More Mothers Wait Full Term Before Opting for C-Section: CDC Study

Latest statistics released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the number of babies delivered through cesarean section leveled off between 2009 and 2011.

The report said that the overall C-section deliveries of 31.3 percent did not see any change between 2009 and 2011, but the rate of full-term (39-40 gestational weeks) cesarean deliveries constantly rose by 3 percent to 30 percent in the same time frame.

The study said that the cesarean delivery rates between 1996 and 2009 rose 60 percent and in the same period, the number of single births through cesarean increased from 19.7 percent to 31.3 percent. The findings over the cesarean delivery from 2009 and 2011 differ by gestational weeks. It showed that the rate of preterm births at 37 weeks through C-sections decreased by 1 percent. It went down from 33.8 percent to 33.1 percent. At 39 weeks, the cesarean births increased by 4 percent and the rate at 40 weeks remained constant during the time period.

The rates of cesarean deliveries differed by the mothers' age. Birth rates at 38 weeks declined by nearly 5 percent among mothers of all ages. Cesarean rates among mothers below 25 years of age witnessed the highest decline. It dropped by 7 percent; going down from 26.5 percent to 24.7 percent.

The study only focused on singleton births as the rates of multiple births through cesarean is 2.5 times higher. "Declines in cesarean delivery rates at 38 weeks were widespread, occurring among all maternal age groups, all racial and Hispanic origin groups, and more than one-half of all states, " the authors wrote. "In contrast, the cesarean delivery rates for births at 39 weeks rose for all maternal age groups, all racial and Hispanic origin groups, and in nearly one-half of all states."

Recent studies show that full term pregnancy has significant developmental impact on babies. Full term babies are reported to have increased mental development, body movement and co-ordination as opposed to lung problems and risk of breathing problems in preterm babies.