Close to 36% of deliveries in DK is through Cesarean

Mangaluru: Fear of danger, a craze for a fancy date, fear of pain are some of the reasons due to which there is a rise in caesarean section. Year-by-year, the number of deliveries through caesarean section is increasing in Dakshina Kannada district.

According to the health department, altogether 35,972 deliveries have occurred in the district in the 2018-19 of which, 12,960 deliveries were through C-section. Most o the parents prefer normal delivery. However, under certain conditions including high blood pressure, complications during delivery, health issues, the doctors resort to C-section with the aim to protect, both the child and the mother.

But presently, several parents are opting for C-section either to escape from the pain involved during normal delivery or because, they have a craze to give birth to the child on a fanciful date. Thus, such reasons too lead to the increase in the number of deliveries via C-section.

55k C-sections in 6 years

Of the total 1,78,909 deliveries that have occurred in 6 years, 55,443 deliveries were via C-section. In that too, the highest number of C-sections were done during the 2018-19 term. In 2012-14, of the total deliveries of 27,860, 7,459 were through c-section, in 2014-15, 7,393 deliveries out of the total 27,398 deliveries were via C-section, in 2015-16, 7,207 deliveries were via c-section out of the total 27,120 deliveries and in 2017-18, of the total deliveries of 33,167, 11,588 were via c-section, informs the district RCH officer Dr| Rajesh. Although the number is lower in comparison to normal deliveries, it is not well advised to opt for unnecessary c-section from the perspective of the mother’s health, is the talk among the public.

46% of deliveries at Lady Goshen is C-section

The 26.77% of deliveries via C-section in the district during 2013-14 has increased to 36% in 2018-19. Yearly, around 6.000 estimated deliveries take place at the government Lady Goshen hospital in the city of which 46% is via C-section. The number of C-sections here is inevitable since high risk cases not only come from DK district, but also from Udupi, Honnavar, Uttara Kannada, Chitradurga, Madikeri, Shimoga, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and other areas. In cases which involve high BP, convulsions, and other dangers, one cannot wait for normal delivery and C-section is the only safe option to bring out the baby, explains the superintendent of Lady Goshen hospital.

Normal delivery is beneficial

If the baby weighs more, then normal delivery is difficult. If in case the baby is lying with its head facing upwards or in any other angle, then the operation is inevitable. Besides, in case the mother’s weight drops or there is a complication during the 7-8^th month of pregnancy, the C-section is used as an emergency option to bring out the baby. Other than for such reasons, opting for C-section for a fancy date-of-birth or to escape from the pains of normal delivery is ill-advised, opinions the medical arena. C-section comes with its own side-effects which include delay in the healing of the incision, compulsory rest for months together, back pain and some other issues.

Inevitable caesarean

Since most of the high risk cases come to Lady Goshen hospital, close to 46% of the deliveries occurring here are via C-Section. High BP, pre-mature delivery and other reasons hinder normal delivery. During such case, we resort to C-section delivery for the safety of the mother and child – Dr|Savita, Superintendent, Lady Goshen Hospital