ICAN Names Top 15 Studies That Should Keep Mothers Out of the OR San Diego, CA, November 21, 2006 – As the number of cesarean sections in the U.S. continues to mount, so does the research showing that mothers and babies may be paying a high price for this surgery. Research published just in the last year has highlighted the short-term and long-term risks of undergoing a cesarean, for both mother and baby. Other research has called into question the assumed safety advantage of cesarean section over vaginal birth in various situations including vaginal birth after multiple cesareans and breech deliveries.

“Everything we know and continue to learn about cesareans supports more judicious use of the surgery,” says Tonya Jamois “but it is clear that the procedure is being overused.” Major pieces of research released in 2006 showed that women who undergo cesareans versus women experiencing a vaginal birth have a higher risk of dying in childbirth, have a higher chance of suffering from potentially fatal placental problems in subsequent pregnancies, and their babies have a higher chance of being injured during surgery. The list of 15 studies that ICAN collected (see attached fact sheet) also shows that vaginal birth after cesarean, including multiple cesareans, continues to be a reasonably safe birthing choice for mothers.

“These studies continue to reinforce the findings of our 2004 systematic review of best research comparing outcomes of cesarean and vaginal birth.” says Maureen Corry of Childbirth Connection, a non-profit organization aimed at improving maternity care in the U.S. “Cesarean section always carries the risks of major abdominal surgery, and casual use the surgery may place both the woman and her baby in the way of considerable – and
avoidable – harm.”

The CDC reports that the cesarean rate in the U.S. for 2005 is 30.2%, up from 29.1% in 2004. [The last reported rate in Canada is 22.6% in 2002.] Feeding into the overall rates is the unknown number of women who are being forced into cesarean. Over 300 hospitals and thousands of physicians across the U.S. [and many in Canada] have banned vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) based on cost concerns and fears over liability. In California, 49 hospitals have joined this trend. These bans mean that women are pushed into cesareans they do not want and likely do not need.

Dr. Mark Landon professor and vice chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at the Ohio State University College of Medicine questions this trend. He is the primary author of the first large-scale American prospective study on VBAC, funded by the National Institutes of Health. “Our study findings have confirmed the relative safety of VBAC for most women and also demonstrated the risk uterine rupture is not significantly increased in women with multiple prior cesarean deliveries compared to a single prior operation” says Landon. “It’s critical for women to receive unbiased, evidence-based counsel from their physicians when they consider their birthing options.”

For women being threatened with a coerced cesarean, ICAN has developed a guide to help them understand their rights as patients. The resource discusses the principles of informed consent and the right of every patient to refuse an unwanted medical procedure. The guide can be found at http://www.icanonline.org/resources/white_papers/wp_vbacbanqa.pdf.

Women who are seeking information about how to avoid a cesarean, have a VBAC, or are recovering from a cesarean can visit www.ican-online.org for more information. In addition to over 70 local chapters nationwide, the group hosts an active on-line discussion group that can serve as a resource for mothers.

About Cesareans:

ICAN recognizes that when a cesarean is medically necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. Potential risks to babies include: low birth weight; prematurity; respiratory problems; and lacerations. Potential risks to women include: hemorrhage;
infection; hysterectomy; surgical mistakes; re-hospitalization; dangerous placental abnormalities in future pregnancies; unexplained stillbirth in future pregnancies and increased percentage of maternal death. http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/index.html

Mission statement:

ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. There are 71 ICAN Chapters across North America, which hold education and
support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery. For women who have experienced a cesarean, who are working towards a VBAC, or simply want to know how to prevent a first cesarean, ICAN of San Diego is available to provide resources and support.

For more information on how to get involved, contact:
Lynette Thomas, 619-328-9524 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or http://sandiego.ican-online.org
For more information about Childbirth Connection, please visit www.childbirthconnection.org.