Editor,

I am greatly concerned about the cesarean rates at Whidbey General Hospital (WGH). A report from the Washington State Department of Health for 2013 shows that out of 54 hospitals in Washington State, WGH has a 41.8 percent cesarean rate for first-time mothers.

This rate is alarming! This means that almost every other first-time mother who delivers a baby at WGH will have a cesarean section.

In addition to the highest cesarean section rate in all of Washington, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) is unavailable at the hospital. Mothers who are not allowed a VBAC must have a repeat major abdominal surgery and the risks associated with it.

There has to be a better way to serve island families and improve the lives of women and children during pregnancy and birth. What exactly is going on at Whidbey General Hospital and what are they going to do to improve their standard of care for mothers and babies?

LARA ORTIZ

Clinton