The Risks Of A Cesarean Section
A new study on maternal mortality finds that the death rate is up to 50 times higher in many African countries than in high-income countries.
cesarean section
Home Birth Can Be Appealing, But How Safe Is It?
A tiny fraction of American women choose home birth, but that number is inching up. And in some social circles it's downright trendy. One pregnant woman investigates the pros and cons.
'4th Trimester' Problems Can Have Long-Term Effects On A Mom's Health
A woman's health issues related to pregnancy don't always end at the baby's birth. Scientists say complications from childbirth, such as hypertension or diabetes, increase her risk of heart disease.
Twin's Difficult Birth Put A Project Designed To Reduce C-Sections To The Test
A woman had twins in a hospital south of Boston last summer. For doctors aiming to reduce cesareans, the second baby's tricky arrival tested the limits of teamwork.
Doctors Test Bacterial Smear After Cesarean Sections To Bolster Babies' Microbiomes
After a C-section, does swabbing a baby with the mother's microbes reduce the risk of obesity and other health problems later in life? An ambitious study to help answer the question is underway.
When Giving Birth For The First Time, Push Away
There's no benefit to delaying pushing after receiving epidural anesthesia and reaching full dilation. A delay increases the risk of complications, particularly for the mother, a large study finds.
Pregnancy Debate Revisited: To Induce Labor, Or Not?
Young women with simple pregnancies can safely ask a doctor to induce labor, a study finds. It doesn't increase their risk of needing a C-section after all and can even offer potential benefits.
California's Message To Hospitals: Shape Up Or Lose 'In-Network' Status
Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange, will exclude hospitals from insurance networks if they don't reduce their numbers of C-sections, back scans and opioid prescriptions.
New Guidelines Establish The Rights Of Women When Giving Birth
To reduce unnecessary medical interventions in childbirth and respect the woman's wishes, the World Health Organization sets standards in a report.
Episiotomies Still Common During Childbirth Despite Advice To Do Fewer
Overall rates of the surgical snip have declined nationally in the past decade. But, despite advice, some hospitals and certain doctors still routinely cut the vagina to ease a baby's birth.