Hospital choice, higher maternal BMI and larger baby size increase chances of cesarean deliveries, according to an abstract presented at the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual Pregnancy Meeting.
A woman’s chances of having a cesarean birth may depend on the hospital where she delivers, a new study suggests.“The hospital where birth happens does seem to matter,” says senior author Elizabeth Langen, M.D., a high-risk maternal-fatal medicine physician at Michigan Medicine’s Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital. “The culture of the birthing center and its practices for supporting vaginal birth do appear to influence chances of a cesarean birth.”
The study reinforced that higher maternal BMI and larger baby size also increased chances of cesarean deliveries, but even accounting for such factors, researchers identified a 30% difference in risk between hospitals.
Full News Article: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/rounds/hospitals-play-key-role-reducing-c-section-rates