Did you know that the hospital you choose can impact your chances of undergoing C-section surgery?

You should consider first choosing your hospital and then choosing an OB-GYN or midwife who delivers at that hospital. To make your choice, you may want to start by looking at the C-section rates of local hospitals. The official recommendation of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is to avoid C-sections unless there’s a clear medical reason to operate.

According to experts, hospitals should have a C-section rate of less than 24%. If a C-section rate is too high, it might indicate that a hospital is inclined to perform the surgery where it might not be completely necessary.

Organizations such as the The Leapfrog Group publish C-section rates for hospitals across the country. If you’ve already chosen a hospital, or a physician or midwife, this information may be reason to consider a change.