C-section rates are increasing globally, especially in the UK where they rose from 29% to 42% of births from 2017 to 2025. This trend is influenced by rising obesity levels, social deprivation, and older maternal age—all of which present additional pregnancy risks. The evolution of maternity services contributes, as C-sections transitioned from a last resort to a common procedure through advances in medical technology from the 20th century. The increasing medicalization of birth and reliance on technology have altered the dynamics of labor and delivery.
Evidently, it's a complex picture, and there is not one clear answer to the rising C-section rates, with multiple intersecting risk factors involved.
Until the end of the 19th century, the C-section was a feared, last-resort option for obstetricians, gradually becoming seen as a relatively safe procedure.
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