What do you consider a "good" c-section rate?

[Brie]

I don't think MO requires hospitals to report their c-section rates, so I couldn't find the one for my hospital before I chose it. I never asked because I kept forgetting, but they said it at our birth class on Saturday and it sounds pretty good to me, but what do I know?

So, what, to you, constitutes a good/acceptable c-section rate?

[Deleted]

I think less than 25%. (my hospital was closer to 50, others in the city are much lower.). I would also ask your OB what their rate is.

[frlcb]

I would say less than 20 would be ideal, but I know in my city there is only 1 that is less than 20. 25 would be okay.

[karinothing]

I would want less than 25% personally. The hospitals around here are close to 60%.

[Brie]

They said they were at 21% in 2011, which sounded pretty good to me until I realized I had no real frame of reference, LOL.

[frlcb]

I think 21% is good

[fortmyersbride]

A community/private hospital: I would say less than 30%

An academic institution: 50%, their numbers get skewed by a larger percentage of high risk pts

[curbsideprophet]

I think I would consider 20% or less good. Another thing to try and look at, is that 21% all c-sections or just primary c-sections. What is the hospital policy on VBAC? If there are no VBACs and a lot of repeat c-sections the overall numbers might be different than just looking at the percentage of primary c-sections.

For example, a few years ago the hospital I deliver at the primary c-section rate was 20% but the overall c-section rate was closer to 33%. Not sure what the current numbers are.

I believe the World Health Organization says rates of 5-10% are optimal and once you get over 15% you start to see more harm than good.

[karinothing]

Aug 24, 2012 8:55:12 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

I think I would consider 20% or less good. Another thing to try and look at, is that 21% all c-sections or just primary c-sections. What is the hospital policy on VBAC? If there are no VBACs and a lot of repeat c-sections the overall numbers might be different than just looking at the percentage of primary c-sections.

For example, a few years ago the hospital I deliver at the primary c-section rate was 20% but the overall c-section rate was closer to 33%. Not sure what the current numbers are.

I believe the World Health Organization says rates of 5-10% are optimal and once you get over 15% you start to see more harm than good.

I feel like there is probably not one hospital in the entire US with a c-section rate under 10%. But perhaps someone can prove me wrong.

[Brie]

Interesting stuff to think about! It makes sense that they have a lower rate given the nature of the hospital.

It is a small private hospital, and since we're in a city I assume most of the high-risk cases go to one of the big research institutions in town. It has a level 2 NICU, but all deliveries before 34w are transferred to another hospital.

They do allow VBsAC.

[satama]

I would also say 30% or less unless the hospital treats a lot of high risk patients. I was high risk so I was comfortable with a higher rate. I actually had c sections both times though fwiw.

[Deleted]

I would also ask your OB what his/her personal rate is (or the group's rate if you could deliver with any doc in a group). The care provider will have the most influence over your delivery.

There's only one hospital where I am, and it has a NICU that serves half the province, so I'm sure the numbers aren't great. My doctor's #'s were unremarkable; around 20% for FTM and 30% overall.

[lintscreen]

My hospital told me theirs was 33%, but it was higher due to the number of multiples they deliver at that hospital.

[jenjen]

I just looked up my area and the state average is 31.4%. Both the hospitals in my city are 36 and 40% but they both have excellent NICU's (the 40% one has an amazing NICU staff). Some of the smaller hospitals within an hr drive, I would expect to have lower c/s rates as they would most likely transfer patients to the 2 hospitals in my city which would skew the local numbers higher.

For my state, the lowest was 14.3% but I'm not sure where that hosptial is located.

[bcv513]

My hospital is at 30%, but they only have one OR so they don't allow VBACS. Their rate for first-time c-sections is 12%. That number is most important to me.

[iheartbanjos]

Under 30% would be good, IMO. Hospitals with high acuity are going to be higher, and surprisingly based on what I've seen in my job, ritzier hospitals seem to have higher C section rates as well.

[cjeanette]

These threads make me very curious what my hospital is. I don't even know what level their NICU is. I am a bad mom

[aspentosh]

I'd say under 30% is probably pretty good.

The hospital I delivered at was higher, but I didn't feel like they were pressuring me to a c-section.

[h]

Some number in the teens for the primary c-section rate or under 30% for the total c-section rate would seem good to me. Though I wouldn't put too much weight on the number. There are good reasons that some hospitals have higher c-section rates than others, your provider's rate can matter as much or more, etc.

My hospital has a 20% primary c-section rate (not sure what their overall c-section rate is), and I had two vaginal births there without issue. No one even said the word c-section to me.

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2012 10:55:13 GMT -5 gravytrain225 said:

How do you know the hospital's rate?

Google. I found a site that reports all hospitals in Canada. It also tracks things like readmissions for knee replacements, mortality following surgeries, etc.

[cjeanette]

Aug 24, 2012 11:20:01 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Aug 24, 2012 10:55:13 GMT -5 gravytrain225 said:

How do you know the hospital's rate?

Google. I found a site that reports all hospitals in Canada. It also tracks things like readmissions for knee replacements, mortality following surgeries, etc.

I googled and all I got was a live video of a c-section at my hospital. I feel light headed now.

[curbsideprophet]

I agree there are probably not a lot of hospitals in the US with a rate less than 10%, just wanted to give her some reference data. I also agree that your providers numbers are probably more important than the hospital numbers.

[Deleted]

Lower than 30% would be low in my book.

[sometimesrunner]

I think both hospitals in my city are just over 30%. I think knowing these rates is kind of pointless. Like others pointed out, what if that specific hospital takes on all the high-risk cases? I think it's much more important to have a dr/midwife that you completely trust; one that you know isn't going to rush you into a c-section that is not truly needed.

[SusanBAnthony]

The hospital I had DS at was 12%. They didn't do vbacs, which helped them keep the numbers low. They have both an independent midwife practice, a hospital midwife practice, lots of family practice drs, and ob's who deliver. Everyone except the ob's have pretty low rates, and the ob's seem to be better than average too. They have several ob's who are real experts at suction and vacuum, so their suction and vac rates are higher. And their c/sec rates are lower.

This was St josephs in st Paul, mn, if anyone from the area happens to be hospital shopping. W ere very happy with our experience.

[tardyfortheparty]

My hospital has a rate of 22%, which was one of the lowest in the state. No NICU. My own provider has a very low rate, but she is a Family practicioner, not an OB, and her care is different from some other doctors in the area. Example, I went 10 days overdue before going into labor & induction wasn't scheduled until 13 days overdue. My SIL delivered at same hospital with an OB who induces at 7 days overdue basically automatically. I believe inductions can lead to increase risk of C section.

[barefootcontessa]

It sounds like you will be in a good place. The fact that the hospital supports VBAC is a great sign, as is 21 percent. I assume that stat include people like me who are not eligible for VBAC.

[jessj222]

My midwife group had a 10% c-section rate for 2010. Anything above 20% scares the sh*t out of me.

[cjeanette]

Aug 24, 2012 13:06:07 GMT -5 gravytrain225 said:

www.ourrealvillage.com/cesareanlocal#new_york I found this link with c-section rates. It seemed to work for my hospital, 34%.

ha! For KS it says "still researching" I am going to take this to mean the rates are high.

[pugz]

my ob's was 21%

HB page is driving me nuts today