Statistics of Ob Procedures

Posted by Brenda Lane Dec 30, 2007

I happen to be one of those people who love statistics. I love to read statistics from surveys and be able to quote them. The problem is remembering them when I need that information!

Here are a few of the latest statistics on the number of Obstetrical procedures performed on women who give birth in hospitals in the United States as reported by the hospital discharge forms:

• 537,000 mothers had episiotomies
• 928,000 had their membranes ruptured (water broken)
• 616,000 had their labors induced
• 1,262,000 had cesareans

There is reason to believe that some of these numbers may actually be higher than what is reported. According to the Listening to Mothers Survey in 2006, nearly 40% of mothers had their labors induced. If the CDC reports approximately 4 million births occurring in 2005, then just under 2 million of those mothers would have had their labors induced, not 600,000.

How do you feel about the number of obstetrical procedures being reported? Share your thoughts on our forum.

Brenda