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Dr. Kim Mulvihill reportingThere are many reasons why a C-section may be necessary: The baby is breeched, twins and often premature babies warrant the procedure.
But the rate of C-sections has skyrocketed in this country. Some researchers say some common hospital procedures may lead to unnecessary ones.
Meet baby Isabella. born on the Fourth of July, but a full week overdue. First time mom Ann Slowik was relieved when she finally went into labor.
Anne Slowik, First Time Mom: "We came in about 11 o'clock at night and they admitted me and we went up to the delivery room "
Ten hours later, Anne got stuck at five centimeters - - with a long way to go. That's when baby Isabella's heart rate started to fall.
Anne Slowik, First Time Mom: "And she's obviously stressed out - the baby - and that's when they decided to do a c-section"
And Anne's not alone.
Over the past two decades there's been a huge increase in c-sections nationwide. In fact, almost thirty percent of babies born today are born by cesarean.
Elliott Main, M.D., California Pacific Medical Center: "While there were very good reasons to do a number of the C-section, there were others that perhaps could have been prevented if we looked carefully at some of the procedures we were doing. "
So why the increase? Researchers looked at 41,000 births in northern California, and found two common practices that accounted for fully half of the increase in cesarean births."
Both practices deal with admitting a first time mom to the hospital before it's time.
California Pacific Medical Center's Dr. Elliott Main led the study.
Dr. Elliott Main: "As soon as you get admitted to the hospial, things start happening. You get put in a bed you get put on a monitor and before you know it you get put on an epidural. And those might not be the best things to do when you're in early in labor."
And that can lead to a more difficult labor, and a c-section. The second practice is more controversial - scheduling birth or inducing labor in first time moms.
Dr. Elliott Main: "What we're looking at is discouraging mothers from doing purely elective inductions for matters of convenience.. Your mother is in town, I'm getting big or tired"
As Isabella's mom knows, the baby is running the show.
Anne Slowik, First Time Mom: " You have to take it as it comes you can't predict anything"
A first time mom has a really hard time understanding where her body is in labor and that often brings her to the hospital early.
Doctor Main says the best approach is to come in and be checked and evaluated --- and if all is well, go home and do the first part of labor where you are in a comfortable, supportive environment.
