OBJECTIVE: To determine the mode of the next delivery for primigravid women who have an elective caesarean section for breech presentation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. POPULATION: All primigravid women who had an elective caesarean section for a singleton pregnancy in the years 1992 to 1997 and who delivered their next baby in the hospital before 1999. METHODS: Review of hospital computerised records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mode of delivery and fetal presentation at next delivery. RESULTS: Of 194 women who had an elective caesarean section with a breech presentation as a primigravida, 19 (9.8%) had a breech presentation at the time of elective caesarean section for their next baby compared with only two (1.7%) in the 121 women who had an elective caesarean section with a cephalic presentation as a primigravida (RR 5.9 [95% CI 1.4-25.0]). Despite the increased likelihood of another breech presentation, the overall repeat section rate was 43.8% (n = 85) in women with a previous breech presentation (n = 194), compared with 61.2% (n = 74) in women with a previous cephalic presentation (n = 121) (RR 0.72 [95% CI 0.58-0.89]). Of those women allowed to labour after elective caesarean section as a primigravid, the vaginal birth rate was 109/130 (84%) if the presentation previously was breech compared with 47/69 (68%) if the presentation previously was cephalic (RR 1.2 [95% CI 1.03-1.50]). CONCLUSIONS: Women who have an elective caesarean section for a breech presentation in their first pregnancy have about a 1 in 10 chance of having an elective caesarean section for a breech presentation in their second pregnancy. Overall, the incidence of repeat caesarean section for their second baby was 43.8%, and of those allowed to labour, 84% achieved a vaginal delivery. These results compared favourably with women who had an elective caesarean section with a cephalic presentation in their first pregnancy. This information is important in advising primigravid women with a breech presentation about longer term implications of elective caesarean section. It also allows healthcare managers to anticipate the resource implications of any changes in clinical practice for women with a breech presentation in their first pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the mode of the next delivery for primigravid women who have an elective caesarean section for breech presentation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. POPULATION: All primigravid women who had an elective caesarean section for a singleton pregnancy in the years 1992 to 1997 and who delivered their next baby in the hospital before 1999. METHODS: Review of hospital computerised records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mode of delivery and fetal presentation at next delivery. RESULTS: Of 194 women who had an elective caesarean section with a breech presentation as a primigravida, 19 (9.8%) had a breech presentation at the time of elective caesarean section for their next baby compared with only two (1.7%) in the 121 women who had an elective caesarean section with a cephalic presentation as a primigravida (RR 5.9 [95% CI 1.4-25.0]). Despite the increased likelihood of another breech presentation, the overall repeat section rate was 43.8% (n = 85) in women with a previous breech presentation (n = 194), compared with 61.2% (n = 74) in women with a previous cephalic presentation (n = 121) (RR 0.72 [95% CI 0.58-0.89]). Of those women allowed to labour after elective caesarean section as a primigravid, the vaginal birth rate was 109/130 (84%) if the presentation previously was breech compared with 47/69 (68%) if the presentation previously was cephalic (RR 1.2 [95% CI 1.03-1.50]). CONCLUSIONS:Women who have an elective caesarean section for a breech presentation in their first pregnancy have about a 1 in 10 chance of having an elective caesarean section for a breech presentation in their second pregnancy. Overall, the incidence of repeat caesarean section for their second baby was 43.8%, and of those allowed to labour, 84% achieved a vaginal delivery. These results compared favourably with women who had an elective caesarean section with a cephalic presentation in their first pregnancy. This information is important in advising primigravid women with a breech presentation about longer term implications of elective caesarean section. It also allows healthcare managers to anticipate the resource implications of any changes in clinical practice for women with a breech presentation in their first pregnancy.