vaginal birth going to damage me and then I'll need cosmetic surgery? Maybe if I do c-section I'll avoid that," Dr. Melhem proposed a hypothetical. "Again, misconception."
The convenience of c-sections is also on the rise.
"I think convenience plays a big part of it. I think doctors want the baby born on his time schedule and I think moms play a part in it. They want the convenience of deciding what day and time they want their babies to be born," said midwife Nanci Stanley.
The whole trend raises concerns. C-sections mean a woman can't have a large family. Plus, with every c-section there's more risk for complications like uterine rupture and infection.
"Surgery is numbers. The more you do the more you're going to get complications," said Dr. Melhem.
But c-section is a major surgery and some see problems with the increasing number.
Two little bundles of joy have blessed Rebecca Marsh's life. However, only her second, little Lucia, came c-section.
"The OB did go through the risks of trying to deliver a larger baby vaginally and I felt the risk of that outweighed the benefits," said Marsh.
It's a decision that's on the rise. 15 years ago only about 20 percent of women had c-sections. Now, 32 percent give birth this way. The reasons are varied. Dr. Ziad Melhem of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital said some doctors worry about law suits after vaginal birth complications. Increased use of fertility drugs cause more twin and triplet births that need to be c-section. Sometimes, the reason is even cosmetic for women.
"'Is having a vaginal birth going to damage me and then I'll need cosmetic surgery? Maybe if I do c-section I'll avoid that," Dr. Melhem proposed a hypothetical. "Again, misconception."
The convenience of c-sections is also on the rise.
"I think convenience plays a big part of it. I think doctors want the baby born on his time schedule and I think moms play a part in it. They want the convenience of deciding what day and time they want their babies to be born," said midwife Nanci Stanley.
The whole trend raises concerns. C-sections mean a woman can't have a large family. Plus, with every c-section there's more risk for complications like uterine rupture and infection.
"Surgery is numbers. The more you do the more you're going to get complications," said Dr. Melhem.
