Caesarean section for preterm birth and, breech presentation and twin pregnancies

Abstract

Caesarean section incidence is steadily rising worldwide; the major contributor to this rise is pregnancies with previous caesarean section. Hence, it is important to scrutinise carefully the indication of primary caesarean sections. Preterm births, breech presentation and twin pregnancies together complicate 12-18% of all births. The role of caesarean section in these pregnancies is controversial and lacks good evidence-based guidelines. Policy on mode of delivery in these three important obstetric groups is bound to influence overall primary caesarean section rates. In this chapter, we review the evidence on the place of caesarean delivery in these three important groups.