--- title: CDC and Consumer Reports Track Cesarean Birth Rates date: 2014-06-11T18:36:36-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/ddc-consumer-reports-track-cesarean-birth-rates" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# CDC and Consumer Reports Track Cesarean Birth Rates By Rachel Walden • June 11, 2014 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. ![CDC csection delivery rates](data:image/png;base64,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)SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System The CDC recently released its [preliminary data on 2013 U.S. births](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr63/nvsr63_02.pdf "CDC, National Vital Statistics Reports"). Among the findings: a very, very slight decline in the cesarean birth rate -- 32.7 percent in 2013, down from 32.8 percent of all births in 2012. Reporting past trends, the CDC explains that the cesarean rate increased dramatically (by about 60 percent) between 1996 and 2009, when it reached a peak of 32.9 percent. In 2010, it declined to 32.8 percent, but then stayed at that level for the next two years. The 2013 decline was seen only in non-Hispanic white women. Rates were unchanged from 2012 to 2013 for black women, who have an even higher c-section rate -- 35.9 percent -- and Hispanic women, who have a slightly lower rate of 32.2 percent. The CDC does note that this is the first time in more than a decade that the rate for Hispanic women has not increased. Cesarean rates have become a topic of much interest because of the [dramatic increase](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db35.htm "CDC, 2010: Recent Trends in Cesarean Delivery in the United States") over the past two decades and hospital and doctor policies that make it difficult to have a vaginal birth after a first cesarean. While it's not clear what the best target is for the cesarean rates, there is a lot of agreement that the surgery is likely [overused](http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/News_Room/News_Releases/2014/Nations_Ob-Gyns_Take_Aim_at_Preventing_Cesareans "ACOG: Nation’s Ob-Gyns Take Aim at Preventing Cesareans"). Healthy People 2020 includes a target of 23.9 percent of births among low-risk (full-term, singleton, and vertex presentation) women in order to get a 10% reduction in these first time cesareans. For most low-risk pregnancies, cesarean delivery poses a [greater risk](http://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Obstetric_Care_Consensus_Series/Safe_Prevention_of_the_Primary_Cesarean_Delivery "ACOG: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery") of maternal complications and death than vaginal birth, and the risk of certain complications such as placental abnormalities is thought to increase with each cesarean. [![db35_fig1](https://assets.ourbodiesourselves.org/images/blog-archive/db35_fig1.gif)](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db35.htm) Recently, Consumer Reports [issued ratings](http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/05/what-hospitals-do-not-want-you-to-know-about-c-sections/index.htm "CR: What hospitals don't want you to know about C-sections") of more than 1,500 hospitals in 22 states based on their cesarean rates for deliveries that are considered low-risk. A delivery was considered low-risk if the woman hadn't had a c-section before, didn't deliver prematurely, and was pregnant with a single, properly positioned baby. Consumer Reports did not take into account other factors that may increase the risk of cesarean, including heart problems, pregnancy-related high blood pressure, obesity, or other chronic diseases. [The rankings](http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/streaming/PDFs/Consumer-Reports-Hospital-Ratings-Avoiding-C-sections-FULL.pdf "CR: Hospital Ratings - Avoiding C-Sections") simply note whether the hospital is "better" or "worse," with lower cesarean rates earning the "better" designation (complete methods are [available here](http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/how-we-rate-hospitals/How%20We%20Rate%20Hospitals.pdf "CR: How We Rate Hospitals")). Consumer Reports found wide variations between hospitals, ranging from 4 to 57 percent of low-risk deliveries. The "better" or "worse" designations are available for free for included hospitals in the 22 states, but a subscription is needed to view the [complete hospital rating data](http://www.consumerreports.org/health/doctors-hospitals/hospital-ratings.htm "CR: Hospital Ratings by State"), including percent of cesareans. However, the hospital accreditation agency, the Joint Commission, is now requiring hospitals to report their rates, so much more complete data may be available in the future. So, what can you do with the "better" or "worse" rating, if your state is one of those Consumer Reports considered? While many other factors go into what makes a safe, high-quality hospital, the rankings may inspire you to [ask questions of your provider](/health-info/questions-to-ask-when-selecting-a-doctor-or-midwife/ "OBOS: Questions to Ask When Selecting a Doctor or Midwife") about his or her approach to births and what they will "allow" -- such as whether your local hospital will allow vaginal births after cesarean, for example. --- #### 1 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. **Sandra Munoz** on Nov 12, 2015 I would like to know more about cesarean section rates for California. I am a Perinatal Educator/Childbirth Educator. Thank You. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Pregnancy & Childbirth](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/pregnancy-childbirth) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)