Application of a specific clinical pathway can affect the choice of trial of labor in patients with a history of cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND: Mode of delivery in women with previous history of cesarean delivery (CD) is highly modifiable by the practices of the delivery unit. Vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC) delivery is a safe and preferred alternative in most cases. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of adopting a complex set of measures aimed at the mode of delivery in this group. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study comparing two birth cohorts before and after the implementation of a series of quality improvement (QI) interventions. The study cohorts comprised women with a history of cesarean delivery who gave birth in the period before (January 2013 - December 2015) and after (January 2018 - December 2020) the adoption of the QI measures. The measures were focused on singleton term cephalic pregnancies with a low transverse incision in the uterus. Measures included approval of all planned CDs by a senior obstetrician, re-training staff on the use of the FIGO classification for intrapartum fetal cardiotocogram, establishing VBAC management guidelines, encouraging epidural analgesia during trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC), establishing a labor ward team and introducing a monthly maternity audit. RESULTS: Term singleton cephalic pregnancies with previous history of CD accounted for 12.55% of all births in the pre-intervention period and 12.01% in the post-intervention period. The frequency of cesarean deliveries decreased from 89.94% in the pre-intervention period to 64.47% in the post-intervention period (p < 0.0001). We observed a significant increase in TOLAC from 13.18 to 42.12% (p<0.0001) and also an increase in successful VBAC from 76.27 to 84.35% (p < 0.0001). All changes occurred without statistically significant change in overall perinatal mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility to safely increase trial of labor and vaginal birth after cesarean delivery by implementing a series of quality improvement interventions and clinical pathway changes.

Examining provider practice-level disparities in delivery outcomes among patients with a history of Cesarean Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Choosing whether to pursue a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) or scheduled repeat cesarean delivery (SRCD) requires prenatal assessment of risks and benefits. Providers and patients play a central role in this process. However, the influence of provider-associated characteristics on delivery methods remains unclear. We hypothesized that different provider practice groups have different obstetric outcomes in patients with one prior cesarean delivery (CD). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of deliveries between April 29, 2015 - April 29, 2020. Subjects were divided into three cohorts: SRCD, successful VBAC, and unsuccessful VBAC (patients who chose TOLAC but had a CD). Disparities were reviewed between five different obstetric provider practice groups, determined from a breakdown of different providers delivering at the study site during the study period. Proportional differences were examined using Chi-squared tests and logistic regression models. RESULTS: 1,439 deliveries were included in the study. There were significant proportional disparities between patients in the different groups. Specifically, patients from Group D were significantly more likely to undergo successful VBAC, while patients seeing a provider from Group A were more likely to deliver by SRCD. In our multivariate analysis of successful versus unsuccessful VBAC, patients from Group D had greater odds ratios of successful VBAC compared to Group A. Patients delivered by Group E had a significantly lower odds ratio of successful VBAC. CONCLUSION: This study suggests an association between provider practice groups and delivery outcomes among patients with one prior CD. These data contribute to a growing body of literature around patient choice in pregnancy and the interplay of patients and providers. These findings help to guide future investigations to improve outcomes among patients with a history of CD.

Predictors of successful trial of labor after cesarean section (TOLAC) in women with one prior transverse cesarean section at Tertiary Hospitals in northwest Ethiopia: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Trials of labor after cesarean section is the preferred strategy to decrease the cesarean delivery rate and reducing complications associated with multiple cesarean sections. The success rate of trials of labor after cesarean section and associated factors have not been well documented in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the success rate and factors associated with the trial of labor after one cesarean section in five Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals located in northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 437 women who came for the trial of labor from December 1, 2021, to March 30, 2022. All women who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included to this study. Data was collected using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Then, the data was entered into Epi Data 4.6 software and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. To identify the variables influencing the outcome variable, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. The model's fitness was checked using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test, and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to declare the predictors that are significantly associated with TOLAC. RESULTS: The success rate of the trial of labor after one cesarean section was 56.3% (95% CI, 51.3%, 61.2%). Maternal age ≥ 35 years (AOR: 3.3, 95% CI 1.2, 9.3), the fetal station at admission ≤ zero (AOR: 5. 6, 95% CI 3.3, 9.5), vaginal delivery before cesarean section (AOR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.2, 3.2), and successful vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2, 4.1) were found to have a significant association with the success rate of trial of labor after cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the success rate of the trial of labor after a cesarean section was low as compared to the ACOG guideline and other studies in different countries. Therefore, the clinicians ought to offer counsel during antenatal and intrapartum period, encourage the women to make informed decision on the mode of delivery, and the practitioners need to follow fetal and maternal conditions strictly to minimize adverse birth outcomes.

Trial of labor versus elective cesarean delivery for patients with two prior cesarean sections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Cesarean section (CS) rates have been on the rise globally, leading to an increasing number of women facing the decision between a Trial of Labor after two Cesarean Sections (TOLAC-2) or opting for an Elective Repeat Cesarean Section (ERCS). This study evaluates and compares safety outcomes of TOLAC and ERCS in women with a history of two previous CS deliveries. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMbase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched for studies published until 30 June 2023. Eligible studies were included based on predetermined criteria, and a random-effects model was employed to pool data for maternal and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: Thirteen studies with a combined sample size of 101,011 women who had two prior CS were included. TOLAC-2 was associated with significantly higher maternal mortality (odds ratio (OR)=1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.25-1.81) and higher chance of uterine rupture (OR = 7.15, 95% CI = 3.44-14.87) compared to ERCS. However, no correlation was found for other maternal outcomes, including blood transfusion, hysterectomy, or post-partum hemorrhage. Furthermore, neonatal outcomes, such as Apgar scores, NICU admissions, and neonatal mortality, were comparable in the TOLAC-2 and ERCS groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest an increased risk of uterine rupture and maternal mortality with TOLAC-2, emphasizing the need for personalized risk assessment and shared decision-making by healthcare professionals. Additional studies are needed to refine our understanding of these outcomes in the context of TOLAC-2.

Trial of labor after cesarean, vaginal birth after cesarean, and the risk of uterine rupture: an expert review.

The decision to pursue a trial of labor after cesarean delivery is complex and depends on patient preference, the likelihood of successful vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, assessment of the risks vs benefits of trial of labor after cesarean delivery, and available resources to support safe trial of labor after cesarean delivery at the planned birthing center. The most feared complication of trial of labor after cesarean delivery is uterine rupture, which can have catastrophic consequences, including substantial maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Although the absolute risk of uterine rupture is low, several clinical, historical, obstetrical, and intrapartum factors have been associated with increased risk. It is therefore critical for clinicians managing patients during trial of labor after cesarean delivery to be aware of these risk factors to appropriately select candidates for trial of labor after cesarean delivery and maximize the safety and benefits while minimizing the risks. Caution is advised when considering labor augmentation and induction in patients with a previous cesarean delivery. With established hospital safety protocols that dictate close maternal and fetal monitoring, avoidance of prostaglandins, and careful titration of oxytocin infusion when induction agents are needed, spontaneous and induced trial of labor after cesarean delivery are safe and should be offered to most patients with 1 previous low transverse, low vertical, or unknown uterine incision after appropriate evaluation, counseling, planning, and shared decision-making. Future research should focus on clarifying true risk factors and identifying the optimal approach to intrapartum and induction management, tools for antenatal prediction, and strategies for prevention of uterine rupture during trial of labor after cesarean delivery. A better understanding will facilitate patient counseling, support efforts to improve trial of labor after cesarean delivery and vaginal birth after cesarean delivery rates, and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with uterine rupture during trial of labor after cesarean delivery.

The impact of a trial of labor after cesarean versus elective repeat cesarean delivery: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The increasing global incidence of cesarean section has prompted efforts to reduce cesarean delivery rates. A trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) has emerged as an alternative to elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) for women with a prior cesarean delivery. However, the available evidence on the comparative outcomes of these 2 options remains inconsistent, primarily due to varying advantages and risks associated with each. Our meta-analysis aims to compare the maternal-neonatal results in TOLAC and ERCD in women with prior cesarean deliveries. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library databases up to September,2022 to identity studies evaluating perinatal outcomes in women who underwent TOLAC compared to ERCD following a previous cesarean delivery. The included studies were subjected to meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 software to assess the overall findings. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Statistically significant differences were identified in the rate of uterine rupture (OR = 2.01,95%CI = 1.48-2.74, P < .00001) and APGAR score < 7 at 5 minutes (OR = 2.17,95%CI = 1.69-2.77, P < .00001) between the TOLAC and ERCD groups. However, no significant differences were observed in the rates of hysterectomy, maternal blood transfusion, postpartum infection, postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal intensive care unit (P ≥ .05) admission between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis revealed that TOLAC is associated with a higher risk of uterine rupture and lower incidence APGAR score < 7 at 5 minutes compared to ERCD. It is vital to consider predictive factors when determining the appropriate mode of delivery in order to ensure optimal pregnancy outcomes. Efforts should be made to identify the underlying causes of adverse outcomes and implement safety precautions to select suitable participants and create safe environments for TOLAC.

Trial of labor after cesarean: Maternal and neonatal outcomes from the Consortium on Safe Labor.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study is to describe maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing trial of labor after cesarean from the Consortium on Safe Labor. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the Consortium on Safe Labor database, a retrospective cohort study over a 7 year study period. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated based on desired delivery mode: planned elective repeat cesarean delivery or trial of labor after cesarean. RESULTS: Of 9858 patients in our analysis, our study population had 4400 patients (45%) who desired trial of labor after cesarean and 5458 patients (55%) who desired elective repeat cesarean delivery. Women who attempted trial of labor after cesarean compared to those who had an elective repeat cesarean delivery were more likely to have an obstetric hemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio 1.6; 95% CI 1.3 -2.0) and blood transfusion (adjusted odds ratio 2.3; 95% CI 1.6 -3.2). CONCLUSION: Maternal morbidity in women undergoing trial of labor after cesarean was predominantly hemorrhage-related.

The association between obesity and the success of trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) in women with past vaginal delivery.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of overweight (body mass index; BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and obesity (BMI>30 kg/m2), on the success of trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC), with consideration of successful past vaginal birth. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed using electronic database of obstetrics department at a university-affiliated tertiary medical center. All women admitted for TOLAC at 37-42 weeks of gestational age, carrying a singleton live fetus at cephalic presentation, with a single previous low segment transverse cesarean delivery between 1/2015 and 5/2021 were included. Primary outcome was the rate of cesarean delivery during labor, and subgroup analysis was performed for the presence of past vaginal birth. RESULTS: Of the 1200 TOLAC deliveries meeting the inclusion criteria, 61.9 % had BMI in the normal range, 24.6 % were overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and 13.4 % were obese (BMI of 30 kg/m2 and over). Using a multivariate analysis, BMI≥30 kg/m2 was associated with increased risk of cesarean delivery compared to normal weight. However, in the subgroup of 292 women with a history of successful vaginal birth BMI did not affect TOLAC success. CONCLUSIONS: BMI does not affect the success of TOLAC in women with previous vaginal birth. This information should be considered during patients counselling, in order to achieve a better selection of mode of delivery and higher patients' satisfaction.

Medición del dolor durante el trabajo de parto: evaluación de la usabilidad de un nuevo dispositivo / Pain measurement during labor: usability evaluation of a new device

Objetivo: Evaluar la usabilidad de un dispositivo para medir el dolor durante el trabajo de parto a través de siete ítems: tamaño, textura, facilidad de uso, peso, resistencia, comodidad y seguridad. Método: Estudio descriptivo. Se solicitó a 60 pacientes usar el sensor manual durante el transcurso de seis contracciones uterinas (aproximadamente 10-20 minutos) y al día siguiente se aplicó una encuesta en la que las pacientes evaluaron la usabilidad del dispositivo en cuanto a textura, peso, resistencia, comodidad, facilidad de uso, tamaño del sensor, seguridad de uso, peso del sensor, resistencia y comodidad, mediante una escala de Likert de 1 a 7. La seguridad fue evaluada con una escala de 1 a 5. Resultados: Se realizaron gráficos de caja. Con respecto a la seguridad, un 86% de las usuarias marcaron 5 puntos en la escala, percibiendo el dispositivo como seguro. Conclusiones: El dispositivo fue percibido como seguro, liviano, fácil de usar y cómodo.

Objective: To evaluate the usability of a device to measure pain during labor through seven items: size, texture, ease of use, weight, resistance, comfort, and safety. Method: Longitudinal observational study. 60 patients were asked to use the manual sensor during the course of six uterine contractions (approximately 10-20 minutes) and the following day a survey was applied where the patients evaluated the usability of the device in terms of texture, weight, resistance, comfort, easiness of use, sensor size, safety of use, sensor weight, resistance and comfort through a Likert scale from 1 to 7. Safety was evaluated with a scale from 1 to 5. Results: They were schematized with a box plot. Regarding safety, 86% of the users scored 5 points on the scale, perceiving the device as safe. Conclusions: It can be seen that the device was perceived as safe, light, easy to use and comfortable.

FIGO good practice recommendations for cesarean delivery: Prep-for-Labor triage to minimize risks and maximize favorable outcomes.

Cesarean delivery is an abdominal surgical procedure performed for child delivery when the vaginal route is not feasible or desired due to maternal/fetal indications. All childbirth facilities should be able to safely perform a cesarean, which is not the current reality. For planned cesarean delivery, the facility must be prepared for the patient. In contrast, for unplanned arrivals at the facility, FIGO's Prep-for-Labor triage method allows rapid decision-making on whether cesarean delivery can be safely performed on site or whether transfer to an advanced care center is needed. A checklist of staff/tools for safe on-site cesarean delivery is provided to enable timely decision-making. Maternal complications following cesarean are three-fold higher than vaginal delivery. To prevent nonmedically indicated cesarean by favoring vaginal delivery, up-to-date safe and effective guidance is provided, defining labor, second stage length, and status before an arrested labor is confirmed. Whether cesarean delivery is planned or emergency, the Misgav Ladach simplified procedure is proposed as it is suitable for both low- and high-risk cases, including twins, thereby reducing both operative morbidity and postoperative recovery. A trial of labor after first cesarean (TOLAC) should be pursued when feasible, for which the indications, contraindications, safeguards, and steps of safe labor induction are delineated. Implementation of these good practice recommendations will improve childbirth by reducing excessive nonindicated cesareans, while precisely defining the resources and postoperative care required for safe performance on site. Enabling safe childbirth by cesarean and TOLAC, even at sites with low rates currently, will significantly improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Role of Mifepristone in Trial of Labour after Previous Caesarean Delivery in Intrauterine Fetal Death.

When a baby dies in utero, the options are either to wait for spontaneous labour or to induce it. An obstetrician, encounters with a perplexity of choosing a management plan when this worst situation of IUFD coalesced by history of previous caesarean delivery. The ideal drug for the termination should not only be efficacious and cost-effective, but also be convenient enough to avoid operative interference arising from a wasted pregnancy. The study was aimed to evaluate efficacy, safety and compliance of oral mifepristone in trial of labour in case of IUFD after previous caesarean section. This was a cross sectional descriptive type of observational study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from February 2018 to August 2018. Total 50 patients were selected purposively based on inclusion criteria and diagnosed as IUFD with previous caesarean delivery. The patients were received mifepristone once and reviewed after 48 hours and those who were not attained favourable Bishop's score were counseled for mechanical induction. Antibiotics and analgesia were administered according to requirement. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0. All the 50 women received 200 mg oral mifepristone. Forty-four 44(88.0%) women was delivered vaginally among them 18(36.0%) were delivered following mifepristone induction only and 26(52.0%) required additional induction method. The earliest induction to delivery interval following mifepristone was 13 hours. Twenty eight (63.6%) cases were discharged within 72-120 hours. After 48 hours following induction there was significant improvement of Bishop's score. In this study 6(12.0%) out of 50 cases were reasoned for laparotomy and blood transfusion was required for them. There was no statistically significant difference according to gestational age in mode of delivery (p>0.05). There was no difference observed in mean induction to delivery interval between second and third trimester at 5% level of significance (p>0.05). In this study, the women showed drastic improvement in cervical score following induction with mifepristone and decreased repeat caesarean rate. Eventually, the length of agony of receiving dead baby was cut short without much more ailments. Hence, mifepristone may be considered as a safe, efficacious, convenient and cost-effective induction agent for labour induction in women with dead fetus in utero in previously scarred uterus.

External validation of prediction models for vaginal delivery after the trial of labour among women with previous one caesarean section - A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To externally validate three predictive models (the Grobman model (2007), the Zhang model (2020), and the Grobman model (2021)) for identifying women with increased chances of a successful trial of labour after caesarean section (TOLAC). METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital from 2018 to 2021. Individual probabilities were calculated for women with previous one caesarean section who underwent TOLAC at term, using the predicted probabilities from the logistic regression models. The primary outcome of this study was vaginal delivery following attempted TOLAC. The predictive ability of the models was assessed using the area under the receiver operative characteristics curves (AUC) and a calibration graph. RESULTS: Of 1515 eligible women who underwent TOLAC, we found an overall rate of successful TOLAC of 60.3 %. No significant difference was noticed in adverse scar outcome and neonatal morbidity while comparing successful and failed TOLAC. The discriminative ability of Grobman-2007 and Grobman-2021 and the Zhang model were fair to poor with the AUC of 0.54(95 % CI 0.51-0.57), 0.62(95 % CI 0.59-0.65) and 0.66(95 % CI 0.63-0.69) respectively. The agreement between the observed rates of TOLAC success and the predicted probabilities for all three models was poor. CONCLUSION: The performance of all three models predicting success after TOLAC was poor in the study population. A population-specific model may be needed, with the addition of factors influencing the labour, such as the methods of induction, which may aid in predicting the outcome.

Influence of organizational factors on the offer and success rate of a trial of labor after cesarean section in Belgium: an ecological study.

BACKGROUND: Trial of Labor After Cesarean is an important strategy for reducing the overall rate of cesarean delivery. Offering the option of vaginal delivery to a woman with a history of cesarean section requires the ability to manage a potential uterine rupture quickly and effectively. This requires infrastructure and organization of the maternity unit so that the decision-to-delivery interval is as short as possible when uterine rupture is suspected. We hypothesize that the organizational characteristics of maternity units in Belgium have an impact on their proposal and success rates of trial of labour after cesarean section. METHODS: We collected data on the organizational characteristics of Belgian maternity units using an online questionnaire. Data on the frequency of cesarean section, trial of labor and vaginal birth after cesarean section were obtained from regional perinatal registries. We analyzed the determinants of the proposal and success of trial of labor after cesarean section and report the associations as mean proportions. RESULTS: Of the 101 maternity units contacted, 97 responded to the questionnaire and data from 95 was included in the analysis. Continuous on-site presence of a gynecologist and an anesthetist was associated with a higher proportion of trial of labor after cesarean section, compared to units where staff was on-call from home (51% versus 46%, p = 0.04). There is a non-significant trend towards more trial of labor after cesarean section in units with an operating room in or near the delivery unit and a shorter transfer time, in larger units (> 1500 deliveries/year) and in units with a neonatal intensive care unit. The proposal of trial of labor after cesarean section and its success was negatively correlated to the number of cesarean section in the maternity unit (Spearman' rho = 0.50 and 0.42, p value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Organizational differences in maternity units appear to affect the proposal of trial of labor after cesarean section. Addressing these organizational factors may not be sufficient to change practice, given that general tendency to perform a cesarean section in the maternity unit is the main contributor to the percentage of trial of labor after cesarean.

Mid-trimester cervical length and prediction of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery in Chinese parturients: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: A successful trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) is linked with the best maternal/neonatal outcomes and is more cost-effective than elective repeat cesarean section (ERCS). Predictive models of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) have been established worldwide to improve the success rate of TOLAC. OBJECTIVE: To validate a VBAC prediction model (the updated Grobman's predictive model without ethnicity) and identify whether mid-trimester cervical lengths (MCL) improve the prediction of VBAC among Chinese women undergoing a TOLAC. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the inclusion criteria were a previous history of cesarean delivery (CD) as well as a singleton gestation in the vertex position with routine CL measurements between 20 and 24 weeks and the experience of a TOLAC. MCL as well as identifiable characteristics in early prenatal care that have been used in updated Grobman's predictive model (maternal age, height, pre-pregnancy weight, vaginal delivery history, VBAC history, arrest disorder in previous CD, and treated chronic hypertension) were obtained from the medical records. Associations of maternal characteristics and MCL with VBAC were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. Two multivariable regression models with and without MCL as one of the risk factors were established and their predictive accuracy for VBAC was critically compared based on receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: This study involved 409 women, among which, 347 (84.8%) achieved a VBAC. The mean MCL was significantly shorter in women who had a successful VBAC than in those who required an intrapartum CD (4.16±0.49 cm vs. 4.35±0.46 cm, P=0.007). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that a longer MCL (cm) was significantly related to a lower success rate of TOLAC [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.26-0.88]. The areas under the ROCs of Grobman's model with and without MCL as one of the risk factors were 0.785 (95% CI, 0.725-0.844) and 0.774 (95% CI, 0.710-0.837), respectively, but not significantly different (Z = -0.968, P = 0.333). CONCLUSIONS: We first evaluated the efficiency of the updated Grobman's model (without race and ethnicity) in the Chinese population. The area under the curve is relatively high, indicating that the model can be used efficiently in China. The shorter MCL was associated with a greater chance of VBAC and MCL was the independent factor from the factors of Grobman's model. However, the predictive capacity of the modified model by adding MCL as one of the risk factors did not improve significantly.

Preferred mode of delivery and its associated factors in pregnant women with a previous cesarean scar at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia: institutional-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal births after cesarean or elective repeat cesarean sections (CS) are the options for delivery after one cesarean scar. However, there is a lack of data regarding the preferred next mode of delivery in Ethiopia after a previous cesarean section. Thus, this study assessed the preferred mode of delivery and determinants after one previous CS in the antenatal clinic at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UoGCSH). METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant mothers with one previous CS at UoGCSH from March to August 2022. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. The collected data were entered, cleaned, and edited using Epi-data 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. A binary logistic regression was performed to assess the determinants of the preferred mode of delivery. A p-value of < 0.05 at the 95% confidence level (CI) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The majority, 71.5% (95% CI: 64.7, 77.1), of participants preferred the trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) as their mode of delivery. Mothers who were married (AOR = 4.47, 95% CI: 1.19-16.85), had a diploma educational level (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI: 1.84-12.36), had previous post-cesarean complications (AOR = 3.25, 95% CI: 1.08-9.74), and knew about the success of the trial of labor after cesarean (AOR = 13.56, 95% CI: 4.52-37.19) were found to prefer the trial of labor compared with their counterparts. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that most pregnant mothers preferred labor trials after one CS, which is a bit lower but comparable with recommended practice guidelines. Providing adequate information and counseling mothers to make informed decisions about their preferred mode of delivery could be substantial.

Preferences of pregnant individuals to undergo labor after one cesarean in southern China.

BACKGROUND: Labor after cesarean (LAC) remains an optional delivery method among healthy pregnant individuals. Exploring women's attitudes, preferences, reasons for previous cesarean delivery, and the incentives underlying pregnant individuals' preferences could help us understand their choice of delivery mode. In this study we evaluated the preferences and attitudes of eligible pregnant women regarding participation in a LAC in Foshan, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 438 pregnant individuals with one prior cesarean delivery (CD) who attended their antenatal examination at a tertiary hospital in southern China, between November 1, 2018, and October 31, 2019. Information on demographic characteristics, obstetric data, preferences for LAC, and incentives for LAC were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 85.4% (374/438) of women preferred LAC if they did not have contraindications before delivery, whereas 12.3% (54/438) refused and 2.3% (10/438) were unsure. Participants reported that the most important factors affecting their willingness to undergo LAC were safety indicators (i.e., "ability of hospitals to perform emergency cesarean delivery" [score of 9.28 ± 1.86]), followed by accessibility indicators (i.e., "priority bed arrangements" [score of 9.17 ± 1.84]). Logistic regression analysis indicated that neonatal wellbeing with the prior CD was an independent influencing factor (OR = 2.235 [95%CI: 1.115-4.845], p = 0.024) affecting willingness to access LAC in the subsequent pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high preference for LAC among pregnant individuals without contraindications before delivery in southern China. Healthcare providers need to ensure access to LAC and increase pregnant individuals' LAC willingness through high-quality shared decsision-making in alignment with patient preferences.