Trouble conceiving after a Caesarean section – let’s cut to the chase

Abstract

With birth by Caesarean section now being considered a very safe and convenient procedure, rates have peaked to the highest levels ever recorded worldwide. Surprisingly, more than one in four of all babies born in Ireland and one in three in the United States are born by Caesarean section. South American countries such as Brazil, Paraguay and Ecuador report Caesarean section rates of greater than 40% and Beijing in China reached an astounding rate of 51% in 2010. So why the increase? Are women becoming “too posh to push”? Some of the proposed driving forces behind this massive rise include perceived benefits to the infant including minimal trauma as the baby will not travel through the birth canal. In addition, there is a very real fear of malpractice litigation among doctors putting them under extra pressure to carry out more Caesarean deliveries. The increasing age of first-time mothers (currently 31.2 ...