Throwing the baby out with the spa water?

Buckley, Sarah J

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06594.x

Topics

To the Editor: In a recent article, de Costa and Robson1 suggest that Australia’s high rates of caesarean surgery — currently among the highest in the Western world — may be beneficial, and causally related to our low perinatal mortality rate.

Anstead, QLD.

Correspondence: sarahjbuckley@uqconnect.net

1. de Costa CM, Robson S. Throwing out the baby with the spa water? Med J Aust 2004; 181: 438-440. <MJA full text>
2. Matthews TG, Crowley P, Chong A, et al. Rising caesarean section rates: a cause for concern? BJOG 2003; 110: 346-349.
3. O’Driscoll K, Foley M. Correlation of decrease in perinatal mortality and increase in cesarean section rates. Obstet Gynecol 1983; 61: 1-5.
4. Sepkowitz S. Birth weight-specific fetal deaths and neonatal mortality and the rising cesarean section rate. J Okla State Med Assoc 1992; 85: 236-241.
5. Smith GC, Pell JP, Dobbie R. Caesarean section and risk of unexplained stillbirth in subsequent pregnancy. Lancet 2003; 362: 1779-1784.
6. King JF, Slaytor EK, Sullivan EA. Maternal deaths in Australia, 1997–1999. Med J Aust 2004; 181: 413-414. <MJA full text>
7. Enkin M, Keirse MJNK, Neilson J, et al. A guide to effective care in pregnancy and childbirth. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000: 486.

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