NIH Panel Finds No Extra Risk in Caesarean Sections

From The Washington Post:

Caesarean sections are not necessarily riskier than vaginal deliveries and may be safer in some ways for the mother and baby in many cases, an expert panel concluded yesterday.

The panel convened by the National Institutes of Health did not endorse delivering babies by the surgical procedure, but the experts found no clear reason to routinely discourage women from choosing that option, which continues to grow in popularity. The findings contrast with decades of medical advice aimed at trying to reduce the number of Caesareans, which for years were seen as unnecessary, costly and potentially risky.

The press release is here and the consensus statement is here.

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