Two northern Virginia hospitals have some of the highest C-section rates for low-risk deliveries in the country, according to a new report.
Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax County and Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington landed on Consumer Reports' top 10 list for hospitals with high C-section rates.
According to Consumer Reports' investigation, the average C-section rate for low-risk deliveries at more than 1,500 hospitals in 22 states was 18 percent -- about six percentage points higher than the national average in 2000.
C-sections made up 28 percent of low-risk deliveries at Inova Fairfax Hospital, while Virginia Hospital Center's C-section rate came in at 27 percent.
Low-risk deliveries include women who've never had a C-section before, don’t deliver prematurely, or are pregnant with a single baby who is properly positioned.
However, it's important to note that sometimes C-sections are absolutely necessary, but they do involve a longer recovery period.
Consumer Reports says "life-threatening complications are rare whether babies are born vaginally or by C-section." But women undergoing their first C-section are three times more likely to suffer serious complications.
See Consumer Reports' top 10 list for hospitals with the highest C-section rates below:
- South Miami Hospital, Miami: 44.9 percent
- Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, N.J.: 31.5 percent
- Jackson Health System, Miami: 29.7 percent
- Providence Memorial Hospital, El Paso, Texas: 29.2 percent
- The Woman's Hospital of Texas, Houston: 29.2 percent
- Baptist Hospital of Miami, Miami: 28.8 percent
- Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Va.: 28.4 percent
- Las Palmas Medical Center, El Paso, Texas: 28.1 percent
- Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City: 27.2 percent
- Virginia Hospital Center - Arlington, Arlington, Va.: 27.1 percent
Mothers-to-be hoping to avoid C-sections can visit Consumer Reports herefor tips
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