Every year since 1983 no fewer than one in five American women has given birth
via major abdominal
surgery.22, 34 Today one in four or 25 % of women have a cesarean for the birth of their baby.22 The rate for first - time
mothers may approach one in three.9 Studies show that the cesarean rate could safely be halved.11 The World Health Organization recommends no more than a 15 % cesarean rate.34 With a million women having cesarean sections every year, this means that 400,000 to 500,000 of them were unnecessary.No evidence supports the idea that cesareans are as safe as vaginal birth for
mother or baby.