In a response to MP Mars di Bartolomeo's parliamentary question, Minister of Health Etienne Schneider confirmed that 2,155 babies were born via C-section in 2016, corresponding to 32% of all births.
Di Bartolomeo posed his question in the context of the WHO's statement on Caesarean rates, which highlights that C-sections are necessary to save the lives of both mothers and infants, provided there is a medical justification. The World Health Organisation's data suggested that C-section rates "higher than 10%" do not contribute to a reduction in deaths related to childbirth.
The practice of cesareans is controversial, especially when compared to other countries. As previously mentioned, about one woman in three has a C-section in the Grand Duchy, a figure that is similar to a number of European nations such as Germany (32%), Italy (35%), Poland (42%), and Cyprus (57%).
Meanwhile, there has been an active – and successful – movement to reduce these numbers in Scandinavian/Nordic countries, namely Sweden and Finland.
Reasons are varied, and Schneider gave a few explanations such as a woman’s age when having children (alongside the growing tendency to have children at a later age), multiple pregnancies through IVF, or even personal choice tied to private or professional motivations. Some women also have to undergo emergency Caesareans due to complications arising during labour, such as a baby remaining back to back. If the baby remains in this position, then it adds complications to having a natural birth.
Since 2014, advice for pregnant women has been brought up to date to help them decide whether to deliver their babies naturally or through a C-section. However, it remains unknown whether these recommendations are taken into account, or whether every Caesarean procedure that has taken place is due to medical incentives that cannot be questioned or discussed.
The medical consensus is that natural deliveries remain most advantageous for both mother and child, since mothers are able to heal faster and the babies accommodate to life outside the womb better.
Obviously, there remain cases where a natural birth is impossible, or where either mother or baby are at risk. Nevertheless, surgical intervention is not without dangers and complications still arise, such as the potential for haemorrhaging, thrombosis, or embolisms. It is important then, that pregnant women who have the choice ahead of them do not allow themselves to be lead by prejudice, but inform themselves and seek professional, medical advice.
Websites with relevant information are the following: cesarine.org or sante.lu.
