Many C-sections are unnecessary, Consumer Reports says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The number of cesarean section deliveries remains very high in the U.S. and Consumer Reports says many of them are unnecessary.

Consumer Reports analyzed data from more than 1,500 hospitals and found several where more than half the women who expect a low-risk delivery undergo a C-section. Unnecessary C-sections drive up medical costs and increase risks for mothers and babies.

Melek Speros was looking forward to a natural childbirth. But when her oldest child was born, Speros says she felt pressured by her doctor to have a C-section.

"He said because of the shape of my pelvis that I wouldn't be able to deliver a baby of any size -- average, small, big, whatever," Speros said.

But when her youngest came along, Speros was able to give birth naturally.

"I really feel very lucky and very blessed," Speros said.

Nationwide, almost one-third of babies are delivered by C-section. Consumer Reports' analysis finds the rate is high in many hospitals even for low-risk deliveries -- that is, for women who haven't had a C-section before, don't deliver prematurely, and are pregnant with a single baby who is properly positioned.

"There are situations when a C-section is the safest option. But the vast majority of women who anticipate a low-risk delivery should expect to have a natural birth," said Dr. Orly Avitzur with Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports says the hospital you choose can make a big difference in whether or not you have a C-section. Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,500 hospitals in the 22 states where the data is available.

"For low-risk deliveries, we found that C-section rates ranged from less than 5 percent to more than 50 percent," said Avitzur.

Some hospitals are working to reduce the number of C-sections they perform.

"Cesarean sections are really not the easy way out. There's consequences of performing cesarean sections in that some of those patients will need repeat cesarean sections, some of those patients will have an increase in infections, re-admissions to the hospital, things like that," said Dr. Robert A. Graebe of Monmouth Medical Center.

Speros now teaches other women about how to avoid unnecessary C-sections.

A spokesperson for Providence Health & Services says they're currently studying ways to reduce their C-section rate and have already changed several policies.

Consumer Reports suggests women find out if their hospital's C-section rate for low-risk deliveries is lower than the national average, which is 18 percent.