The Labor Market and Health Impacts of Reducing Cesarean Section Deliveries

Sarah Miller (), Petra Persson (), Maya Rossin-Slater () and Laura Wherry ()
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Sarah Miller: University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Petra Persson: Stanford University
Maya Rossin-Slater: Stanford University
Laura Wherry: New York University

No 18629, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: We study an intervention that reduced cesarean deliveries among low-risk first-time mothers, using California birth records linked to earnings data. Exposed mothers were 8% less likely to have a c-section, with no adverse health effects. We find suggestive evidence that they were more likely to return to their pre-birth employerandhadhigherwithin-firmearningsrankingsinthequarterpostbirth. These labor market gains fade over time. However, mothers who had a second child were less likely to have a c-section or preterm delivery, suggesting our estimated effects from avoiding a first c-section may be lower bounds on total gains.

Keywords: c-section; maternal health; child penalty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I14 I15 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18629

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