Caesarean Sections - Health Report feature

Last Monday, ABC's Health Report presented the first of a two part series about Caesarean Sections. You can podcast, listen or read the transcript of Part One on their website, and tune in for Part Two next Monday on Radio National at 8.30 am.

Caesarean sections are becoming more common. In Australia one in three babies are born this way, and once a mother has one caesarean she has at least a 50% chance of having another one in a following pregnancy. In about 18% of cases the Caesarean is performed for no medical reason but because the mother has requested it, and the worry is that there can be serious consequences for both the mother and the baby. Part one looked at reasons for the rise in this type of birth and interviewed mothers and obstetricians who defended the right to choose. Next week's episode will look at the risks and consequences of the increase in caesareans.