C-sections raise cost of health care

Nat Hentoff's editorial called attention to the Pregnant Women Support Act. This bill has recently been reintroduced in Congress. It is heartening to hear about a bill that could provide prenatal and postnatal assistance to women in difficult circumstances.

Of course a program like this will require funding. I suggest that we take a good look at the health care dollars that are being spent for maternity care. The Center for Disease control released statistics for 2007. According to the data, 31.8 percent of births in this nation are by C-section. C-sections are not only more costly than vaginal births, they also increase risk and hospital stay for both mother and baby. The World Health Organization recommends a C-section rate of 10 to 15 percent for best outcomes.

We can improve maternal and child health with additional prenatal and postnatal support and by reducing the number of c-sections. Finding ways to reduce the number of c-sections should be part of health care reform. Our health care dollars should be spent wisely.

Carol Van Der Woude

Hoffman Estates