Forceps and vacuum extraction vs. caesarean birth

Obstetrician Paul Crane, MD, explains the possible reasons behind the great rise in cesarean section rates in the United States over the past 40 years
Reasons For The Rise In C-Section Births
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Forceps and vacuum extraction vs. caesarean birth

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The incidence of cesarean section over the last 30 years has accelerated tremendously. In 1970, the caesarean section rate in the United States was somewhere between four and five percent, and today it runs approximately 35 to 40 percent. The reason for this is not totally clear but part of it is that we overdiagnose fetal distress with fetal monitoring, we do not want to do difficult deliveries so the use of forceps and vacuums has largely been replaced by caesarean birth. Maternal nutrition has improved and therefore we have larger babies that frequently are not born quite as easily. We do not do deliveries of breaches very often these days. And there also is a place for elective caesarean birth. All together however it would seem that the incidence of caesarean is a little bit too high and we should make an effort to try to come into a little more reasonable figures.

Obstetrician Paul Crane, MD, explains the possible reasons behind the great rise in cesarean section rates in the United States over the past 40 years

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Paul Crane, MD

Obstetrician

Paul Crane, MD, is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and has practiced for more than 30 years. He specializes in natural childbirth and VBAC births in his practice in Beverly Hills. Paul is the father of six children ranging in age from 18 to 40. In his free time, he enjoys photography. Even after 30 years, one of his favorite things to do is deliver babies. 

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Transcription: 
The incidence of cesarean section over the last 30 years has accelerated tremendously. In 1970, the caesarean section rate in the United States was somewhere between four and five percent, and today it runs approximately 35 to 40 percent. The reason for this is not totally clear but part of it is that we overdiagnose fetal distress with fetal monitoring, we do not want to do difficult deliveries so the use of forceps and vacuums has largely been replaced by caesarean birth. Maternal nutrition has improved and therefore we have larger babies that frequently are not born quite as easily. We do not do deliveries of breaches very often these days. And there also is a place for elective caesarean birth. All together however it would seem that the incidence of caesarean is a little bit too high and we should make an effort to try to come into a little more reasonable figures.