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The Rise of the Caesarean Section: A Review
Author(s) -
Biggs John S. G.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1984.tb01460.x
Subject(s) - caesarean section , medicine , perinatal mortality , breech delivery , obstetrics , vaginal delivery , incidence (geometry) , psychosocial , obstructed labour , pregnancy , fetus , genetics , physics , psychiatry , optics , biology
Summary: Caesarean section is of recent development as a credible procedure. A rapidly increasing incidence in many countries has led to far‐ranging concern. Proposed causes for the increase include insistence on repeat operations and a resultant cumulative effect, more frequent diagnoses of disproportion and ineffective labour, the use of fetal heart monitoring, and a steady trend away from vaginal breech delivery. Increased perinatal morbidity is seen in Caesarean section, together with a qualified increase in perinatal mortality. Maternal morbidity is greater and maternal death rates are reportedly 2–4 times greater in Caesarean section births. More work is needed on the psychosocial sequelae of abdominal delivery.