Were There C Sections in 1879?

In 1879, for example, one British traveller, R.W. Felkin, witnessed cesarean section performed by Ugandans. The healer used banana wine to semi-intoxicate the woman and to cleanse his hands and her abdomen prior to surgery. He used a midline incision and applied cautery to minimize hemorrhaging.

When did C-sections become common?

Modern Prevalence of C-sections

Although the "modern" C-section procedure really emerged around 1940, the percentage of C-section deliveries remained under 5%. It was not until the mid-1960s that C-section rates began to dramatically increase, starting a trend that is continuing today.

How far back do C-sections go?

Established guidelines recommend that caesarean sections not be used before 39 weeks of pregnancy without a medical reason.