On Friday, February 26, at the CIMS 2010 Annual Forum in Austin, Texas Dr. Charles Mahan, founding chair of the Lawton & Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies at the University of South Florida College of Public Health introduced The Risks of Cesarean Section, A Coalition for Improving Maternity Services Fact Sheet and About the Risks of Cesarean Section, A Checklist For Expectant Mothers To Read During Pregnancy. Both publications are meant to increase awareness of the risks of cesareans for mothers and babies compared to having a normal vaginal birth. Mothers are rarely given the opportunity to discuss the risks of cesarean during their pregnancy, and often are faced with having to sign a consent for surgery while under the stress of labor in the hospital.

Rates of cesareans have been increasing for all women in the United States regardless of medical condition, age, race, or gestational age. So have the number of cesareans performed without medical indication. A cesarean can be a life-saving operation, and some babies would not be born vaginally under any circumstances; however, it is still major surgery. When cesarean section rates rise about 15 percent health outcomes for mothers and babies worsen. The U.S. national cesarean rate is now 32% while some hospital have already surpassed that rate.

Women have a legal right to know he risks associated with their treatment and he right to accept or refuse it. CIMS encourages childbearing women to take advantage of their rights and to find out more about the risks of cesarean section so they can make informed decisions about how they want to give birth.

CIMS grants permission to freely reproduce the cesarean fact sheet and the mother's checklist with full attribution.

The Risks of Cesarean Section February 2010 (PDF)