community

all boards


birth clubs



my blog

Sort:
01-15-2013 at 4:33 PM
stacy&seth
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-13-2004
Tennessee
5,826 Points
stacy&seth is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 7:53 PMNewbie

High csection rate at hospital

Would it worry you at all?  I know that many today are elective, but the hospital's rate is 38%.  Seems awfully high.  Maybe it is no biggie depending on your OB...?  Terrible birth experience with first baby so I am probably just over thinking this.


Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers

Lilypie Maternity tickers
 
01-15-2013 at 4:38 PM
dbsk8dance...
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-21-2010
Southern California
417 Points
dbsk8dance* is not online. Last active: 04-17-2013, 3:47 PMBronze

Actually, elective C-sections are rare because insurance companies won't cover them.

 Does the hospital have a NICU? If so, then perhaps a large number of the c-sections come from complications, high risk, pregnancies, etc. 

 I would ask your OB what their percentage is, as that person is who is most likely going to be handling your situation. 


 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
01-15-2013 at 4:40 PM
GraceInCA
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-18-2011
34,727 Points
GraceInCA is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 9:06 PMSilver

The hospital where my old OB practiced has a rate even higher than that. It is one of the reasons I dumped the practice.  Often when a hospital has a high rate, it's because they have bad policies in place about requiring certain interventions if you don't reach specific progress milestones within a given timeframe. For example, another friend delivered at a Santa Monica hospital, and the doctor told her, "We really don't like to see moms go past 40 weeks, so we will schedule an induction at that point if you haven't gone into labor."

Are you confident that your OB will respect your labor and birth plan? If you are, and if you are fairly certain that it will be your OB attending your birth (beware: no guarantees of that when they are part of a large practice or affiliated with a large hospital with a dedicated L&D department), then it might not be worth jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. If you have good alternatives, like a respectable nurse-midwife practice near you, it might be worth researching those. Good luck.


 BabyFruit Ticker
 
01-15-2013 at 4:41 PM
TheyCalled...
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-24-2011
27,099 Points
TheyCalledHerKate is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 8:03 PMSilver
 
01-15-2013 at 4:41 PM
stacy&seth
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-13-2004
Tennessee
5,826 Points
stacy&seth is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 7:53 PMNewbie
No NICU.  Sigh.  Guess I'll bring it up at my next OB appt.


Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers

Lilypie Maternity tickers
 
01-15-2013 at 4:42 PM
nikip6454
Not Ranked
Joined on 03-31-2011
30,134 Points
nikip6454 is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 8:19 PMSilver

Does the hospital also have the highest rated NICU in the area?  I have two hospitals in my area (they are about a mile away from each other), the hospital with the higher tech and better equiped NICU gets more of the c-sections. My cousin had an early c-section due to many health issues and was taken to the better NICU hospital even though she would have delivered at the other if everything was normal.  I have also discussed this with my OB. 

C-section rates can vary for many reasons other than the "OBs want to get you in and out" theory that is pretty popular on the bump.

Talk to your OB and the team if there is one.  Find out when they think c-sections are needed and their views. 


 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  Pregnancy Ticker  
01-15-2013 at 4:44 PM
nikip6454
Not Ranked
Joined on 03-31-2011
30,134 Points
nikip6454 is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 8:19 PMSilver

Whoops, I started my reply when there were 0, once I posted there were 5.  Sorry about the repeat.


 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  Pregnancy Ticker  
01-15-2013 at 5:20 PM
JCWhitey
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-09-2011
29,194 Points
JCWhitey is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 9:08 PMBronze

stacy&seth:
No NICU.  Sigh.  Guess I'll bring it up at my next OB appt.

38% with no NICU?  Yeah, I'd be concerned.  My local hospital is at about 40% with no NICU as well and I've heard nothing but horrible things about it from anyone who DIDN'T have a scheduled c/s (although those I know why did need c/s rave about it!).  So if you want to have a vaginal birth with as much support as possible, this may be a hospital you'll want to skip unless there's a good reason for it (such as a specific specialist being at that hospital or something else).

A few things to ask your OB: What is HIS personal c/s rate?  What is his induction rate?  Can you view the hospital's policies for laboring women (perhaps something in there will shed light on the high numbers)?  And ask how far overdue you can be before the induce. 

I am driving over an hour away in order to be seen by a practice that will let mother's go to 42 weeks if everything is OK with the baby, and that was important to me.  It's the whole 40 weeks and you're out thing that I didn't like at the closer hospital.


Janine & Cody | Georgetown, Grand Cayman | Feb. 28th, 2012

Surprise BFP | Baby Due Late July/Early August 2013

 Pregnancy Ticker

I believe in a lot of things. I believe in fresh tennis balls, the healing power of bunnies, and that the novels of Susan Sontag are something I'll never read. In fact, I don't even know who Susan Sontag is. What is she... like... a painter? I believe in Crystal Lite because I believe in ME. I believe in the movies of Val Kilmer, though these days it ain't so easy. I believe in Darren Sproles, the word "dabble", the first season of "Silk Stockings", and big, warm, moist, gooey chocolate chip cookies that melt in your mouth and all over your face. 

01-15-2013 at 5:37 PM
Grace0609
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-30-2010
Wisconsin
46,812 Points
Grace0609 is online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 9:40 PMGold
If it is a community hospital without a lot of high risk pregnancies and deliveries then a high c-section rate would worry me.  If it is a tertiary care facility that attracts high risk patients then it would not.  Those sorts of hospitals are likely to have a higher c-section simply b/c of their patient population.


 BabyFruit Ticker
~ Noah - 2009 ~
~ Caleb - 2011 ~
~ Baby Boy #3 - Expected 4.27.13 ~
My BFP Chart
 
01-15-2013 at 6:05 PM
CelticWife
Not Ranked
Joined on 03-11-2008
St. Louis
19,980 Points
CelticWife is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 11:53 PMGold
The hospital I deliver at has a higher rate then that. However, they also have 4 mfms that have a perinatal clinic at that hospital. The majority of the csections come from that practice.

It is the docs c section rate I would question, more then the hospital.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to be over, it's about learning how to dance in the rain." -Unknown

DS: age 4

DD: age 2

Currently pregnant with our 3rd!

 BabyFetus Ticker</P 

01-15-2013 at 6:47 PM
stacy&seth
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-13-2004
Tennessee
5,826 Points
stacy&seth is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 7:53 PMNewbie
Thanks for all the responses!  All good points and I will be bringing it up at my next OB appt!


Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers

Lilypie Maternity tickers
 
01-15-2013 at 7:18 PM
Gris0630
Not Ranked
Joined on 06-10-2010
1,203 Points
Gris0630 is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 6:39 PMNewbie
Can it be broken down between primary c-sections and repeats? The rate of primaries is more telling. Also, are there a lot of inductions that are before 39 weeks and without medical indication, a lot of early(in the labor)  artificial rupture of membranes, a lot of epidurals placed early in labor? These can all lead to sections. These are all questions you can bring up as a dialogue with your OB as to how he or she practices. My last OB (who I also worked with in the hospital when I did L&D and I loved her to death) seemed to let her patients get epidural a really early in their labor and would break their bags so early on (like a 2 cm). These things always made me cringe because I knew it could increase their chance of going to section. When I went into labor, I refused early rupture and epidural. So, my advice is to talk with your OB about how they do things and how willing they are to let you in on the decision-making. Good luck!

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers 
01-15-2013 at 7:20 PM
Momtobe618
Not Ranked
Joined on 10-11-2012
2,442 Points
Momtobe618 is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 4:18 PMNewbie

I would switch if possible, but if that hospital is your only option I would labor at home for as long as possible to avoid an intervention. Although, if you plan to have an epidural, then you would have to make sure your there before you dilate too much. 

I have the same fear as you and have been doing tons of research on all aspects of birth. It's important to educate yourself about pitocin, epidurals, and other interventions to know when they are absolutely needed. Remember you are the one giving birth, so you have the ultimate say in what is done. Good luck to you!


 BabyFetus Ticker 
01-15-2013 at 9:11 PM
melpatbat
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-17-2010
9,725 Points
melpatbat is online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 9:40 PMBronze

I switched to a midwife for this reason with my son.  Their rate was 25-30% and they are a high-risk inner-city hosiptal.  OB also suggested I would need a c-section because he was breech at 20 weeks.  As soon as we left the office we looked at eachother and said "No way are we staying here" and started the search.

If you don't feel comfortable and have other options I would take them.

 
01-15-2013 at 9:35 PM
ShawMich
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-14-2006
3,369 Points
ShawMich is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 2:46 PMSilver
Do you know what other rates are for surrounding hospitals or doctors? I am sure that includes repeat c sections too.

I have no idea what the rate at my hospital is.

Wyatt 3.21.07 Grant 8.29.09 Ross 9.21.11  Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
01-16-2013 at 8:27 AM
casey78
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-20-2008
Little Elm, TX
16,424 Points
casey78 is online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 9:37 PMBronze

I think it's more imoortant to know where your practice stands.

My hospital has a 50% rate. It has a level III nicu but is not known as THE place to be for high-risk issues. My OB has a 15% rate. Part of the reason it's even that high is bc he built a large share of his practice around VBAC and helping women who have been encouraged toward c/s to have vaginal births -- with minimal intervention if that's what they so desire. He was very upfront re his birth and intervention philosophies up front. I have complete confidence that he will honor whatever I choose and advocate for me with hospital staff if needed (his office is located inside the hospital, so easy access). 


 Baby Fruit Ticker 
01-16-2013 at 12:11 PM
PansyPants
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-21-2009
14,952 Points
PansyPants is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 1:21 PMBronze

I agree with the PP that part of the high rate could be due to a hospital that works with high risk situations. However, I personally wouldn't feel comfortable there; mostly because I would worry that the nursing staff might not be as accustomed to letting women labor as long as you may need.

Go in for a tour and get a feel for things, talk to your OB/midwife and express your concerns. Sometimes there's a good reason and sometimes there isn't.  


 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board

From The Nest Boards:
"Thrown under the bus …"
tiffwins on 9 to 5

"Please tell me my husband is NOT the only one …"
IDO2008 on
Entertaining Ideas