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Mercy OB/GYN Dr. Terry Hoffman

Mercy OB/GYN Dr. Terry Hoffman Discusses Recent Report That C-Sections On The Rise On WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor"

Cesarean section birth rates have gone up a lot over the years because women aren't being encouraged to try vaginal birth after the first C-section.

In 2007, statistics showed that 32 percent of women in the U.S. had a C-section -- the highest rate ever recorded in the U.S. and higher than other industrialized countries.

Lisa Dubaj said she gave birth to baby Lila 10 days ago, and she decided on a planned C-section after the complicated and frightening birth of her first baby 14 months ago.

"I didn't want to have to try to go through labor all over again and my body not cooperate and end up having another emergency C-section like I did last time. I didn't want to go through that trauma again," she said.

According to Mercy Medical Center's Dr. Terry Hoffman, OB/GYN, the rates have gone up significantly, mostly because women aren't encouraged to try a vaginal birth after C-section.

"Women who may have tried to deliver vaginally aren't trying now, and there are hospitals in this area who won't allow a vaginal delivery after C-section, which I strongly disagree with because, in fact, 75 percent of all women who had a C-section can deliver vaginally safely," he said.

The risks are greater for C-sections, doctors said. It doubles the risk for complications such as bleeding, hysterectomy and death, and it often means a longer recovery time of up to six weeks.

Dr. Hoffman noted that the real problem is that repeat C-sections get tougher every time.

"The first C-section is the easy C-section. It's each one after it. When you cut on the uterus in the next pregnancy, if that placenta implants over the incision inside and grows into it, that's a previa, which can lead to a hysterectomy, so the second baby is the last baby," she said.

Even so, things went beautifully for Dubaj, who said she feels great, especially compared to her first delivery.

"The recovery time was so much less. Not having to be in labor for so long and then having an emergency C-section, my body just did so much better," she said.

To view Dr. Hoffman's interview on WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor," please note link here: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/24147957/detail.html