Vaginal delivery after cesarean section

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1989 Aug;29(4):307-11. doi: 10.1016/0020-7292(89)90354-8.

Abstract

We retrospectively analyzed 194 pregnancies in women with a history of previous cesarean section (CS) who were offered a trial of labor. We offered every woman a trial of labor as long as she did not have a known previous classical scar. One hundred fifty-one women delivered vaginally (79%), 24 women had multiple uterine scars. Multiple gestations and breech presentation were not considered a sole indication to perform CS. Fetal and maternal morbidity are presented. We conclude that women with multiple previous CS scars can safely deliver vaginally as can women with unknown uterine scars, with careful intrapartum surveillance. Although our numbers of women with breech presentation and multiple gestations are small, in the absence of significant morbidity, we continue to allow these women to labor and deliver vaginally.

MeSH terms

  • Cesarean Section*
  • Delivery, Obstetric / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Obstetric Labor Complications / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Trial of Labor*