Reports and research studies have noted a steady climb in C-section rates in the last decade. Some reports claim doctors are at fault because they are more willing to perform C-sections despite the huge risks associated with major surgery during pregnancy. Other studies claim women are moving toward a comfortable, planned pregnancy that they can control. It seems the latter of the two just received a bit more support. A new study found women are more likely to have a C-section because they are scared of childbirth.

The study was published in Acta et Gynecologica Scandinavica, an international journal. Nearly 1,000 women participated in the study. Of those women, about 400 were referred for psychological counseling after revealing extreme fear associated with childbirth. The remaining women in the study did not report having any such fear.

Women who presented withfear about childbirthwere induced in 16-percent of the cases compared to just more than 9.5-percent of inductions occurring in the women without fear. Researchers also noted that women scheduled for a vaginal delivery were more likely to have an emergency C-section or request a C-section.

C-sections are a safe alternative to risky childbirth, but elective C-sections cause a huge financial impact on the healthcare industry every year. Often, researchers have found that women are rushed into C-sections before being given enough time to safely deliver vaginally.

C-sections are a major surgery and thus should be approached with the same precautions as any other surgery. Possible complications associated with C-sections include excessive bleeding, infection, increased recovery time and blood clots in the legs and/or lungs.

Source: Gunilla Sydsjo, Adam Sydsjo, Christina Gunnervik, Marie Bladh, Ann Josefsson. Acta et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 24 July, 2011.