c-section rates for local hospitals

I found an online government page where I could look up the c-section rates of hospitals in Illinois. Unfortunately, the hospitals are not enforced to keep track of this, so I wasn't able to find out all the hospitals. Here's some c-section rates from 2007:



Edward Hospital, Naperville : 35% c-section rate

Rush Copley, Aurora: 31% c-section rate

Del Nor, Geneva: 36%

West Suburban, Oak park: 20%

Hindsdale Hosptial (where Audrey was born): 26%



I wasn't able to confirm this on the listing because this hospital didn't put in their results, but I have been told that Central DuPage Hospital has a 39-40% c-section rate! (That's where I was born 29 years ago).



I think it is very important that we know what the c-section rates are of both our hospitals and the practices we see. Because I see it this way: If a doctor has a 40% c-section rate, you have about a 40% chance of having a c-section. Repeat cesareans throw the numbers higher, so probably a better indication would be a doctor's primary c-section rate rather than his overall, but still, a 40% c-section rate gives a good idea of how a doctor practices.

In summary, high cesarean rates have more to do with doctor's preferences and practices than a woman's inability to give birth.

I encourage you to find out your midwife/doctor's c-section rate and the c-section rate of the hospital you are delivering at.