(FORT WAYNE) - Lutheran Hospital says it has sharply reduced cesarean deliveries among first-time mothers, with the C-section rate falling from 23.1% in 2024 to 16.5% in 2025 -- a 29% decrease.
Hospital leaders credit the improvement to expanded patient education and updated labor practices focused on supporting natural childbirth when medically safe. Staff increased the use of techniques that allow mothers to remain mobile during labor, including wireless monitoring, positioning methods, labor pools, and comfort tools such as peanut balls, along with non-medication pain management options.
Doctors say avoiding unnecessary C-sections can lead to fewer infections, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and better long-term health outcomes for both mothers and babies. Officials emphasize that surgical delivery remains essential in many cases, but the goal is to reduce procedures that are not medically needed.
Hospital administrators say the changes reflect a broader push toward patient-centered maternity care and that efforts will continue to ensure safe deliveries while maintaining the lower surgery rate.