Massachusetts' C-section rate exceeds the national average

About a third of births in Massachusetts last year were cesarean deliveries, just above the national average .

Why it matters: Massachusetts, which is home to world-class hospitals, also has C-section rates far above the 10-15% rate the WHO considers " ideal ."

• While C-sections are medically necessary for some parents, they can have short- and long-term health risks.

By the numbers: The 2023 C-section rate was 33.5% in Massachusetts, according to provisional CDC data.

Zoom out: The national C-section delivery rate has increased since 2020, following a general decline between 2009 and 2019, per the CDC.

• The national C-section delivery rate increased in 2023 to 32.4%, up from 32.1% in 2022, according to provisional CDC numbers.

Between the lines: With conditions like gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy on the rise , there could be a greater need for C-sections, says Jane van Dis, OB-GYN and assistant professor at the University of Rochester.

• Van Dis hypothesizes that the rise in those conditions is due to " environmental exposure ," such as the increasing use of plastics .
• Hospital politics might also come into play. Some doctors might choose a C-section to reduce the likelihood of a medical malpractice suit, and health care reimbursements tend to be higher for C-sections than for vaginal births.

What we're watching: Expanding access to doula care — including insurance coverage through MassHealth — could lower the rates of C-sections.

• The city of Boston is building a program to offer expecting parents doula services .
• Doulas are there for psychological support during the often-overwhelming labor process, and to help with birth positions that could avoid the need for a C-section, van Dis says.