Nearly one-third of all US babies are delivered via Cesarean section.  Here are some facts from the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) :

• When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both for mother and infant
• Many indications for cesarean can and should be questioned
• In half of all cesarean births women suffer complications, and the maternal mortality rate is two to four times that of women with vaginal births
• Approximately 180 women die annually in the U.S. from elective repeat cesareans
• Vaginal birth after cesarean is safer for both mother and infant in most cases than is a repeat cesarean
• According to the World Health Organization, “Countries with some of the lowest perinatal mortality rates in the world have cesarean rates of less than 10 percent.”

To learn more about cesareans or to connect with the ICAN community, visit www.ican-online.org