Between 1965 and 1987, the Cesarean section rate in the United States rose precipitously--from 4.5 percent to 25 percent of births.
Although the procedure can be life.
While physicians largely avoided cesareans through the mid-twentieth century, by the early twenty-first century, Cesarean section was the most commonly performed surgery in the country.
By 2009, one in three births was by cesarean, a far higher number than the 5-10% rate that the World Health Organization suggests is optimal.
Between 1965 and 1987, the Cesarean section rate in the United States rose precipitously--from 4.5 percent to 25 percent of births