BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The vast majority of C-section deliveries are done for medical reasons, but the number of women choosing these operations is on the rise.

In a new study, researchers from HealthGrades analyzed approximately 13 million hospital and delivery records and found that the rate of patient-choice C-sections increased by nearly 9 percent between 2005 and 2007.

No matter what method of delivery, pregnant women were less likely to suffer complications at top-ranked hospitals.

Women having C-sections were 76 percent less likely to experience complications such as excessive bleeding or post-surgical infections. Those delivering vaginally had a 52 percent lower rate of complications such as severe tearing or injuries to the pelvic organs.

Researchers estimated that more than 180,000 complications could be avoided if all hospitals performed at the top level.

Hospitals with excellent maternity care typically have a high number of nurses, support programs for new mothers, and low rates of hospital-acquired infections.

Pregnant women can check out potential hospitals by visiting beforehand, asking their doctors for recommendations, and looking up hospital ratings on Web sites such as healthgrades.com.