C-sections up by 7% in 7 years, U.S.

More than one in three births in the U.S. are  delivered by C-section, which is an all time high and an increase of 25 percent over seven years, according to news reports Monday quoting a new study. Based on data from 19 states, C-section, or Cesarean, deliveries shot up from 27 percent of all births in 2002 to 34 percent in 2009, said the study by HealthGrades. HealthGrades is an independent health care ratings organization with information on physicians, dentists and 5,000 hospitals in the nation. The study noted that the states with the highest rates are Texas, New Jersey and Florida while Utah, Colorado and Wisconsin are the lowest. Experts hold C-section deliveries are most suitable when vaginal delivery puts the health of the woman or child at risk, but also attributing the reason of increase to convenience, less risk, fertility and general attitudes. However, Divya Cantor, MD, MBA and HealthGrades Senior Physician Consultant. cautioned, "C-sections are rising, and there needs to be a little bit more scrutiny from the person who is having the C-section as well as doctors and hospitals."