Should c/s rates be published? Naming & shaming...

[dlworth1]

I guess the term "name & SHAME" might be wrong..There is no shame in having had or even chosing a C/S if it is truely an informed choice that is RIGHT for you, (although Im really not sure why women would choose to be sliced open with its associated risks for mother & baby, which are 3x higher than the risks of vaginal birth) and there is no shame in doctors who are using this life saving technology APPROPRIATELY! I think each OB should be required to do an annual report of their statistics and outcomes. I mean FFS even our primary school has to publish an annual report including outcomes. why are these OB's so special, that they dont think women are capable of reading and comparing information, after all we do it all the time , for fridges, cars, schools, TV's etc, etc, etc and those things arent even as important as our births.

But as Kelly points out, the WHO rate is inclusive of emergencies..honestly there is no other medical reason for having a planned one except rare instances of placenta praevia.

[Liz]

Hmm.. the more I think about it.. I'd rather see statistics on interventions.. as the c/s statistics could well be genuine emergencies - caused by intervention! Unnecessary inductions/augmentations, epidural use etc etc etc.

[sangie]

I agree with Liz. While knowing c/s rates for hospitals is interesting, I'd be more interested in knowing the rates of inductions etc.

Also if c/s rates are going to be published then it would be very useful to know why those c/s occurred: how many were emergencies, elective etc.

I'm leaning towards voting for 'yes' but I don't agree with the 'name and shame' title without further information.

[BellyBelly]

Thats exactly it Liz... by the time an Ob may be done with you (not targeting Obs, but they are the only ones who do interventions), that c/s may be absolutely necessary. Like the baby gone into distress after that induction or whatever.

I reckon the Ob who is currently trying to sue me for $900k (payable in 7 days thanks or will go to the Supreme Court) for what a BB member said (and post removed) should be named and shamed. Some are in it for the money folks. Shocking??? Not really. They have to protect their wallets.