suntimes

C-sections hit record high 

By MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter/mjthomas@suntimes.com December 19, 2010 8:52PM

Updated: September 24, 2012 6:25AM



Though fewer babies were born in the United States in 2008 than the all-time high reached the year before, rates of births by Caesarean section continued to climb, new data released today shows.

Of 4.3 million babies born in 2008, a record 32.3 percent were delivered by Caesarean section, marking the 12th consecutive increase in C-section birth rates in the United States.

Likewise, Caesarean deliveries in Illinois hospitals inched up to 30.5 percent in 2008, topping the record high set in 2007.

The World Health Organization recommends that C-sections account for no more than 15 percent of deliveries.

Monifa Thomas




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