Amnesty International has raised the alarm about the worrisome increase in caesarean sections in the United States During the last years.
WHO establishes between 10% and 15% the acceptable percentage of caesarean sections, while in that country 31.8% of children are born that way. In Spain, the European country where more caesarean sections are practiced, the percentage is 20%, but the United States far exceeds the ratio.
The report also warns that it is five times more likely to die in childbirth in the United States than in Greece, four times more than in Germany and three times more than in Spain.
One of the main reasons for this increase in caesarean section lies in something we talked about a couple of days ago in the blog, in routinely repeating caesarean sections to women who have had previous caesarean sections.
That is why a panel of experts has considered to review in depth the convenience of this practice in women who have had a C-section. In conclusion, they have presented a consensus document based on scientific studies which ensures that vaginal delivery after a C-section is a safe option for low-risk women.
If this idea is extended, both in the United States and in Spain, where the repetition of the caesarean section by routine is also quite entrenched, they will be able to lower the very high percentages of births by caesarean section.
The problem is that doctors do not want to risk being sued in case something goes wrong, so many refuse to try vaginal births for fear of having to pay millionaire compensation.
Apparently, until a way out of the fashionable "defensive medicine" is found, it will not be possible to reduce the alarming number of caesarean sections practiced in the United States.
