By Mandy Schutt
A recent study that took a look at the astronomical cesarean section rates in California came to a very un-shocking conclusion:
Women who give birth at non-profit hospitals have a significantly lower c-section rate.
I’m talking, in some cases, significantly lower.
For example, at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center (a non-profit hospital) new moms had a 9% chance of having a cesarean. While a mom at Los Angeles Community Hospital had a 47% (yes, you read that right, forty-seven percent) chance of having a cesarean.
The study showed that some hospitals located very close to the other, so serving the same population, had drastically different cesarean rates depending on well, the amount of money they would make from performing a surgical birth.
As quoted by California Watch, Desirre Andrews, president of the International Cesarean Awareness Network, a nonprofit that would like to see C-sections only in cases of medical need said, "This data is compelling and strongly suggests, as many childbirth advocates currently suspect, that there may be a provable connection between profit and the cesarean rate," said
Wondering what the Cesarean rates are at your local hospital? Find out here.
Okay, so let’s say that you just found out that your hospital and/or doctor have a higher c-section rate than you're comfortable with. (Remember to always make this one of your first questions when vetting obstetricians!)
What next?
You are not stuck! You have options- yes, even up until the actual birth of your child! Regardless of insurance issues, you have choices. Of course, it’s easier and more enjoyable if you change care providers early on but I’ve heard of mothers literally firing their OBs as they are giving birth! Your first step might be to:
-speak with your doula about your concerns and see what sort of local connections and resources she can offer to assist you
-contact your local ICAN chairperson, they will be happy to walk you through your options
-call your insurance and see if you can simply change care-providers (you would then seek out your ideal care provider and begin seeing them) a lot of times it’s just that easy!
Through the entire process of finding your ideal hospital and care provider, keep the following in mind:
The World Health Organization recommends that the cesarean rate in any country should not exceed 15%. If your hospital or care giver has a rate higher than this, it very well may be a red flag.
Download your Southern CA Cesarean Primer here.
