At Adventist Health in Tillamook, our c-section rate is lower than the national average.  If you are a first-time mom with a baby that is head down your risk of a cesarean section is ~15%, which is a lot lower than the national average of 25%

I find it interesting when people talk about cesarean sections. I hear things like “too many, correct rate, always delivered vaginally in the past”. I want to remind everyone that in 1900 1 in 200 moms died in childbirth and 1 in 10 babies died in their first year of life. In addition to high death rates, deliveries left some mothers or babies deformed for the rest of their life.

C-sections are the most wonderful thing to happen to mankind. We have come so far, it is easy to lose perspective.

I have had mothers who have had a C-section and a vaginal delivery tell me that their C-section was an easier/quicker recovery*

Risks

1.  Increase risk of infection
2. Increase time to recover
3. More discomfort as you are recovering
4. Increase risk for serious injury to internal organs, especially if you have more than 2 cesarean sections.

Benefits

1. Decrease risk of serious bleeding
2. Decrease risks of urine or fecal leakage as you get older
3. Decrease risk of prolapse of your uterus or bladder as you get older
4. Can be safer for the baby
5. More predictable, a cesarean section can be planned and is relatively fast. 

Recovery